March 2018 - TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

Webhosting/domains
by Bike City 25 Mar '25

25 Mar '25

Well, I recently threw together some hand-written HTML and slapped it onto a free (and ad-less) webhost. This seemed great at first, regardless of the weird URL. But after lots of other publicity and potential traffic, I've seen it get hacked twice (by a radical Islamic group after the whole host, nothing personal), and lately it's either painfully slow to load or completely down. So, I haven't done this for about a decade and I'm out of the loop. I'm really not willing to suffer any ads, but since our budgeted is obcenely limited for such fluff, does anyone have recommendations? Are there any more reliable ad-free free hosts? (Probably not, for obvious reasons.) Otherwise, how do you guys handle web hosting? How much does it cost? What's a good balance between reliable and affordable? How much is domain registration nowadays? We don't have our 501(c)(3) status yet so we won't get a deal until later this year, by the way. Anyway, please help. It's rough to find time to FTP an update and find the site's down. Thanks, andrea Bike City Recyclery of Fayetteville, Arkansas http://bikecity.uuuq.com/ (hahaha)

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Reusable Repair Checklist Tag
by director 03 May '23

03 May '23

Hey All, We just spent some time and redid the tag we use to track repairs on a bike. I'm sure your shops are similar to ours in that many mechanics of varying skill levels will work on a single bike before it's distributed back to the world for use. This make it challenging to ensure a standard of quality on any given bike leaving the shop. As we fleshed out the tag we realized that it could function loosely as a curriculum. For most mechanics, especially students we suggest starting at the top and working down the list. I've come to realize that no two mechanics will do things in the exact same way, everyone has their own style. We've been suggesting that folks do the first two items in order and then address the rest of the repairs at their discretion. Of course we couldn't put everything on a half page so we had to make compromises. You'll notice as you get closer to the bottom of the tag the categories are a little more broad and don't get into the finer details. We're working on a final check list that will include finer details like checking bearing play, tire wear, fine tune derailleurs and brakes... The final checklist won't hang on the bike but it'll be around the shop and part of our training. Stay tuned for this. We print these double sided, cut them in half and laminate them. We hang them on the handlebars and fill them out with a Sharpie. When the bike is done and gone we clean the Sharpie off with 90% rubbing alcohol and a rag. This allows us to use one tag over and over and over. We've been using these tags for about 2 weeks now and it's been awesome. Communication between mechanics is much clearer and bikes are getting done faster. It's really helped orient Earn-A-Bike students to what needs to be done next on their bike. Anyway if you think it's a good idea feel free to adapt it to your shops needs. -- Ride On! Rich Points http://communitycycles.org Executive Director (c)303-589-0597 (w)720-565-6019 Community Cycles is Boulder's only bike shop dedicated to bike commuting. Find us on facebook https://www.facebook.com/CommunityCycles

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no boys allowed zine from bikebike?
by veganboyjosh＠gmail.com 28 Sep '18

28 Sep '18

hey all, i'm looking to get in touch with the person who wrote/published the "no boys allowed" zine which was passed out at bikebike in san francisco. it was part of one of the oppression and gender identity issues workshops. we're looking to start a women's night here at community cycles, and i'd like to scan my copy as a pdf and email it to potential volunteers, as well as make some copies to have in the shop... if you're on the list, or if you know the person who wrote it (her name escapes me), please get in touch with me off list... thanks! josh. community cycles boulder

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China Bike Share Surplus?
by eric clough 08 Apr '18

08 Apr '18

Hello ThinkTank list serve and fellow community bike shoppers. I have been following messages on this list serve for some time now and it I think it is finally my time to post a message to the group. Is there an organization out there that in some way may be involved or working with the apparently vast surplus of bicycles in China? I just came across this web site for The Atlantic... https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2018/03/bike-share-oversupply-in-china-hu… Good googly-woogly!!! Talk about a bicycle resource!

