March 2020 - TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

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

5 4

Hiring a Shop Manager for Squeaky Wheel in London, ON
by Daniel Hall 03 Apr '20

03 Apr '20

Happy Monday folks, Squeaky Wheel Bike Co-op is looking to hire a dedicated shop manager to expand our open hours and programming to serve the London, Ontario community better. See the attached job description or read more here <https://buff.ly/2wpd4IZ>. Best, *Daniel Hall* Executive Director

2 1

Women operated/own shops
by Tigre Bici 03 Apr '20

03 Apr '20

Hello everyone! So, a question has going on among us. Any of you know any bike shops on your city that are owned and/or operated by/mainly by women? Thanks R.

33 72

staff review docs
by Geoff Heath 23 Mar '20

23 Mar '20

Hey folks So all this Covid-19/work from home whackiness has left me with some much needed admin time. Silver lining? I'm looking at revamping our staff reviews. I've attached what we used last year, which was great in lots of ways and a doc I want to continue to use. It's a goal-setting/self-review doc that I took the feedback from and worked performance feedback into. But I'm considering alternating years with a more traditional review process that measures folks' natural skillsets & personalities against their job descriptions and performance. Anyone have a staff performance review that they like and find useful? Thanks! G Geoff Heath, Education Director The Winnipeg Repair Education N' Cycling Hub 1057 Logan Ave. Winnipeg, MB R3E 3N8 Treaty 1 Territory, Homeland of the Metis Nation http://www.thewrench.ca 204-296-3389

2 1

Motorized Bicycle Diversion
by eric clough 23 Mar '20

23 Mar '20

Hello Think Tank. First, I want to say thanks for all the great threads I have read on this list serv. I rarely post anything but I do read most posts and I have gained lots of great perspectives, including the recent impacts of covid, from you all. Now, on to what might be a welcome diversion from the whole virus topic. We have a very small community bike shop on the south coast of Oregon and we are constantly approached about motorized bicycles in one form or another. We are looking for examples of how to deal with those interested in motorizing bicycles. I will say that after a couple of experiences with community members bringing their 'moto-bikes' in to the shop we have now taken the position that we do not provide assistance on those projects and don't want such bikes in our shop. They are contrary to our mission of non-petroleum based transportation. How do other longer established shops handle this? We frequently get people in to buy rear wheels or frames they can use for moto-bikes. Or they want to purchase one of the bikes our volunteers have spent hours restoring and convert it to a moto-bike. We are considering saying no to any support for moto-bikes but we also recognize that community members use them as an alternative to cars/motorcycles for important transportation needs - like commuting to work. Thank you and solidarity! Front Street Community Bike Works Coos Bay, OR

3 2

Rubbing alcohol substitutes, spraying grips with bleach, etc.
by Andrew Shaw-Kitch 21 Mar '20

21 Mar '20

Thanks for the lively conversation on how to ride the line between serving our community and doing our part not to spread covid-19. This is an unprecedented situation from all angles, so it's nice to have this group of like-minded folks from all over looking at things from this one. Here at Bikes for Humanity PDX we have postponed all classes, in-person programs, and open hours. We are doing bike adoptions on an appointment basis: (1) bikes are posted online for folks to browse, folks referred to us from partner organizations describe what they are looking for (2) a time is set 30 mins+ away from another appointment, and the adopter is asked if they'll need helmet, light, and/or lock. (3) We meet in the parking lot behind our space with a couple bike options, and any other items they might need. We feel this is a satisfactory means toward meeting the needs of people trying to access bikes as either a diversion or way to get to work, as well as our own needs of revenue and the fulfillment of our mission. Does anyone have insight on how to maximize social distancing and minimize shared contact of surfaces? I am also interested from a mechanical perspective, what the effect of watered down bleach is on grips, saddles, bar wrap. Since we only have so much rubbing alcohol, and it won't be easier to acquire anytime soon, we are looking for a way to ensure contact points are sterilized going forward. Spray bleach-water on grips and wipe with rag designated as the touch-points sanitizing rag? And since rubbing alcohol is now prioritized for non-bike purposes, what is another means of cleaning bearing systems, rims and disc rotors? I will be taking the crisis/opportunity ("crisitunity" in the phrasing of Homer Simpson) of having the doors closed to catch up refurbishment of the 100 bikes in our basement... -- -- *Andrew Shaw-Kitch (pronouns: he/him/his)* *Executive Director* *andrew(a)b4hpdx.org <andrewsk.b4hpdx(a)gmail.com>* *Our mission is to increase access to safe and affordable bikes while empowering self-sufficiency in bike maintenance and commuting.*

