February 2021 - 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)

8 10

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

5 4

Service Tickets and Bike Tags
by Amanda Chilson 29 Apr '23

29 Apr '23

Good Afternoon, I am wondering if bike collectives and shops could share what they are using for service tickets or slips when a bike is being purchased, when preparing a bike to sell, when people drop off a bike to be fixed/tuned and/or a bike that was donated? Thank you so much for your help! Amanda Chilson Health and Wellness Coordinator Northern Berkshire Community Coalition 61 Main St. Suite 218 North Adams, MA 01247 413-663-7588 Ext. 16 www.nbccoalition.org

6 7

Online interactive bicycle workshops
by Geoffrey Smart 29 Apr '21

29 Apr '21

Hi All This is something Back2Bikes would like to do during Covid I believe this has been discussed previously. We are wondering if since that time anyone has had any luck, experience or advice about launching such an initiative since it was first discussed. Geoff Smart -- Sent from Gmail Mobile

3 2

Hiring: Multiple Positions with Red Bike - Cincinnati, OH
by Elese Daniel 27 Feb '21

27 Feb '21

Hi there! Elese here. I'm the Education & Outreach Manager for Red Bike, the nonprofit bikeshare system serving Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky, with 60 stations and 600 classic and electric assist bicycles. We're hiring and looking for rad folks to join our Outreach Team. All positions posted here <https://www.cincyredbike.org/jobs>, with detailed descriptions, including pay, requirments, schedules, etc. Red Bike was recently designated as a Living Lab City by the Better Bike Share Partnership <https://betterbikeshare.org/2021/02/17/meet-5-grantees-out-to-transform-bik…>, a national organization dedicated to building equitable and replicable shared micromobility systems. As a Living Lab, we'll continue to develop and test innovative, new strategies and programs to increase access to bikeshare in the region through our Red Bike Go Program <https://www.cincyredbike.org/gopass>. We're hiring an Outreach & Member Management Assistant, as well as an intern. We've also partnered with our local bicycle cooperative, MoBo Bicycle Cooperative <http://www.villagegreenfoundation.org/mobo-bicycle-co-op/>, on a joint Youth Programs Coordinator position. And, operationally, we're still looking for another System Technician. I recognize it's a weird/challenging time to move and that these are part-time positions, but sharing in case you or someone you know might be interested, and also as reference for nonprofit bikeshare efforts and bike collective collaboration. Personally, I've gotten so much inspiration from you all via this knowledge-share over the years re bike access/community/ethos/etc., all of which *for sure* lives in what I've been able to build here in Cincy. Thanks for being and doing and making. - Elese

1 0

Re: [TheThinkTank] Thethinktank Digest, Vol 173, Issue 13
by Tegan Moss [B!KE] 25 Feb '21

