- TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

Re: [TheThinkTank] Test for (volunteer) mechanics?
by Keren Gottfried 05 Jun '13

05 Jun '13

Hm, it sounds like yu are really hoping to get volunteers with a solid knowledge level to make sure you're helping a lot of people well. Is a written test your favourite method and do you think it is accessible to all? In my experience, written tests favour a very particular sort of learning style. What about something less academic/intimidating/formal, like a conversation or hands-on demonstration? We don't test people at Bike Pirates, we basically let anyone start (after they take an orientation) and learn "on the job". New and vet volunteers alike are encouraged to be open and honest with their knowledge levels with participants, to learn by "shadowing", and to ask questions vs. guess. We also explain to participants when they walk in (at least, we try to) that all our volunteers have varied knowledge levels and that we are a DIY work space. So we don't require people have a "base level" of knowledge. If you're just starting out but you've mastered flats, or brakes, or whatever, be the one to help with that issue as often as possible and shadow others on topics you know less about. It's an imperfect system but it allows for people to learn at their own pace, for our program to be welcome and accessible, while still being as efficient as possible. Background --> at Bike Pirates we have a (recently refined) volunteer training program that involves a couple hours on every Wednesday night for 3 weeks. The first week is a general orientation to the space and is the only mandatory week, followed by a mechanical orientation and the third is a walk trough and practice Bike Build night. - Keren, Bike Pirates. Toronto --- On Mon, 6/3/13, Paul Nagel <paul(a)thebicycletree.org> wrote: From: Paul Nagel <paul(a)thebicycletree.org> Subject: [TheThinkTank] Test for (volunteer) mechanics? To: "thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org" <thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org> Received: Monday, June 3, 2013, 8:58 PM To start off, we've been seeing that nearly everyone (literally 49 out of 50 or even 99 out of 100) that comes to our workshops for do-it-together repair knows very little about bike maintenance (don't know a barrel adjuster from a limit screw). The process of learning is fundamental to these workshops, as it may be for most of the groups on this list. The notion of having a workspace where someone is vaguely supervising while people have at their bikes would not work for us at all. We pretty much need to be one on one with our visitors, we were 3 visitors to one volunteer the other day and it was far from optimal. In this light, it is important that our volunteer mechanics be at least decent mechanics as well as good teachers. We respect the importance of "hands off", but know that people come to our workshops not so much for the tools, but rather for the assistance of someone who knows what they are doing. So, I'm wondering if anyone uses a pretty simple written test (30 - 50 questions) in the process of bringing in new volunteer mechanics. We do not currently, though we do have new volunteers self-evaluate their level of knowledge on a one-page volunteer information form. I'm thinking a test could help quickly and objectively evaluate a person's skill level and help identify opportunities for growth. Any advice regarding problems and pitfalls would be appreciated. Of course any sample tests would be fantastic. This could be the same as an Earn-A-Bike test. Thank you, Paul Nagel The Bicycle Tree P.O. Box 11293 Santa Ana, CA 92711 http://www.thebicycletree.org info(a)thebicycletree.org -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ 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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Re: [TheThinkTank] Thethinktank Digest, Vol 82, Issue 6
by Jenna Yu 04 Jun '13

04 Jun '13

I use a bikes at work 6' trailer and a 6' surely trailer. I like them both. I built a wooden box on top of the Surly trailer. The hitch attachment is easier and faster with the bikes at work trailer. If you get a couple of their hitches, you can share the BAW trailer with a few different people and even make your own trailer with a simple pin attachment. The Surly trailer hitch requires more adjustments and tweaking in the hitch but if feels really strong. I share the surley trailer with a coordinator at Recycle-A-Bike and he bent the skewer attaching the trailer to the bike improperly in one of the first attempts to use it. They are both great!! On Jun 4, 2013, at 4:17 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: Experience with Surly Cargo Trailers (Bill or Ted > Trailer)? (Samantha Herr) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Tue, 4 Jun 2013 14:54:58 -0400 > From: Samantha Herr <samanthazherr(a)gmail.com> > To: The Think Tank <thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org> > Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Experience with Surly Cargo Trailers (Bill > or Ted Trailer)? > Message-ID: > <CA+u0Amhr3rD3T=ww8AYBRnPQjQgCA+b30MR6_aH20=Jhmcj_ng(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Hey there, Andrew, > > Yep, I've used the Ted. Was built really well and had a great hitch system > through the back hub, but the Ted is a bit small. It also has some nice > featured built in for if you want to build the trailer up in any way. It's > pretty bare bones, but leaves lots of possibility. I think it's a great > trailer choice. > > Sam > > > On Tue, May 21, 2013 at 4:10 PM, Andrew Magill <andrew(a)spokesconnect.org>wrote: > >> 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 >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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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Test for (volunteer) mechanics?
by Paul Nagel 04 Jun '13