6 18

Re: [TheThinkTank] Thethinktank Digest, Vol 162, Issue 9
by Edward Kirkwood 19 Mar '20

19 Mar '20

Broke Spoke here in Lexington, Kentucky has officially suspended all operations out of concern for our volunteers and their families. We tried offering only drop off repairs but realized even that was asking too much from our volunteers. To the rest of you out there, stay safe and try and take care of each other the best you can. Allen K. Broke Spoke Community Bike Shop Sent from my iPad > On Mar 19, 2020, at 4:04 PM, thethinktank-request(a)lists.bikecollectives.org wrote: > > Send Thethinktank mailing list submissions to > thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… > > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > thethinktank-request(a)lists.bikecollectives.org > > You can reach the person managing the list at > thethinktank-owner(a)lists.bikecollectives.org > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Thethinktank digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: Coronavirus Update / Thethinktank Digest, Vol 162, Issue > 7 (Robert Rands) > 2. Fwd: Bike Clark County Shop Closure (peter(a)BikeClarkCounty.org) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2020 20:28:02 +0000 (UTC) > From: Robert Rands <cheerfulharmony(a)yahoo.com> > To: thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org > Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Coronavirus Update / Thethinktank Digest, > Vol 162, Issue 7 > Message-ID: <868348388.305351.1584563282654(a)mail.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > > > > "Hopefully we've all done enough community work >>>> to help people learn skills to work together [& on their own] >>>> and fix things, with o[]r without a dedicated >>>> space."" > > > "Coronavirus Update: > > Sopo Bicycle Cooperative [Reynoldstown, Atlanta] is committed to the safety and health of our patrons and volunteers. As we navigate through these difficult times, we've decided to close operations until further notice." > > > ~Robert R. > > > > On Tuesday, March 17, 2020, 08:05:37 PM UTC, <thethinktank-request(a)lists.bikecollectives.org> wrote: > > > > > > Send Thethinktank mailing list submissions to > ??? thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > ??? http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… > > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > ??? thethinktank-request(a)lists.bikecollectives.org > > You can reach the person managing the list at > ??? thethinktank-owner(a)lists.bikecollectives.org > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Thethinktank digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > ? 1. Re: Reliable infection numbers (BICAS ADMIN) > ? 2. Re: the virus and community bike shops, essential services > ? ? ? thought (carlyn.arteaga(a)bicas.org) > ? 3. Re: the virus and community bike shops, essential services > ? ? ? thought (Cyclista Nicholas) > ? 4. Re: the virus and community bike shops, essential services > ? ? ? thought (Edstewart) > ? 5. Re: the virus and community bike shops, essential services > ? ? ? thought (Mark Rehder) > ? 6. Re: Reliable infection numbers (General Manager) > ? 7. Re: Reliable ... pump for outside of shop (Jeff Potter) > ? 8. Re: Reliable ... pump for outside of shop (Anibal Davila) > ? 9. Re: Reliable ... pump for outside of shop (Christine Bourgeois) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2020 14:32:06 -0700 > From: BICAS ADMIN <bicas(a)bicas.org> > To: The Think Tank <thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org> > Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Reliable infection numbers > Message-ID: <FDB33F84-5B38-4A9C-9717-A36B9BD8DA4A(a)bicas.org> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > We just suspended all public services at BICAS in Tucson AZ today. :( Does anyone have a brilliant design for a pump that can be left outside that is less likely to get stolen/mangled?? > > Sending best wishes out to all our community bikes buddies in these uncertain times. > > ~Carlyn > >> On Mar 13, 2020, at 8:48 AM, Jim Bledsoe <gamesbledsoe(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> >> here is a look at the 1918 'Spanish Flue' >> https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/journal-plague-year-180965222/ >> >>> On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 7:25 AM William Beasley <wm.a.beasley(a)gmail.com> wrote: >>> Jeff- >>> Our shop is a mess, too, and we'd like to clean up and get ready for Spring. But just to be clear -- as of late yesterday, Ohio has 5 _confirmed_ cases of COVID-19. That 100,000 figure is an estimate from the Ohio Department of Health as to how many folks in Ohio might currently be carrying the virus, based on statistically extrapolating a rate of community spread. Yes, it's serious, and we need to be taking aggressive steps, but keeping perspective is important. >>> >>> William Beasley >>> Elyria Bike Education Center >>> >>> ?On 3/13/20, 10:07 AM, "Thethinktank on behalf of Jeff Potter" <thethinktank-bounces(a)lists.bikecollectives.org on behalf of jeff(a)outyourbackdoor.com> wrote: >>> >>> ? ? Thanks for the idea of leaving a pile of tubes and patches outside the door! >>> >>> ? ? I kinda like the idea of one worker in shop at a time. >>> >>> ? ? Our shop is a mess and we want to prep for spring here in Michigan. >>> >>> ? ? We?re still sorting out how to respond. Yes, possible to spread if asymptomatic but very very unlikely? It spreads via cough/sneeze. If our core gang of 3, say, shows up and nobody is symptomatic it seems like we will be fine. >>> >>> ? ? Ohio has 100k cases: high alert! MI has 2 cases known. Should MI be in a diff mode than OH? >>> >>> ? ? Or should we all go to ?stop all nonessential activity? mode to be safe? Tubes outside the shop can be done regardless ? we have hundreds of excess tubes! >>> >>> ? ? We?re talking 3 at a time ? this is not a ?big group.? It?s still doing social distancing but it?s not total isolation. We can use spray bottle w bleach to zap stuff to start. Not get close. >>> >>> ? ? ?Or should we do isolation? There are degrees in the isolation mode. Weekly groceries are essential. Keeping grocery open is not total isolation. Closing bike shop is not true isolation. So we?d stop all shop activity if that?s best. I?m in favor of over-responding now to do all we can to put the genie back in the bottle. Maybe for the next week or so? Adjust LATER. Go harder on the front end... >>> >>> ? ? Jeff Potter >>> ? ? Lansing Bike Co-op >>> ? ? Michigan >>> ? ? ____________________________________ >>> >>> ? ? The ThinkTank mailing List >>> >>> ? ? Unsubscribe from this list here: http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o… >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> ____________________________________ >>> >>> The ThinkTank mailing List >>> >>> Unsubscribe from this list here: http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o… >>> >> ____________________________________ >> >> The ThinkTank mailing List >> >> Unsubscribe from this list here: http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o… >> >