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Songs about bikez
by Cynthia Williams 03 Apr '18

03 Apr '18

Hey everyone, Sunny and I are working on a podcast about community bike shops that's going to air sometime in February on CiTR 101.9 FM, unceded Coast Salish territories, Vancouver. What are your favourite songs about bikes and biking? We need more solid tunes, especially songs written by women, queer folks, femmes (aka FEMcon) and Canadian content (CANcon), because radio stations in Canada are required to play a certain amount of CANcon. Are you in a grimey band? Send us your tracks! Cheers, *Cyn Williams * *Communications Coordinator* AMS Bike Co-op University of British Columbia 604-822-BIKE | bikecoop.ca | @ubcbike

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Cycles for Change (Twin Cities, MN) hiring an Executive Director
by Jason Partridge 29 Mar '18

29 Mar '18

Cycles for Change <http://www.cyclesforchange.org> in Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN is hiring for an Executive Director! Here is the link to the job description: http://www.minnesotanonprofits.org/job-details?id=148680 We're looking for a dedicated, community-connected, justice-minded leader who can lead this organization in its efforts to use bicycles as a tool for mobility, health equity, economic transformation, and community empowerment. We're excited for a new leader who can help continue to deepen C4C’s commitment to racial, gender, and social justice. Femme/trans/women, black, indigenous, and people of color, GLBTQ people, people living with disabilities, and others directly experiencing structural oppressions are strongly encouraged to apply. Priority deadline for applications is April 20. Feel free to reach out with any questions! Jason

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ABCs Handout or Poster or Protocol
by Josh Bisker 29 Mar '18

29 Mar '18

Heyyo! Do you have a cool handout, take-away, or poster that shows people how to check their ABCs? Show & Tell time :) Josh Bisker 914-500-9890 New York Mechanical Gardens Bike Co-op <http://bikecoop.nyc/> 596 Acres <http://596acres.org/> Bindlestiff Family Cirkus <http://bindlestiff.org/>

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Insurance: costs and coverage
by A Westphal 27 Mar '18

27 Mar '18

Hello folks, Common Cycle in Ann Arbor, Michigan is hoping to transition from a mobile repair operation into a storefront cooperative. We currently have a $1 million general liability insurance policy, and we pay around $700/yr for that coverage. Our adviser suggested that we should get directors and officers insurance to protect the 10 board members above and beyond the $1M policy. *My questions*: --> What insurance policies does your organization hold? How much do you pay for that coverage? --> Should Common Cycle purchase additional policies based on our move into a physical space? (in our case, physical space = more patrons served, so our liability may increase). PS: yes, I see the info about insurance on the Wiki ( http://w.bikecollectives.org/index.php?title=Insurance). I am hoping that this thread can collect more personal insights / opinions which don't appear in the Wiki. Thanks for reading, Andrew Common Cycle board member andrew(a)commoncycle.org https://commoncycle.org/

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NBW is hiring a Director of Youth Programs
by Steve Maluk 22 Mar '18

22 Mar '18

Neighborhood Bike Works, in Philadelphia, is hiring a Director of Youth Programs. If you're an inclusive leader with knowledge of the challenges facing Philly youth and a commitment to bikes as a tool for social progress, I hope you'll consider applying. If you have friends or contacts you think ought to see this job description, please spread the word. The job description is below, or can be downloaded here <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1suadKbTP0eKB2bjj05bPXB3FDUgNmO4X/view>. *Qualifications:* The ideal candidate will have 3-5 years of management experience in a non-profit setting or related field, a proven track record successfully supervising and supporting staff and volunteers, and experience working with diverse populations including youth of color and those from low-income families. Background knowledge of Philadelphia’s education system, history, bicycling community, and networks of youth development organizations is preferred. Candidates with non-traditional work and education experience are encouraged – please tell us about those experiences that qualify you for this position. Additional Qualifications: · Driven by the mission and work of NBW. - A Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Education, Social Work, Public Administration, or related field preferred; however, equivalent work experience will be considered in lieu of education. - Successful development and implementation of youth programming curriculum. - Commitment to social justice and youth leadership. - Experience with performance management and supporting the professional development of staff. - Facilitation skills, with experience leading a team through inclusive decision-making processes. - Knowledge of nonprofit management. - Must possess and demonstrate superb communication skills, both written and verbal. - Energetic and engaging with youth while being reliable, responsible, and professional. - Familiarity with Philadelphia’s neighborhoods preferred. - Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends as needed. · Experience with Microsoft Office required; database software and web content management systems preferred. · Successful passing of PA State Police Criminal Background Check, Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance, and FBI Clearance required. This is a full-time, salaried, exempt position, with a preferred start date of May 7, 2018. The pay range for this position is $37,500 to $42,500 annually, depending on experience and qualifications. NBW offers a competitive benefits package, including health, dental, and retirement plans. *Please email your resume and cover letter* to jobs(a)neighborhoodbikeworks.org. Applications received by April 13, 2018 will receive priority consideration. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and actively seek staff who reflect the community we serve. Candidates of color are encouraged to apply. --- Steve Maluk He/Him/His Executive Director *Neighborhood Bike Works <http://neighborhoodbikeworks.org>* <215-386-0316%20x%20113>215-386-0316 x118 <https://neighborhoodbikeworks.org/houseparty>

