- TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

Re: [TheThinkTank] Bike Shop in a Box
by dragonfly＠mac.hush.com 30 Apr '08

30 Apr '08

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Hi, Vyki and Everyone Else. What a good idea! It would be a great thing to have at charity bike races, too. A bike based mobile shop has all sorts of potential. It might be a good model for African, Asian, Latin American and South Asian endeavours, too. The Grameen bank might be interested in the idea, for someone's not already doing it; it might make a good micro credit business. I know someone who is involved with them-- may I forward the idea to them? One of the ideas floated in Detroit was to use the existing infrastructure of Detroit's quite active inner city churches to broaden the reach of the bike community shop; remeber, we were also talking about going to the homeless shelters? A bike shop van that would make the rounds was the thought. A bike trailer is an interesting alternative, though. We have a great guy here who runs a summer time organic catering company; he does all his deliveries by bike. It is cool to see him. People on this list are so interesting and creative. I love getting Think Tank mail! Sasha On Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:06:29 -0400 Vyki Englert <vyki.englert(a)thekickstand.org> wrote: >The Kickstand sets up a repair stand at our local farmers market >and any >events we get involved in. This is currently what most of our >outreach >program consists of. We carry a portable stand, a 4x2 folding >table, an >Ez-up, a tool set, and consumables. We've been doing this for a >very short >while, but the idea is that we have a "market box", a tool box >that is set >aside, always ready to go with a good set of tools (we're still >working on >exactly what a good set of tools is), that is not used during >regular shop >hours. We just started bringing consumables, patches, cables... >and are >still hammering out exactly what to bring. And of course we >always have >some literature on hand, and usually bring some of the bright >orange safety >vest the county bicycle/pedestrian advisory board gave us to pass >out. > >Our only issue currently is that we toss of of this in the back of >a pickup >truck! We are hopefully soon going to have the resources to build >a trailer >(a member is purchasing welding equipment), but don;t as of yet >have any >plans. > >Anyone have plans for a good (verylarge) bike trailer? > >vyki > >www.thekickstand.org > >On Tue, Apr 29, 2008 at 3:38 PM, Durham Bike Co-op ><durhambikecoop(a)gmail.com> >wrote: > >> United Bicycle Parts has a pretty nice looking "mix and match" >tool set >> with items from a variety of different tool makers = around >$200, if I >> remember right, and maybe around 50 pieces with the most >critical stuff >> (spline tools, chainbreaker, lockring wrench etc.) being shop >quality stuff. >> Might be a good place to start. >> >> best, >> Colin - Durham Bike Co-op >> >> On Tue, Apr 29, 2008 at 10:57 AM, <dragonfly(a)mac.hush.com> >wrote: >> >> > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- >> > Hash: SHA1 >> > >> > >> > Hi, Everyone. >> > >> > I love reading everyone's posts. >> > >> > Thanks to the people who have written to me about creating >a >> > good bike plan for the Detroit-Windsor region. >> > >> > This past weekend, I was talking with some people. People >we >> > know were attending the UN Indigenous People's climate change >> > meeting in New York, and we were talking about some things. >> > >> > My friends and I were talking about climate change, this >time >> > in the context of the aboriginal communities that these >friends of >> > mine come from. It was a long and interesting conversation. >> > >> > For a little part of it, I talked about bikes, and about >how >> > important my bike was to me in Detroit and about how my bike >shapes >> > my world view and my thoughts about community planning, etc. >> > >> > They all drive trucks, these friends of mine, even the >ones >> > from the city, and they think I'm a little nuts for riding my >bike >> > everywhere, but they could also see an increased potential for >> > bikes in some of their communities. >> > >> > In some of their communities, bikes are not so >practical. In >> > others, they could be made into a more functional option for >day-to- >> > day practical use, if there was an infrastructure to support >them- >> > a place to get bikes, a place to go to repair them, etc. >> > >> > We wondered about a "Bike Shop in a Box"-- could you get >a >> > big rubbermaid tub and put a whole bike shop into it? (Maybe >two >> > tubs plus a stand?) Could you make such a thing that would be >easy >> > to ship North or into the B.C. interior, by train or plane >etc.? >> > >> > Do the people from "Bikes