4 3

Fwd: Bike Clark County Shop Closure
by peter＠BikeClarkCounty.org 19 Mar '20

19 Mar '20

> Begin forwarded message: > > From: Peter Van Tilburg, Executive Director <info(a)bikeclarkcounty.org> > Subject: Bike Clark County Shop Closure > Date: March 19, 2020 at 9:20:02 AM PDT > To: Peter Van Tilburg <peter(a)bikeclarkcounty.org> > Reply-To: Peter Van Tilburg, Executive Director <info(a)bikeclarkcounty.org> > > View this email in your browser <https://mailchi.mp/bikeclarkcounty.org/bike-clark-county-shop-closure?e=1c5…> > > > Bike Clark County Shop Closure > FLATTEN THE CURVE...but not your tires! > > Bike Clark County nonprofit has made the difficult decision to close up our panniers for a short while and pedal on home. While our Bike Shop supports the community in many ways, we feel it is best for everyone during these difficult times to close our shop until further notice. We empathize for people whose only form of transportation is a bicycle, yet we feel it is best for the safety of all to temporarily close our doors. > > BCC will need your support for the long haul but not the short spin. In the near months, follow federal and state guidelines. Stay home as much as possible but get outside for a walk, run, or spin about the neighborhood if you can. I personally have been touched by the kind generosity of my neighbors and our community these past few days. > > Is your bike currently in the shop to get repaired? No worries, we got your back! We will have limited staff working through our backlog as fast and as safely as possible to get you back on two wheels. We will contact you for a private appointment to collect your ride. Credit Card payments are preferred as they are handsfree. > COVID19 knows of no border, race, religion, or politics....Here's to coming together as a community, nation, and a planet for a better, stronger, and more loving tomorrow. > > Reminders: > 1) Compulsively wash your hands. > 2) Don't touch your face [or anyone else's for that matter]. > 3) Practice social distancing (6 feet for Pete!) [my new campaign slogan?] > 4) Stay home as much as possible or outside in the fresh air. > 5) If you use a reusable grocery bag wash it in the washing machine. > Like Matthew McConaughey expressed this week, we're looking for the green light after this red light and we can't wait to gear up our programs. Think of this time as the tough, slow pedal up a hill, one crank at a time, gaining height for a sweet decent. Look to the future. > We will miss seeing the smiling faces of customers, friends, family, and our steadfast group of Thursday night volunteers who have been with us over many years. We're excited to roll out our Bike2Leadership Middle School program, restarting all of our programs and bonding with our community in person once again. > > Thank you and see you outside! > > Pedal On, > Peter Van Tilburg, > Executive Director > <https://bikeclarkcounty.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=906f24f8b378e0a84…> > <https://bikeclarkcounty.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=906f24f8b378e0a84…> > <https://bikeclarkcounty.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=906f24f8b378e0a84…> > Copyright © 2020 Bike Clark County, All rights reserved. > Open Swim at BCC! Show up on a Thursday and work on some bikes! > > Our mailing address is: > Bike Clark County > 1604 Main St > Vancouver, WA 98660-2948 > > Add us to your address book <https://bikeclarkcounty.us6.list-manage.com/vcard?u=906f24f8b378e0a84bf38b9…> > > Want to change how you receive these emails? > You can update your preferences <https://bikeclarkcounty.us6.list-manage.com/profile?u=906f24f8b378e0a84bf38…> or unsubscribe from this list <https://bikeclarkcounty.us6.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=906f24f8b378e0a84…>. > >

1 0

Re: [TheThinkTank] Coronavirus Update / Thethinktank Digest, Vol 162, Issue 7
by Robert Rands 18 Mar '20

18 Mar '20