04 Jun '13

To start off, we've been seeing that nearly everyone (literally 49 out of 50 or even 99 out of 100) that comes to our workshops for do-it-together repair knows very little about bike maintenance (don't know a barrel adjuster from a limit screw). The process of learning is fundamental to these workshops, as it may be for most of the groups on this list. The notion of having a workspace where someone is vaguely supervising while people have at their bikes would not work for us at all. We pretty much need to be one on one with our visitors, we were 3 visitors to one volunteer the other day and it was far from optimal. In this light, it is important that our volunteer mechanics be at least decent mechanics as well as good teachers. We respect the importance of "hands off", but know that people come to our workshops not so much for the tools, but rather for the assistance of someone who knows what they are doing. So, I'm wondering if anyone uses a pretty simple written test (30 - 50 questions) in the process of bringing in new volunteer mechanics. We do not currently, though we do have new volunteers self-evaluate their level of knowledge on a one-page volunteer information form. I'm thinking a test could help quickly and objectively evaluate a person's skill level and help identify opportunities for growth. Any advice regarding problems and pitfalls would be appreciated. Of course any sample tests would be fantastic. This could be the same as an Earn-A-Bike test. Thank you, Paul Nagel The Bicycle Tree P.O. Box 11293 Santa Ana, CA 92711 http://www.thebicycletree.org info(a)thebicycletree.org

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Experience with Surly Cargo Trailers (Bill or Ted Trailer)?
by christopher＠holisticcycles.com 03 Jun '13

03 Jun '13

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Experience with Surly Cargo Trailers (Bill or Ted Trailer)?
by christopher＠holisticcycles.com 31 May '13

31 May '13

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Need Bike Valet Racks? Has anyone here thought of doing Bike Valet?? Contact SPOKES....
by Brian Drayton 30 May '13

30 May '13

Valet Bike Parking is like a coat check for your bike. Your organizaton can provide safe, free , event parking for many of the outdoor festivals in your area.. It is a fun way to be involved in the festivities of your cities events while promoting bicycling as an everyday means of transportation for everyone, and lowering the carbon foot print of each event , the city, and the planet. It is also an opportunity to work with your community spreading cycle frienly service and encouraging cycle culture . > *"For Brian Drayton, bike parking is not just a convenience; it's a > necessity, a mission, a movement in the making. Richmond Spokes, the > organization he founded in early 2009, provides valet bicycle parking at > about 25 small- to medium-size events throughout the Bay Area each year. > But more impressive than that is his sheer ambition. > "I want people to understand we can use bikes for everything, everyday," > Drayton said. "There should be as many bike-parking facilities as there are > gas stations in the world."* From: East Bay Express http://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/a-bike-rack-on-every-corner/Content?o… * * ****SPOKES can also prepare a Bike Valet SUrvival kit with instrucions best practices forms documents and strategies for marketing , deploying and monitizing your Bike Valet movement * *NEW!!! * Spokes New Portable (Moved by Bikes)Racks are durable and compact and available to other community bike orgs through SPOKES. *2013 SPOKES GETS NEW RACKS (Available Now)* * * * [image: 2013]<https://sites.google.com/a/richmondspokes.org/about/programs-1/programs/val…> * *After three years of our basic steel conduit racks , SPOKES has found the rack that rocks for bike Valet. **By this spring SPOKES will have replaced all our old racks with the Moved by bikes portable racks.* * * *SPOKES is also going to be Subsidizing these racks for other community bike organizations and bike coops to encourage the National Bike Movement in each SPOKES city. * * * * * *To make an order inquiry fill out the form at the bottom of this page or click this link<https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dERkRGcxcGxNREh2ejFEem…> * * * * https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dERkRGcxcGxNREh2ejFEem… * *Price List * *Racks are: <https://sites.google.com/a/richmondspokes.org/about/programs-1/programs/val…> * - *$190 Each MSRP for companies and individuals* - *$100-$160 for qualifying community members and community bike organizations & cycling clubs** * * *Please fill out Rack Purchase inquiry below and let us know about your organization. * * * * * * * * * For inquiries email: racks(a)richmondspokes.org or call the Shop at 510-545-2243 <https://sites.google.com/a/richmondspokes.org/about/programs-1/programs/val…> * The community Bike Collective is dedicated to providing technical support and financial assistance to any community serving organization showing the will capacity and audience for Free Bike Valet services within their community. For more information about CBC and how we areplanning to use collective purchasing capitol to create deeper econimic prosperity in the community bike culture. Please join us: *here:https://sites.google.com/a/richmondspokes.org/about/programs-1/cbc* *CBC reserves the right to review applications and make delegations of subsidies and discounts under the strict criteria based on the factors set by our advisory and board of directors to make such delegations of the for mentioned subsidies to organizations contributing to our national Bike Valet Movement. * Bike Rack Order Form Open *Bike Rack Order Form*<https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?authuser=1&hl=en&key=0AoF6wNHB…> Brian Drayton Oakland SPOKES Community Bike Lounge 465 9th Street Oakland, Ca. 94607 510-545-2243 Brian(a)oaklandspokes.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Oakland SPOKES loves it's Popup Home!!! Support us with your words in extending our Popup Lease and moving toward a long term /Permanant lease allowing us capitalize our community comittment. Please lend us yout testimonial of support by filling out this petition of support. (responders recieve a 15% Discount card via email) http://tinyurl.com/oaklandspokes ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ <https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=JFMWCU…>

