- TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

Repair Checklist Tag
by director 30 Jul '13

30 Jul '13

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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Experience with Surly Cargo Trailers (Bill or Ted Trailer)?
by Andrew Magill 30 Jul '13

30 Jul '13

Has anyone used either of the Surly trailers? We are thinking about purchasing the Bill trailer to haul a "mobile shop" as well as several complete bicycles. We would also consider a Bikes at Work Trailer but we can't get a discount from them. Any thoughts or stories please share! Thanks, Andrew SPOKES Bike Walk Connect MInneapolis

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What are your oddest part donation stories?
by David Eyer Davis 30 Jul '13

30 Jul '13

Hi All, The Bicycle Collective here in Salt Lake has been given the opportunity toexhibit a piece in the Leonardo Center's upcoming show <http://www.sites.si.edu/greenRevolution/> centered around resource conservation, it'll be a great PR/Exposure piece for collectives and is shaping up to be a lot of fun. Our concept for the show is to do is build up a badass/utilitarian 80's MTB intentionally from as many different sourced parts as possible. The finished bike is meticulous and considered from a functional and aesthetic perspective but is a total mongrel. The bike will hang in the exhibit on an old great Park Tool stand we've had donated recently. Behind the bike, we'll hang a full-size printout of the bike taken apart, all its parts exploded. Every part will be numbered, and correspond to a legend to the right of the picture. We're making up a narrative for the parts that typifies the Bike Collective experience: This fork came in on a crashed bike, this frame was from the police impound, this wheel from a local shop, derailers from a dusty box donated by an ex-racer, etc. We'd give the provence and era of the parts and anything significant info on them. What we'd love from you are the oddest part stories: Where did the strangest thing from your shop come from? Who donated it? why? did they make it themselves? If you could forward this around your organizations and have people send us their stories at info(a)bicyclecollective.org I'd appreciate it. Here're some previews of the project: http://instagram.com/p/b4B1RruA3f/ http://instagram.com/p/b7S90oOA-u/ Thanks, David Eyer Davis Executive Director Bicycle Collective c: 801-230-6308 www.bicyclecollective.org The mission of the Bicycle Collective is to promote cycling as an effective and sustainable form of transportation and as a cornerstone of a cleaner, healthier, and safer society. The Collective provides refurbished bicycles and educational programs to the community, focusing on children and lower income households.

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Anyone going to Interbike?
by Noah Chubb-Silverman 29 Jul '13

29 Jul '13

Anyone?

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Earn a Bike Outcomes Survey
by Andy Greif 29 Jul '13

29 Jul '13

Hi Think Tankers, Just wanted to send this link along to you as we have finally developed an outcomes measurement tool that we have been distributing to kids at the CBC <https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/YBXCC7Q> https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/YBXCC7Q. Much of the basis of the survey questions are grounded in several of the internal and external assets outlined in the Search Institute developmental asset model. You are welcome to use the survey as you wish. Let us know you experience with it. Take care, Andy Greif Andy Greif, Executive Director Mailing: P.O. Box 783, Biddeford, ME 04005 Shop: 284 Hill Street, Biddeford Shop Phone: 207-282-9700 Cell Phone: 207-229-8199 Website: <http://www.communitybike.net/> www.communitybike.net "Providing Opportunities for Youth to Grow"

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Fwd: On the road: Kids earn their keep, one pedal at a time
by Matthew VanSlyke 28 Jul '13

28 Jul '13

Great media coverage of Second Life Bikes in Asbury Park, NJ. See below. -Matt VanSlyke Utica (NY) Bike Rescue On the road: Kids earn their keep, one pedal at a time July 12, 2013 4:23 PM As part of our continuing series, "On the Road," Steve Hartman meets 11-year-old America Rice, who works as a bike mechanic at a non-profit on the Jersey shore where kids are rewarded with a free bicycle for their work. In N.J., kids earn a free ride by working for it<http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-57593559/in-n.j-kids-earn-a-free-ride…> OR http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-57593559/in-n.j-kids-earn-a-free-ride…

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Recycle-a-bike program: seeking other models, successes, failures and suggestions!
by Vernon Huffman 26 Jul '13

26 Jul '13

If you only have capacity for 15 bikes, don't let people know you're looking for unused bikes. Every effort I've been part of has been overwhelmed by donations. As they come in, decide which are worthy of your efforts, which have components you can use, and which go straight into recycling. Your standards will slide, depending upon what's donated. Disposing of unusable bikes & components should be part of the plan. Sorting stripped parts is always a challenge. Plan early, but stay flexible. Shelving units with reusable containers of various sizes can be very handy. Have a way to decide what you'll actually be able to use, so you don't end up storing junk that nobody wants. Selling parts has historically accounted for about half our income. You might want to get started now on a long term goal of finding a location with more storage. I suspect space will be your biggest constraint. ________________________________ From: "thethinktank-request(a)lists.bikecollectives.org" From: Jennifer Kay Hi! I am with La Bikery in Moncton, New Brunswick. We are in the initial stages of starting up a small scale recycle - a - bike program (storage capacity = 12-15 bikes). I am sure there are plenty of success stories already out there, so I am hoping to draw on some of your expertise. If you have any functioning models to share (or examples of what NOT to do!), I would be grateful to hear from you. Thank you, Jennifer Recycle-a-bike Coordinator, La Bikery

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Who's planning on Interbike?
by Scott Conlin 25 Jul '13

25 Jul '13

I may be going David and should know for sure next week. Thanks for the offer. Scott Conlin Boardmember, Bicycle Longmont Rocky Mountain Bicycle Festival G'Knight Ride Mark Friis <iebafriis(a)gmail.com> wrote: >_______________________________________________ >Thethinktank mailing list >Thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org >To unsubscribe, send a blank email to TheThinkTank-leave(a)bikecollectives.org >To manage your subscription, plase visit: >http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.…

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Who's planning on Interbike?
by David Eyer Davis 24 Jul '13

24 Jul '13

Hi All, We're setting up the booth arrangements for the Bicycle Collective Network with Alliance for Biking and Walking and Interbike at the moment. I'd really like a full spectrum of the Bicycle Collective Network to be represented, does anyone have interest in attending the show with us, or is already attending it for other purposes? At this point I'm not sure where we're at with the number of badges we'll be able to secure, but let me know if you're interested in attending as a BCN rep. The show this year is at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, and runs from the 18th-20th of September, with the Outdoor Demo the preceding 2 days. Thanks, David Eyer Davis Executive Director Bicycle Collective c: 801-230-6308 www.bicyclecollective.org The mission of the Bicycle Collective is to promote cycling as an effective and sustainable form of transportation and as a cornerstone of a cleaner, healthier, and safer society. The Collective provides refurbished bicycles and educational programs to the community, focusing on children and lower income households.

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Hiring: Director of Operations in Salt Lake City
by David Eyer Davis 22 Jul '13

22 Jul '13

Hello Think Tank! Fancy moving to Salt Lake? We're pleased to announce we're hiring the Director of Operations for our Salt Lake Shop, and we want YOU for the job. Please review the job posting and forward it around to any potentially interested parties: http://www.bicyclecollective.org/en/component/content/article/1/386-slcbc-h… Thanks! David Eyer Davis Executive Director Bicycle Collective w: 801-328-2453 www.bicyclecollective.org The mission of the Bicycle Collective is to promote cycling as an effective and sustainable form of transportation and as a cornerstone of a cleaner, healthier, and safer society. The Collective provides refurbished bicycles and educational programs to the community, focusing on children and lower income households.

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