25 Feb '21

I cannot recommend coloured tags enough. We started using coloured tags 6-7 years ago and they immediately reduced the amount of confusion. Someone who knows the system can at a glance tell a lot more about the status of a bike! We have tags that we print on quarter and half page sheets of paper that we insert into a reusable plastic sleeve and hang on each bike. - Orange - as-is available for a volunteer or member to fix up - Yellow - in the process of being refurbished by a volunteer - Green - ready to ride out the door - Pink - belongs to someone On Tue, Feb 23, 2021 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: Intake + Repair Guides (Daniel Hall) > 2. Re: Intake + Repair Guides (Robert Christiansen) > > > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: Daniel Hall <director(a)londoncyclelink.ca> > To: The Think Tank <thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org> > Cc: > Bcc: > Date: Mon, 22 Feb 2021 16:49:10 -0500 > Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Intake + Repair Guides > We were talking about developing this at our shop as well, thanks so much > for sharing! > > *Daniel Hall *(he/him) > Executive Director > London Cycle Link > > > On Sun, Feb 21, 2021 at 5:46 PM Luis Fernandez <luis(a)casildo.com> wrote: > >> This is really great and so helpful! Looks like years and years of >> experience summarized in a few clear pages. Well done! >> >> Luis >> Staff @ Somerville Bike Kitchen (@somervillebikekitchen) >> >> On Fri, Feb 19, 2021 at 4:26 PM Josh Bisker <jbisker(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> >>> Hiya pals, lots to report on from NYC, some good, some hard, but for the >>> moment I wanted to send around the latest and probably final version of my >>> handy repair guide. This is intended as a teaching tool to help people in >>> the shop work more autonomously on bike fixing, regardless of their level >>> of skill. >>> >>> There are two PDFs attached. The first one is for intake, as in, "do we >>> want to repair this bike or strip and scrap it?" The second is for bikes >>> that have passed through intake successfully. It gives a step-by-step >>> repair guide -- not a "how to," but a "what to." It's meant to help >>> especially newer mechanics move through a bike's systems, well, >>> systematically, in a way that supports their learning and praxis. >>> >>> The intake one probably works well printed and laminated; it can be used >>> multiple times. The repair one is meant to remain with a bike throughout >>> its repair life, and also be included with its sale (or giveaway or >>> whatever). I designed it to be printed out double-sided on four sheets of >>> paper and then folded or saddle stitched into a booklet or zine. *"Four >>> sheets of paper?!",* I hear you gasp. Yes. Of all the similar documents >>> I've come across that have been squeezed onto one page, either they've been >>> way too cramped and shorthanded to actually be a helpful and approachable >>> resource for people who are new to wrenching, or they've been way too terse >>> and reductive to be good repair guides. I think this guide answers those >>> goals really well. >>> >>> Let me know what you think. Feel free to use these in your own shops, >>> and I can make the InDesign files available too so you can doctor them to >>> your needs. (I'm also including a copy that's laid out for screen viewing >>> as opposed to printing, but it's really not designed to be used that way -- >>> it's a hardcopy tool). >>> >>> Also FWIW the bike intake workflow is designed around a colored tag >>> system: >>> >>> - No tag means "intake me someone, please." >>> - Red tags say "strip and scrap me" >>> - Blue tags say "fix me, someone" >>> - Orange tags say "price me, I've been fixed up" >>> - Green tags say "sell me" and have price stickers on them >>> - Some blue tags have sparkles and additional text that indicates >>> "fix me, someone -- but I'm fancy, so not a good beginner project." >>> - The most cost-effective tags I found are these >>> <https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08BHY4DH1/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00…>. >>> (I know, I know) >>> >>> xo >>> >>> Josh >>> Josh Bisker | 914-500-9890 | Executive Director, Mechanical Gardens >>> Bike Co-op <http://bikecoop.nyc/> >>> 2021 Winter Donation Drive is ON! Support Bike Equity in NYC Today! >>> <http://bikecoop.nyc/donate> >>> Funkrust Brass Band <http://funkrust.com/> | Kessel Run Radio Show on >>> Maker Park Radio >>> <https://makerparkradio.nyc/shows/the-kessel-run-w-joshjoshjosh/> >>> ____________________________________ >>> >>> 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… >> >> > > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: Robert Christiansen <robert(a)sacbike.org> > To: The Think Tank <thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org> > Cc: > Bcc: > Date: Mon, 22 Feb 2021 23:16:10 -0800 > Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Intake + Repair Guides > Great work thank you for sharing! Idea for the colored tags: I picked up a > large amount of ID card lamination sheets with a pre cut hole for a badge > clip (at a thrift store). I then got colored index cards (another thrift > store find) and cut them down to size and laminated them. You can write on > them with a sharpie and can be erased with rubbing alcohol or hand > sanitizer with alcohol in it. Reusable and sturdy should last a long time. > > Thanks again for sharing your excellent work! Very impressive. > > Regards, > Robert > Sacramento > > On Fri, Feb 19, 2021 at 1:26 PM Josh Bisker <jbisker(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >> Hiya pals, lots to report on from NYC, some good, some hard, but for the >> moment I wanted to send around the latest and probably final version of my >> handy repair guide. This is intended as a teaching tool to help people in >> the shop work more autonomously on bike fixing, regardless of their level >> of skill. >> >> There are two PDFs attached. The first one is for intake, as in, "do we >> want to repair this bike or strip and scrap it?" The second is for bikes >> that have passed through intake successfully. It gives a step-by-step >> repair guide -- not a "how to," but a "what to." It's meant to help >> especially newer mechanics move through a bike's systems, well, >> systematically, in a way that supports their learning and praxis. >> >> The intake one probably works well printed and laminated; it can be used >> multiple times. The repair one is meant to remain with a bike throughout >> its repair life, and also be included with its sale (or giveaway or >> whatever). I designed it to be printed out double-sided on four sheets of >> paper and then folded or saddle stitched into a booklet or zine. *"Four >> sheets of paper?!",* I hear you gasp. Yes. Of all the similar documents >> I've come across that have been squeezed onto one page, either they've been >> way too cramped and shorthanded to actually be a helpful and approachable >> resource for people who are new to wrenching, or they've been way too terse >> and reductive to be good repair guides. I think this guide answers those >> goals really well. >> >> Let me know what you think. Feel free to use these in your own shops, and >> I can make the InDesign files available too so you can doctor them to your >> needs. (I'm also including a copy that's laid out for screen viewing as >> opposed to printing, but it's really not designed to be used that way -- >> it's a hardcopy tool). >> >> Also FWIW the bike intake workflow is designed around a colored tag >> system: >> >> - No tag means "intake me someone, please." >> - Red tags say "strip and scrap me" >> - Blue tags say "fix me, someone" >> - Orange tags say "price me, I've been fixed up" >> - Green tags say "sell me" and have price stickers on them >> - Some blue tags have sparkles and additional text that indicates >> "fix me, someone -- but I'm fancy, so not a good beginner project." >> - The most cost-effective tags I found are these >> <https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08BHY4DH1/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00…>. >> (I know, I know) >> >> xo >> >> Josh >> Josh Bisker | 914-500-9890 | Executive Director, Mechanical Gardens Bike >> Co-op <http://bikecoop.nyc/> >> 2021 Winter Donation Drive is ON! Support Bike Equity in NYC Today! >> <http://bikecoop.nyc/donate> >> Funkrust Brass Band <http://funkrust.com/> | Kessel Run Radio Show on >> Maker Park Radio >> <https://makerparkradio.nyc/shows/the-kessel-run-w-joshjoshjosh/> >> ____________________________________ >> >> The ThinkTank mailing List >> >> Unsubscribe from this list here: >> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o… >> >> _______________________________________________ > Thethinktank mailing list > Thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org > > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… > -- Executive Director B!KE: The Peterborough Community Bike Shop 293 George St, Peterborough ON (705) 775-7227 communitybikeshop.org she/her