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Climate Action
by Vernon Huffman 29 May '13

29 May '13

Please share your thoughts about the role of cyclists in transitioning from a fossil fuel economy. Bike4Peace has organized many cross continental rides to demonstrate the viability of efficient human powered transportation. We're eager to consider ways we can mobilize cyclists to augment the political movement to address climate change. Thanks -Vernon ----------------------------------------------------------+ | __o CONTINENTAL CRITICAL MASS | _`\;,_ come ride with me | (*)/ (*) My Blog | Bike4Peace Across the USA -----------------------------------------------------------+ - Vernon Huffman creator of Change

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Thethinktank Digest, Vol 81, Issue 22
by Carolyn Szczepanski 29 May '13

29 May '13

Hey folks- The League is *just getting started* in developing our equity initiative and pulled together a mini-report on "The New Majority: Pedaling Toward Equity." Would love to hear folks' feedback. Here's the link to the report: http://www.bikeleague.org/news/equity_report.pdf *CAROLYN SZCZEPANSKI*, *Director of Communications, Women Bike* CAROLYN(a)BIKELEAGUE.ORG | 202-621-5452 *THE LEAGUE OF AMERICAN BICYCLISTS* WWW.BIKELEAGUE.ORG <http://www.bikeleague.org> TWITTER <https://twitter.com/BikeLeague> | FACEBOOK<http://www.facebook.com/leagueamericanbicyclists> | YOUTUBE <http://www.youtube.com/user/bikeleaguevideo> *May is National Bike Month; Learn more here!<http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/bikemonth/> * On Wed, May 29, 2013 at 2:43 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. Need Bike Valet Racks? Has anyone here thought of doing Bike > Valet?? Contact SPOKES.... (Brian Drayton) > 2. Re: Need Bike Valet Racks? Has anyone here thought of doing > Bike Valet?? Contact SPOKES.... (Reno Bikes) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Wed, 29 May 2013 11:12:58 -0700 > From: Brian Drayton <brian(a)oaklandspokes.org> > To: The Think Tank <thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org> > Subject: [TheThinkTank] Need Bike Valet Racks? Has anyone here thought > of doing Bike Valet?? Contact SPOKES.... > Message-ID: > <CAL9cosbaVgUT1T3= > yeJJm6Lhce5PcmVOKFo+WrWWBomJa-haAA(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Valet Bike Parking is like a coat check for your bike. Your organizaton > can provide safe, free , event parking for many of the outdoor festivals > in your area.. > > > It is a fun way to be involved in the festivities of your cities events > while promoting bicycling as an everyday means of transportation for > everyone, and lowering the carbon foot print of each event , the city, and > the planet. It is also an opportunity to work with your community > spreading cycle frienly service and encouraging cycle culture . > > > > *"For Brian Drayton, bike parking is not just a convenience; it's a > > necessity, a mission, a movement in the making. Richmond Spokes, the > > organization he founded in early 2009, provides valet bicycle parking at > > about 25 small- to medium-size events throughout the Bay Area each year. > > But more impressive than that is his sheer ambition. > > "I want people to understand we can use bikes for everything, everyday," > > Drayton said. "There should be as many bike-parking facilities as there > are > > gas stations in the world."* > > > From: East Bay Express > > http://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/a-bike-rack-on-every-corner/Content?o… > > * > * > ****SPOKES can also prepare a Bike Valet SUrvival kit with instrucions > best practices forms documents and strategies for marketing , > deploying and monitizing your Bike Valet movement * > > > *NEW!!! * Spokes New Portable (Moved by Bikes)Racks are durable and compact > and available to other community bike orgs through SPOKES. > > *2013 SPOKES GETS NEW RACKS (Available Now)* > * > * > * > [image: 2013]< > https://sites.google.com/a/richmondspokes.org/about/programs-1/programs/val… > > > > * > *After three years of our basic steel conduit racks , SPOKES has found the > rack that rocks for bike Valet. **By this spring SPOKES will have > replaced all our old racks with the Moved by bikes portable racks.* > * > * > *SPOKES is also going to be Subsidizing these racks for other community > bike organizations and bike coops to encourage the National Bike Movement > in each SPOKES city. * > * > * > * > * > *To make an order inquiry fill out the form at the bottom of this page or > click this link< > https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dERkRGcxcGxNREh2ejFEem… > > > * > * > * > * > > https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dERkRGcxcGxNREh2ejFEem… > * > > *Price List * > *Racks are: > < > https://sites.google.com/a/richmondspokes.org/about/programs-1/programs/val… > > > * > > - *$190 Each MSRP for companies and individuals* > - *$100-$160 for qualifying community members and community bike > organizations & cycling clubs** > > * > * > *Please fill out Rack Purchase inquiry below and let us know about your > organization. * > * > * > * > * > * > * > * > * > For inquiries email: racks(a)richmondspokes.org or call the Shop at > 510-545-2243 > > > < > https://sites.google.com/a/richmondspokes.org/about/programs-1/programs/val… > > > * The community Bike Collective is dedicated to providing technical > support and financial assistance to any community serving organization > showing the will capacity and audience for Free Bike Valet services within > their community. > > For more information about CBC and how we areplanning to use collective > purchasing capitol to create deeper econimic prosperity in the community > bike culture. Please join us: > *here:https://sites.google.com/a/richmondspokes.org/about/programs-1/cbc* > > *CBC reserves the right to review applications and make delegations of > subsidies and discounts under the strict criteria based on the factors set > by our advisory and board of directors to make such delegations of the for > mentioned subsidies to organizations contributing to our national Bike > Valet Movement. * > > Bike Rack Order Form > > Open *Bike Rack Order > Form*< > https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?authuser=1&hl=en&key=0AoF6wNHB… > > > > Brian Drayton > Oakland SPOKES Community Bike Lounge > 465 9th Street > Oakland, Ca. 94607 > 510-545-2243 > Brian(a)oaklandspokes.org > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Oakland SPOKES loves it's Popup Home!!! Support us with your words in > extending our Popup Lease and moving toward a long term /Permanant lease > allowing us capitalize our community comittment. > > Please lend us yout testimonial of support by filling out this petition of > support. (responders recieve a 15% Discount card via email) > > http://tinyurl.com/oaklandspokes > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > < > https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=JFMWCU… > > >