"Hopefully we've all done enough community work >>> to help people learn skills to work together [& on their own] >>> and fix things, with o[]r without a dedicated >>> space."" "Coronavirus Update: Sopo Bicycle Cooperative [Reynoldstown, Atlanta] is committed to the safety and health of our patrons and volunteers. As we navigate through these difficult times, we've decided to close operations until further notice." ~Robert R. On Tuesday, March 17, 2020, 08:05:37 PM UTC, <thethinktank-request(a)lists.bikecollectives.org> wrote: Send Thethinktank mailing list submissions to thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to thethinktank-request(a)lists.bikecollectives.org You can reach the person managing the list at thethinktank-owner(a)lists.bikecollectives.org When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of Thethinktank digest..." Today's Topics: 1. Re: Reliable infection numbers (BICAS ADMIN) 2. Re: the virus and community bike shops, essential services thought (carlyn.arteaga(a)bicas.org) 3. Re: the virus and community bike shops, essential services thought (Cyclista Nicholas) 4. Re: the virus and community bike shops, essential services thought (Edstewart) 5. Re: the virus and community bike shops, essential services thought (Mark Rehder) 6. Re: Reliable infection numbers (General Manager) 7. Re: Reliable ... pump for outside of shop (Jeff Potter) 8. Re: Reliable ... pump for outside of shop (Anibal Davila) 9. Re: Reliable ... pump for outside of shop (Christine Bourgeois) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2020 14:32:06 -0700 From: BICAS ADMIN <bicas(a)bicas.org> To: The Think Tank <thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org> Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Reliable infection numbers Message-ID: <FDB33F84-5B38-4A9C-9717-A36B9BD8DA4A(a)bicas.org> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" We just suspended all public services at BICAS in Tucson AZ today. :( Does anyone have a brilliant design for a pump that can be left outside that is less likely to get stolen/mangled?? Sending best wishes out to all our community bikes buddies in these uncertain times. ~Carlyn > On Mar 13, 2020, at 8:48 AM, Jim Bledsoe <gamesbledsoe(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > here is a look at the 1918 'Spanish Flue' > https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/journal-plague-year-180965222/ > >> On Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 7:25 AM William Beasley <wm.a.beasley(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> Jeff- >> Our shop is a mess, too, and we'd like to clean up and get ready for Spring. But just to be clear -- as of late yesterday, Ohio has 5 _confirmed_ cases of COVID-19. That 100,000 figure is an estimate from the Ohio Department of Health as to how many folks in Ohio might currently be carrying the virus, based on statistically extrapolating a rate of community spread. Yes, it's serious, and we need to be taking aggressive steps, but keeping perspective is important. >> >> William Beasley >> Elyria Bike Education Center >> >> ?On 3/13/20, 10:07 AM, "Thethinktank on behalf of Jeff Potter" <thethinktank-bounces(a)lists.bikecollectives.org on behalf of jeff(a)outyourbackdoor.com> wrote: >> >> Thanks for the idea of leaving a pile of tubes and patches outside the door! >> >> I kinda like the idea of one worker in shop at a time. >> >> Our shop is a mess and we want to prep for spring here in Michigan. >> >> We?re still sorting out how to respond. Yes, possible to spread if asymptomatic but very very unlikely? It spreads via cough/sneeze. If our core gang of 3, say, shows up and nobody is symptomatic it seems like we will be fine. >> >> Ohio has 100k cases: high alert! MI has 2 cases known. Should MI be in a diff mode than OH? >> >> Or should we all go to ?stop all nonessential activity? mode to be safe? Tubes outside the shop can be done regardless ? we have hundreds of excess tubes! >> >> We?re talking 3 at a time ? this is not a ?big group.? It?s still doing social distancing but it?s not total isolation. We can use spray bottle w bleach to zap stuff to start. Not get close. >> >> ?Or should we do isolation? There are degrees in the isolation mode. Weekly groceries are essential. Keeping grocery open is not total isolation. Closing bike shop is not true isolation. So we?d stop all shop activity if that?s best. I?m in favor of over-responding now to do all we can to put the genie back in the bottle. Maybe for the next week or so? Adjust LATER. Go harder on the front end... >> >> Jeff Potter >> Lansing Bike Co-op >> Michigan >> ____________________________________ >> >> The ThinkTank mailing List >> >> Unsubscribe from this list here: http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o… >> >> >> >> >> ____________________________________ >> >> The ThinkTank mailing List >> >> Unsubscribe from this list here: http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o… >> > ____________________________________ > > The ThinkTank mailing List > > Unsubscribe from this list here: http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o… >