1 0

Intake + Repair Guides
by Josh Bisker 23 Feb '21

23 Feb '21

Hiya pals, lots to report on from NYC, some good, some hard, but for the moment I wanted to send around the latest and probably final version of my handy repair guide. This is intended as a teaching tool to help people in the shop work more autonomously on bike fixing, regardless of their level of skill. There are two PDFs attached. The first one is for intake, as in, "do we want to repair this bike or strip and scrap it?" The second is for bikes that have passed through intake successfully. It gives a step-by-step repair guide -- not a "how to," but a "what to." It's meant to help especially newer mechanics move through a bike's systems, well, systematically, in a way that supports their learning and praxis. The intake one probably works well printed and laminated; it can be used multiple times. The repair one is meant to remain with a bike throughout its repair life, and also be included with its sale (or giveaway or whatever). I designed it to be printed out double-sided on four sheets of paper and then folded or saddle stitched into a booklet or zine. *"Four sheets of paper?!",* I hear you gasp. Yes. Of all the similar documents I've come across that have been squeezed onto one page, either they've been way too cramped and shorthanded to actually be a helpful and approachable resource for people who are new to wrenching, or they've been way too terse and reductive to be good repair guides. I think this guide answers those goals really well. Let me know what you think. Feel free to use these in your own shops, and I can make the InDesign files available too so you can doctor them to your needs. (I'm also including a copy that's laid out for screen viewing as opposed to printing, but it's really not designed to be used that way -- it's a hardcopy tool). Also FWIW the bike intake workflow is designed around a colored tag system: - No tag means "intake me someone, please." - Red tags say "strip and scrap me" - Blue tags say "fix me, someone" - Orange tags say "price me, I've been fixed up" - Green tags say "sell me" and have price stickers on them - Some blue tags have sparkles and additional text that indicates "fix me, someone -- but I'm fancy, so not a good beginner project." - The most cost-effective tags I found are these <https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08BHY4DH1/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00…>. (I know, I know) xo Josh Josh Bisker | 914-500-9890 | Executive Director, Mechanical Gardens Bike Co-op <http://bikecoop.nyc/> 2021 Winter Donation Drive is ON! Support Bike Equity in NYC Today! <http://bikecoop.nyc/donate> Funkrust Brass Band <http://funkrust.com/> | Kessel Run Radio Show on Maker Park Radio <https://makerparkradio.nyc/shows/the-kessel-run-w-joshjoshjosh/>

6 5

Full Time Staff Opening: Director of Bike Walk Tompkins
by Claire Dehm 23 Feb '21

23 Feb '21

Hi everyone, Bike Walk Tompkins in Ithaca, NY is hiring! See below for more information. *Full-Time Staff Opening: Director of Bike Walk Tompkins (Ithaca, NY) <https://www.bikewalktompkins.org/news/category/Careers>* Are you interested in leading the charge for better walking and bicycling in and around Ithaca, NY? The Center for Community Transportation is seeking a new Director for its active transportation program Bike Walk Tompkins. This is an opportunity to join a mission-focused organization in making Ithaca and Tompkins County a community where walking and biking are safe and convenient for people of all ages and abilities. Ithaca is a progressive community located in the Finger Lakes region in upstate New York with a friendly, small-town atmosphere. Starting salary range is $48,000-$55,000 plus benefits and applicants with experience working in diverse communities are strongly encouraged to apply. Full details at bikewalktompkins.org/careers. -Claire

1 0

Bulk membership reduction?
by Stunt Ventriloquist 23 Feb '21

23 Feb '21

Hi, I’m on the board of a community bike shop in Ontario, Canada. We’ve been approached by the HR of a company curious if we would offer a bulk membership to their staff at a discount. We see it adding community building and promotional value as well. Has anyone done anything like this and how much did you discount? We’re assuming only half the staff of the company would use the membership, but don’t really have any experience to base that on either. Our current membership gets you use of the space tools and expertise of staff its $40/year for an individual. Any insight would be awesome, Thanks Tim Holland www.stuntventriloquist.com Sent from my iPhone

3 2

Free Registration for Youth (21+under) at Nat'l Bike Summit
by Henry Dunbar 17 Feb '21

17 Feb '21

FYI, the League of American Bicyclists, 2021 National Bike Summit is offering free registration <https://whova.com/portal/registration/natio2_202102/> to anyone 21 or under. In order to be eligible for the Youth Scholarship, you must complete two of the following three requirements: - Advocacy Training (Sunday, February 28) - Participate in Virtual Lobby Day (Wednesday, March 3) - Agree to participate in a local advocacy event. This year's Summit will also feature content for youth, by youth, with youth in mind. There will be an "open mic" visioning session on Sunday, Feb. 28 led by members of the Youth Bike Council. Youth can also attend any other sessions. Henry Dunbar, Phoenix Bikes Volunteer, Arlington, VA

1 0