- TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

low end bikes, Invisible riders
by Michael Wolfe 30 May '08

30 May '08

I like where the discussion is going on Low End Walmart bikes. To provide an interesting prospective, check out this article in Bicycling Magazine. It highlights a part of the cycling population that we not only fail to recognize, but often are oblivious to. It's kind of long but a worthy read. http://www.bicycling.com/article/1,6610,s1-3-12-13639-1-P,00.html

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Re: [TheThinkTank] bicycle shaped objects
by dragonfly＠mac.hush.com 28 May '08

28 May '08

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Hi, All. I'm sitting here in Toronto awaiting this baby's arrival. She's now well overdue. It's bike month here, and we've had the launch of the Toronto Cyclists Union, some cool fundraisers, several great charity and political rides, and a host of other things. My friend who is visiting me from my other home, Detroit, is in total culture shock. This is a good thread. Department store bikes do suck, but I like Noah's post and this one from Chris. Part of my feeling of mild distain for my fellow cyclists in Windsor Ontario is about such silliness as riding on the sidewalk and CLEARLY not making ongoing reparis to their bikes, but part of it is also that most people are riding ugly and poor quality department store or hardware store bikes. Some of the reasons to dislike department store bikes and their riders are not merely about the functionality of the bikes, about which many true things have already been said, but about their aesthetic qualities, or lack thereof. They are just ugly and they have no style. If they have to be dealt with at all, the recommendations that they be given complete overhauls and cared for as best as possible make sense to me-- better any bike than no bike, and the people who ride them probably end up actually loving them, and who am I to disrespect that? The ugliness also needs to be addresssed, though. Because they are cheap and ugly and not worth much, etc., they are actually great for making into art bikes. Sand and prime and repaint the bikes, spray paint them gold and cover them in bits of crome from old cars, cover them in broken mirrors, decoupage pictures of naked ladies all over them and seal in the naked goodness with some sort of top coat-- I have seen all these things and many more odd and marvelous things (including a bike completely covered in those little rubber snakes you can get in toy stores) done to department store bikes, and when I looked at THOSE (admittedly still barely functional) cheap-ass rides, I got over my aversion and scorn, and I thought they were cool. I hope everyone is in a good mood and that the weather is nice where you are. Sasha On Wed, 28 May 2008 14:23:54 -0400 "info(a)re-cycles.ca" <info@re- cycles.ca> wrote: >Recently I have seen many examples of new department store bikes >with >cones TOO tight and some with NO grease in the bearings or >anywhere >else. > >Most of the higher end Costco and department store bikes will last >for >years but they need to be totally overhauled upon purchase >otherwise >they will grind/seize themselves to death within a couple of >seasons. >Kind of puts the low end prices of a good bike shop, that checks, >greases and adjusts their bikes before sale, into perspective. > >Or volunteer at your local community bike shop for a couple of >months, >then buy a new high end Costco bike, spend 2 evenings overhauling >it >yourself and laugh all the way to the bank. > >Chris >--- reno bikes <renobikeproject(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >> arguably dept. store bikes suck. >> but just change your thinking a little. >> they are not a performance machine. >> >> as long as the cones are tight enough, and the wheel straight >enough >> to >> avoid >> touching pads, then whomever rides it will appreciate it. >> >> its a step up from a bus pass. >> >> and some people ride roadmasters for years. they are around. you >have >> seen >> them. >> >> i just keep them rolling and spend more time with better >equipment. >> >> noah > >Chris Wells >(Head Mechanic & Email Handler) > >re-Cycles Bicycle Co-op >477 Bronson Ave. Ottawa > >re-Cycles is open 6pm-10pm Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays >(for volunteering, DIY, bike & parts sales & donation drop off) >AND SUNDAYS 3pm-6pm for Volunteering and Donations! :-) > >Bike sales and donation drop off also available during Cycle >Salvation hours: 9am-5:30pm Tuesday to Friday, and 9am-1pm on >Saturday > >(IMPORTANT: Please remember that while Cycle Salvation will be >using our shop during the day, any public bike repair, whether >volunteer or do-it-yourself, is still only during regular re- >Cycles hours in the evenings.) > >info(a)re-cycles.ca >http://www.re-cycles.ca/ >_______________________________________________ >Thethinktank mailing list >Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- >bikecollectives.org -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Note: This signature can be verified at https://www.hushtools.com/verify Charset: UTF8 Version: Hush 3.0 wkYEARECAAYFAkg9qe4ACgkQ5O7ahKJmrRmh3QCfcrC2swY3dSQIrqbPG3R625/714oA nRS0w/ofPmx/a8rXy+b5Vj6Uurvs =lTwG -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Shareef don't like it.
by Michael Wolfe 28 May '08