1 0

Reliable infection numbers
by William Beasley 18 Mar '20

18 Mar '20

Jeff- Our shop is a mess, too, and we'd like to clean up and get ready for Spring. But just to be clear -- as of late yesterday, Ohio has 5 _confirmed_ cases of COVID-19. That 100,000 figure is an estimate from the Ohio Department of Health as to how many folks in Ohio might currently be carrying the virus, based on statistically extrapolating a rate of community spread. Yes, it's serious, and we need to be taking aggressive steps, but keeping perspective is important. William Beasley Elyria Bike Education Center On 3/13/20, 10:07 AM, "Thethinktank on behalf of Jeff Potter" <thethinktank-bounces(a)lists.bikecollectives.org on behalf of jeff(a)outyourbackdoor.com> wrote: Thanks for the idea of leaving a pile of tubes and patches outside the door! I kinda like the idea of one worker in shop at a time. Our shop is a mess and we want to prep for spring here in Michigan. We’re still sorting out how to respond. Yes, possible to spread if asymptomatic but very very unlikely? It spreads via cough/sneeze. If our core gang of 3, say, shows up and nobody is symptomatic it seems like we will be fine. Ohio has 100k cases: high alert! MI has 2 cases known. Should MI be in a diff mode than OH? Or should we all go to “stop all nonessential activity” mode to be safe? Tubes outside the shop can be done regardless — we have hundreds of excess tubes! We’re talking 3 at a time — this is not a “big group.” It’s still doing social distancing but it’s not total isolation. We can use spray bottle w bleach to zap stuff to start. Not get close. …Or should we do isolation? There are degrees in the isolation mode. Weekly groceries are essential. Keeping grocery open is not total isolation. Closing bike shop is not true isolation. So we’d stop all shop activity if that’s best. I’m in favor of over-responding now to do all we can to put the genie back in the bottle. Maybe for the next week or so? Adjust LATER. Go harder on the front end... Jeff Potter Lansing Bike Co-op Michigan ____________________________________ The ThinkTank mailing List Unsubscribe from this list here: http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o…

8 7