TheThinkTank December 2019

thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org

26 participants
11 discussions

Reusable Repair Checklist Tag
by director 02 May '23

02 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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Park Tool School Mechanics Training
by Robert Christiansen 05 Feb '20

05 Feb '20

Hello all, The Sacramento Bike Kitchen would like to ramp up our educational offerings. The programs needs to be flexible yet structured and flexible to accommodate potential volunteer scheduling/availability fluctuations. I have been looking into the Park Tool Schools program as outlined in their BB-4TG Instructor Guide. I am impressed with their offering and feel it might fit our needs perfectly. We are thinking to first establish an in-house mechanic training course which could be mandatory for new volunteers and optional for current volunteer staff. We are 100% Volunteer run. We would then open it up to the public. Tuition if any has yet to be discussed. We would greatly appreciate any feed back from all of you if you have any experience with Park Tool School or similar curriculum. Secondly have any of you instituted a mandatory training for new volunteers? If so, any observations and reflections would be welcomed. Your time and efforts are greatly appreciated and we give many thanks to you all. Keep up the the great work. For The Sacramento Bike Kitchen, Robert Christiansen Http://sacbikekitchen.org

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Transition to trusted volunteer
by Gordon Hamachi 04 Jan '20

04 Jan '20

Dennis: I am with the Silicon Valley Bicycle Exchange. We have an explicit conflict of interest policy designed to prevent volunteers at any level from profiting from their volunteer activities. Removing the incentive of personal financial gain helps to see that volunteers are taking more responsibility for the right reasons. Our shop leadership is mostly self-selected volunteers who show up at our steering committee meetings that happen every other month. From this additional time commitment and willingness to take action items it quickly becomes evident who is a committed and trusted volunteer. Responsible leaders are developed, not born. You should be taking steps to meet and get to know the volunteers to decide which ones you trust. Remember their names. Make them feel welcome, continually remind them of your shop’s goals and organizing principles. Invite them to incrementally assume more responsibility. I got drawn into a leadership role at my shop when I observed how hard our leader was working, and asked if there was something I could do to help share the burden.

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Transition to trusted volunteer
by Dennis Wollersheim 28 Dec '19

28 Dec '19

our organisation is having difficulty cultivating trusted volunteers. Our mission and circumstances is very appealling, so we attract many new volunteers, but we have a dearth of people transitioning to trusted volunteer status. Also, the allure of personal gain trends to attract problematic, opportunistic types, to the leadership position,although this may be a peculiarly Australian problem given our convict/colonist background. I understand that not everyone takes up the vocation, it is a choice with what one does with their spare time. What are the circumstances / structure that your organisation has to support your lead volunteers? On a personal note, what prompted to to take up the mantle of leadership? What keeps you doing it? Thanks Dennis

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Hiring Bike Shop Manager in Everett, WA
by Kristin Kinnamon 23 Dec '19

23 Dec '19

Sharing Wheels is looking for an experienced bike mechanic to partner with our new executive director to manage, grow and develop our non-profit community bike shop in Everett, WA. Everett is a small city north of Seattle with a growing bike, music and arts culture. Sharing Wheels has been around since 2002. Please share our Shop Manager Job Post <http://sharingwheels.org/jobs/>. The next review of applications is Jan. 4. -- Kristin Kinnamon Sharing Wheels Community Bike Shop, board president B.I.K.E.S. Club of Snohomish County, past president McClinchy Mile Bike Ride, volunteer 425-923-7868 (personal cell)

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Pedal powered machine designs?
by Carlyn Arteaga 23 Dec '19

23 Dec '19

Buenos dias, Think Tankers! It's been awhile since I've chatted with y'all, but this really seemed like the place to go to ask my question of the day. =) Do any of you have a design for a kid-friendly/interactive machine made from bike parts? I'm thinkin anything from a marble machine to a pedal powered machine that throws water balloons. We do have a few fun things here already, but I was tryna look online to beef up our outreach game, especially for engaging youth. Please let me know if your spot has cool machines you love to bring to outreach events! Gracias, ~Car -- *Carlyn Arteaga* *pronouns: they/them/theirs* Youth Program Coordinator *BICAS* 2001 N. 7th Ave. | Tucson, AZ 85701 | Shop: 520-628-7950 carlyn.arteaga(a)bicas.org | www.bicas.org | Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/bicascollective/> | Instagram <http://www.instagram.com/bicastucson/> *Through advocacy and bicycle salvage, our mission is to participate in affordable bicycle transportation, education, and creative recycling with our greater Tucson community.*

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BikeEnomics class for high school
by BikeConcord 22 Dec '19

22 Dec '19

My friend is a teacher at a local high school. He would like to once a week teach bike mechanics as part of his Economics class. Any ideas on how to tie bike mechanics into the curriculum of a high school economics class? Best regards and Happy pedaling! “Smitty” (S. M. Ardrey) Community Outreach & Bike Kitchen Coordinator a.k.a. The Instigator BikeConcord.org Facebook: BikeConcord Bike Concord's nonprofit 501(c) 3 sponsor is Bike East Bay BikeEastBay.org

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Free Crown Race Puller
by Tegan Moss [B!KE] 12 Dec '19

12 Dec '19

Does anyone want a crown race puller? Finish is damaged a bit and one jaw will eventually need to be replaced as its cracking. Happy to ship to anyone willing to pay shipping or drop it off in Toronto sometime.

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Shift Calendar
by Gabriel Trainer 11 Dec '19

11 Dec '19

Hello, Bike Farm is looking to keep an ongoing monthly shift calendar to keep track of who has signed up for a volunteer shift and which shifts need help. It would need to be viewable and editable by anyone. Does anyone know of something besides Google spreadsheets or calendar that would work for this purpose? Thanks for the help, Gabriel

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Example of Nonprofit + Commercial Shop Synergy?
by Gordon Hamachi 01 Dec '19

01 Dec '19

My nonprofit gets old bikes, used parts and unsold merchandise given to us by local bike shops. Evidently when customers purchase new bikes they ask the bike shop to dispose of their old one. Sometimes partially good merchandise comes as part of warranty returns. For example, I got a high end Mavic road wheel set where the rear rim failed but the front wheel and both hubs were fine. Other times shops donate obsolete merchandise with limited value. For example, I got some old rear hubs with power meters built in, that I have not been able to sell on eBay, because the required receiver is not included. Establishing and maintaining a good flow of items requires someone who is friendly and outgoing. Ideally, this contact person stops by regularly to see if the bike shop has any donations available for our non-profit. —Gordon Hamachi Silicon Valley Bicycle Exchange Palo Alto, California

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TheThinkTank December 2019