28 May '08

Well said. I've been looking at the new city bikes the Sky Yeager has designed for Swobo and they are around $700. It would be good to see high quality commuter bikes for less. On 5/28/08, Sherief <sgaber(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > I think the whole department store bike issue is a real obstacle to > cycling. On the one hand, prices of decent entry level bikes have gone up > up up in recent years, making the 149.95 price point on a lot of those > wal-mart beasts seem reasonable. However, as has been our experience at the > Austin Yellow Bike, and one that I'm sure others have noticed, those bikes > are effectively disposable. All of the parts within them are near > irreparable. Hubs that you can never quite adjust because the cones start > pitting from the box, bad springs, rust, etc. You pay less but if you > actually intend to ride then you end up paying more for a replacement or > futile service. This more often than not puts a sour taste in people's > mouths for cycling and the gateway never happens. > > I've thought about some way we can get the knowledge out about the virtues > of used/older bikes, etc. and the pitfalls of those tantalizingly cheap > department store bikes, combined with the refurbishing and sale of (better) > used bikes. A lot of people don't realize that a bike *should* last you 20, > 30, even 100 years. I've almost wanted to stand around in the department > store bicycle section and hand people leaflets, perhaps shouting "It's a > trap!". When people come into our shop to work on those bikes the > difference is made clear enough to them, but something broader could be > interesting... > > Snobbery towards department store bikes, and more importantly those who > ride them, is counter-productive and doesn't help anyone, but department > store bikes must nonetheless be stopped. Their disposability and hassle is > arguable anti-bicycle. > > -sherief > > On Tue, May 27, 2008 at 9:17 PM, Gern Blanston <getgern(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >> When people ask me what the best bike to get is...I answer, "The best bike >> is which ever one you will get on AND RIDE!, not just have it sit in >> storage." >> >> >> On 5/19/08, Cuper <cuper(a)neighborhoodbikeworks.org> wrote: >>> >>> And what about for the people are won't to come into your coop for all of >>> the perceived social, racial, economic, and other barriers we all know way >>> too well? By telling folks *who are already intimidated by you* that those >>> bikes are garbage, and implying that anyone who buys one is stupid, you are >>> alienating potential shop users and customers. >>> >>> Those department store monsters aren't great, but can be "gateway >>> bikes." If you find a more positive way to pitch your product (instead >>> slamming what many people feel is the best they can do), the folks who are >>> riding department store bikes now are light years more likely to come to you >>> in a year or two or five. >>> >>> jimmie >>> >>> -- >>> Neighborhood Bike Works tel: 215.386.0316 >>> 3916 Locust Walk fax: 215.386.7288 >>> Philadelphia, PA 19104 www.neighborhoodbikeworks.org >>> >>> Providing opportunities to youth through bicycling. >>> >>> NBw has a listserv! To stay in touch, subscribe to BikeStreetJounral(a)NeighborhoodBikeWorks.org at www.neighborhoodbikeworks.org/mailman/listinfo/bikestreetjournal. >>> >>> >>> >>> veganboyjosh(a)gmail.com wrote: >>> >>> >>> >>> On Sun, May 11, 2008 at 8:17 AM, Bruce Lien <bikedadlien(a)yahoo.com> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> how do low income families who can only stretch their budgets far enough >>>> to buy their kid a bike for under $100, $70, or $40 do so? While some might >>>> advocate they buy used bikes, check out the junk sitting at the Goodwill >>>> with exorbitant prices on them, sold as is and you can see why that is not a >>>> viable option. Garage sales are great alternatives, but again the bikes are >>>> sold "as is" which often leaves a bike in need of some TLC from a good >>>> mechanic. Bruce >>> >>> >>> several things the people on this list have or have access to: >>> >>> volunteer power/time/energy. >>> bike knowledge. >>> decent--better than dept store bikes. >>> >>> this is just a brainstorm that just came to me after reading gary, >>> rafael, and bruce's emails....but what if we could somehow get the word out >>> to these low income families with no LBS that the coops are the place to go. >>> some kind of mailorder thing...i'm not sure how it would work, but if we're >>> operating on a national level, then shouldn't we be able to address at least >>> some of the basic needs of everyone in the country? >>> just an idea, i've been thinking about for all of 30 seconds. unlike >>> gary's and rafaels, which both sound awesome and doable... >>> >>> >>> ------------------------------ >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Thethinktank mailing listThethinktank@bikecollectives.orghttp://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.org >>> >>> ------------------------------ >>> >>> No virus found in this incoming message. >>> Checked by AVG. >>> Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.16/1428 - Release Date: 5/12/2008 7:44 AM >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Thethinktank mailing list >>> Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >>> >>> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… >>> >>> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Thethinktank mailing list >> Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> >> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > Thethinktank mailing list > Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… > >

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setting a 3-speed in #2 without cables
by Bob Giordano 27 May '08

27 May '08

quick comment- if you are stuck without a cable/shifter set for the shimano style 3-speeds, you can slip a thick washer under the spring-activated gear shifter located on the hub (a small rock works too). This will keep the hub in second speed (or 1st if you'd like), instead of the harder gear 3. -Bob, Free cycles missoula reno bikes wrote: > actually the sturmey archer ones are a bit more common. they are usually > steel so they last longer. > i was thinking shimano.