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Tool Board Fashion Show: Update from NYC!
by Josh Bisker 22 Mar '18

22 Mar '18

Pals! Thanks so much for your tool board photos and reflections. I have an update from us below, and then links to a photo gallery of everyone's submissions from the Think Tank and Facebook. Update: we dramatically reduced the number of tools on our main tool boards to just the essentials, and collected the more bikey tools to a single mechanics board and a tool chest. Below is a photo of our new tool board layout <https://flic.kr/p/24h3RmG>. Charlie's Freewheels in Toronto was our closest model for inspiration: thank you Charlie's! The new layout has been HUGELY helpful for participants and volunteers. - People are less intimidated by the boards! The whole situation is more approachable. - Things get put back more often and with less hassle. - Fewer broken and missing tools. - Better interface for volunteers to help out before participants try a repair that requires expertise or finesse. - Easier to expand operations -- we can see adding a second set of tools to each board on the same pegs as the current ones, with minimal costs and no added confusion. Also! Taking one cue from the shipping container bike repair station in Winnipeg and another from the short tool boards in Salt Lake City, we also *rearranged the layout of our shop, and it kicks ass.* - We used to have a shop floor with tool board and benches on the perimeter and work space in the center. Chaos! - NOW, we have the benches and tools in the center, and stands on the perimeter. SO SMOOTH! It's way, way easier and nicer to work. - We also shortened the heights of the work benches so there's one tall, one medium, one small. - AND, because we shortened the heights of the tool boards, you can see right over them -- so the space feels unified and coherent, not like a bunch of random siloed activities. Lessons we learned: - Fewer tools on each board is better for everyone. Couple this with a master mechanics' board for success. - Pegboard is the WORST. Plywood and nails 4EVA. - Yes, mark the boards with tool names and sizes, BUT ALSO: *mark the tools.* Use an enamel paint marker and clear-coat it with nail polish. This way, new folks can learn the sizes of wrenches and the names of things when they're in hand, and can also easily put them back on the boards. - In a space like ours, centrally located tools and work benches are better than peripheral ones, because they improve the flow of people through the space. Future considerations: - We're going to add offset brake wrenches to the boards, because they are so everyday-useful. - We should have tried doing the outlines with chalk markers, not enamel markers, so that they're easy to erase and re-do. - Our work benches are too bulky and big, especially since people do most of their work in the stand. Less work bench would be fine. By and large, people use them as tables, not work benches. What we really need are just places for folks to put the things they're working with. - I'd personally like to see the benches get decorated and personalized by volunteers, but that's a while away for us. Photo gallery - Here's everyone's tool boards <https://flic.kr/s/aHskuVEvhv>! I put them into a Flickr album. Each filename shows the co-op it came from. xoxoxo Josh Josh Bisker 914-500-9890 New York Mechanical Gardens Bike Co-op <http://bikecoop.nyc/> 596 Acres <http://596acres.org/> Bindlestiff Family Cirkus <http://bindlestiff.org/>

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