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Bike Purchases with Sweat Equity
by Vernon Huffman 28 May '13

28 May '13

We ran into some potential trouble for paying volunteers with bicycles, which could be a violation of labor laws, so we developed a volunteer incentive program. Paraphrasing, it says if you completely overhaul two bicycles, you can keep the one of lesser value. It allows a Shop Manager to accept equivalent volunteer work in lieu of overhauling a bike. If somebody needs a bike and is willing to make an effort, we make sure she gets it, but we don't give them away. Everybody has some talent to offer. Our slogan is "give a little more than you get." ________________________________ From: "thethinktank-request(a)lists.bikecollectives.org" 1. (Edward Kirkwood) An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://lists.bikecollectives.org/pipermail/thethinktank-bikecollectives.org…>

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Bike Purchases with Sweat Equity
by troy neiman 27 May '13

27 May '13

At BICAS, AZ we have a strict policy to do the work before you get the bike. Nor do we hold bikes while sweat equity (we call work-trade program) is being done. It would be great if everyone would come back and do the work but I am actually surprised that even 50% of the people did. You are already providing a really great service for people and its very fair to ask people to do the work first. Troy Neiman ----- Original Message ----- From: Edward Kirkwood Sent: 05/22/13 06:29 AM To: thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org Subject: [TheThinkTank] Bike Purchases with Sweat Equity At Broke Spoke Community Bike Shop in Lexington, KY, our bike purchase policy is: People without the financial means can purchase a bike that is priced < $100 totally on credit that day with the verbal agreement that they return to shop and volunteer enough to pay their debt off. Our sweat equity policy pays folks $8 / hour in shop credit. After a review of our sweat equity accounts that we keep for each customer, we discovered that over 50% of the folks who purchased a 100% sweat equity bike never came back after that initial visit/bike purchase. Our mission is to provide better acccess to better bicycles used for transportation and to enable folks to perform their own maintenance. While our current policy is providing bikes to people, we are questioning whether we are giving folks a handout rather than a hand-up. We would like to hear how some of you handle sweat equity bike purchases. More specifically adult purchases as we do not have a huge kid market. Allen Kirkwood Broke Spoke

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