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REI- know them.
by Tom Emm 23 May '08

23 May '08

www.rei.com/reigives

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organizational meetings: structure, facilitation, etc?
by rachael spiewak 17 May '08

17 May '08

Hiya, Bike Collectives. I'm wondering.. what kinds of meetings do you have? How are they structured and facilitated? Thanks! rachael -- Sopo Bicycle Cooperative 404-425-9989 www.sopobikes.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Hours of operation: Tues/Thurs 7 pm - 10 pm Sat/Sun 2 pm - 6 pm

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Bike Collective Link Pages on our sites - Revisited
by Rich Points 14 May '08

14 May '08

Hey All, About six months ago I wrote to this list about having a links page to all the collectives in the U.S. and Canada. Since then a bunch of collectives have posted this link list on their sites. I wanted to revisit this and encourage more collectives to post this link list to their sites. It shows that we are part of an international effort to get people on bikes. And it's a great resource for people traveling or moving. http://www.communitycycles.org/links.html Please contact me if you have updates or revisions. Peace -- Rich Points Community Cycles Director http://CommunityCycles.org Rich(a)CommunityCycles.org 720-565-6019

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Re: [TheThinkTank] A wikiHow article on How to Start a Not For Profit Organization in Ontario, Canada
by Tom Emm 14 May '08

14 May '08

tom48236(a)yahoo.com wrote: ---------------- Your friend just sent you the following article from wikiHow.com: How to Start a Not For Profit Organization in Ontario, Canada Incorporating a not-for-profit in the province of Ontario, Canada? Heres how... You can view the rest of this page at: http://www.wikihow.com/Start-a-Not-For-Profit-Organization-in-Ontario%2C-Ca… wikiHow is a collaborative writing project aiming to build the world's largest how-to manual. Our mission is to provide free and useful instructions to help people solve the problems of everyday life. wikiHow is a wiki, which is a website that anyone can write or edit. You can help us, by editing any page on wikiHow which needs improvement. http://www.wikiHow.com - The How-to manual that anyone can write or edit

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honoring earn-a-bike hours from other co-ops / collectives?
by Durham Bike Co-op 13 May '08

13 May '08

Hey all, Maybe there's been another thread on this in the past, but I'll go ahead anyways. Fairly regularly we get e-mails from people who are moving to / staying in town for a while about getting a bike, and I had the thought that sometimes a nice way to deal with this would be to honor earn-a-bike volunteer hours worked at the other programs out there, particularly as transporation is definately a first priority when moving some place new, and in our program (being volunteer run and only open 1-2 days a week) it can take a couple weeks to complete the earn-a-bike. What do other peeps think about this? A good idea, or too much work dropping other programs a line to say what's what? peace, Colin - shop coordinator, DBC. -- Durham Bike Co-op 723 N. Mangum St. Durham, NC 27701 www.durhambikecoop.org

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how do you know when too many is too many?
by veganboyjosh＠gmail.com 13 May '08

13 May '08

i know community cycles is not the only shop on this list that has space issues, nor shortness of volunteer hours.... i'm wondering if any shops out there have some kind of "we're all filled up, we can't take any more bikes" policy. we've got connections with our local police department, so when they sweep through the public bike racks and clean up abandoned bikes, we get them. this brings us several loads of 100-300 bikes per year. we've also got a similar hookup with the university of colorado at boulder, which is 30,000 students strong. this yeilds about the same number of bikes, but in fewer loads. these are in addition to all our other donated bikes from individuals, smaller groups, etc. we're already using cheaper, department store bikes, or those who are beyond repair specifically as stripper bikes, for parts, or for lessons. we don't have a problem getting bikes to use/turnaround, as i'm guessing most of you also don't have this problem. my question is, when do we say "sorry, we're all filled up, we can't take your bike right now"? do any of you have some creative ways that you've solved the "we've got too many bikes and not enough space to keep them while they're waiting for a home"? we have done some work with a couple of different groups that have sent bikes abroad, but we don't want to make this a regular part of our program, for various reasons. to date, we don't have a set policy, but we tend to only participate in those kinds of programs when we're busting at the seams, and getting rid of 300-500 bikes would help tremendously. we've gotten in touch with our local recycling yard, who pretty much takes everything that can be recycled. i personally know that they see several bikes per week in their dumpsters, but they don't have any way to pull those out once they're in, once people dump washing machines, fridges, etc, on top of them. i'd like to see a seperate "bike dumpster" for people to drop them off, and we go and reuse them. the problem is we're gonna need some better way to sort them and keep them until someone can get to them... thanks for reading this far. josh.

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