Not Bombs" know how to do >this-- >> > have some of you done this before? Is there a good way of >doing >> > this already known? >> > >> > What should go into the box, and how could we make this >> > economical-- is there an economy of scale-- how many Boxed >Shops >> > would you need to create to get a good deal on the tools, do >you >> > think? Would suppliers be interested in creating a 'Shop in >Box' as >> > a product to offer through their catalogue, even? >> > >> > We're just thinking about the feasibility of this >right >> > now. For lots of reasons, it might be a dumb or unworkable >idea, >> > but one worth checking out. If any of you have done this, or >if you >> > know what the best things to put into the box are, please e- >mail >> > me. >> > >> > Sasha >> > >> > On Tue, 29 Apr 2008 01:56:20 -0400 "Urban Bike Project >Wilmington, >> > DE" <urbanbikeproject(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> > >"we still have the Bike Against! stencil and about ten >different >> > >colors of spray paint..." >> > > >> > >Rafael, is that why you changed your name? I can only >imagine the >> > >positive message this has spread in Fort Collins... >> > > >> > >Jennifer, >> > > >> > >I think you want a name that instantly gives people a >snapshot of >> > >what >> > >you do. Mike's comment rings pretty true. Often people will >call >> > >> > >or >> > >email about donating bikes and then ask what it is exactly >that we >> > >> > >do. >> > > If you do bikes and art call it something with bikes and art >and >> > >you'll be set. The Bike Gallery or something innocent. >BICAS' >> > >name >> > >is pretty cool and explanatory. >> > > >> > >Once you pick it, stick with it. Like Rafael said, your >shops >> > >actions/quality are more important than the name. >> > > >> > >Brian >> > > >> > >On 4/28/08, bike against <bikeagainst(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> > >> Hey Jennifer and all, Rafael from Fort Collins,CO here... >> > >> >> > >> I agree with Rachel, keep it simple... >> > >> >> > >> I believe the name does not make the project, the PROJECT >makes >> > >the name, >> > >> just like band names, as long as the music is good people >will >> > >dig the >> > >> name... >> > >> >> > >> In our case, for the first four years our project was known >as >> > >the Bike >> > >> Against ! collective or Co-op and due to our current >situation >> > >we are now >> > >> just called The Fort Collins Bike Co-op... yeah,is not >radical >> > >but it >> > >> doesn't have to be. We still have the same ideals and >philosophy >> > >> > >that gave >> > >> birth to the organization and again, the quality of your >work is >> > >> > >ALL that >> > >> matters in the end. >> > >> >> > >> By changing our name we were able to have access to a lot >more >> > >resources >> > >> and therefore help a lot more people. >> > >> >> > >> As for the militant riders out there,who believe that >riding a >> > >bicycle as >> > >> main or ONLY means of transportation is also an act of >political >> > >> > >expression >> > >> and resistance,we still have the Bike Against! stencil and >about >> > >> > >ten >> > >> different colors of spray paint... >> > >> >> > >> Also there's less risk that the name will be already taken. >> > >> >> > >> >> > >> -- >> > >> Rafael Cletero >> > >> Project Coordinator >> > >> Fort Collins Bicycle Co-op >> > >> ph (970) 484 38 04 >> > >> www.fcbikecoop.org >> > >> _______________________________________________ >> > >> Thethinktank mailing list >> > >> Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> > >> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- >> > >bikecollectives.org >> > >> >> > >> >> > > >> > > >> > >-- >> > >Urban Bike Project of Wilmington >> > >1908 N. Market Street (entrance is in the parking lot behind >the >> > >building) >> > >Wilmington, DE 19801 >> > > >> > >Hours: >> > >Thursday 6:30-9:00 >> > >Saturday 1:00-4:00 >> > > >> > >Visit us online at http://urbanbikeproject.org >> > >_______________________________________________ >> > >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 >> > >> > >wkYEARECAAYFAkgXN2wACgkQ5O7ahKJmrRkYFgCgqeGADGv4XT1x3eg9Bn49IPiPHqU >A >> > ninVivrE08nsJH1DEYWah7e0d/Q1 >> > =zIuK >> > -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > Thethinktank mailing list >> > Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> > >> > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- >bikecollectives.org >> > >> >> >> >> -- >> Durham Bike Co-op >> 723 N. Mangum St. >> Durham, NC 27701 >> www.durhambikecoop.org >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 wkYEARECAAYFAkgYzCgACgkQ5O7ahKJmrRkjnACfb17NjhdTunysuEquTr60oPqf/PYA nifEyhmLaQ3jKdIdkgTq88TlLPAr =Zvv7 -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Bike Shop in a Box
by dragonfly＠mac.hush.com 30 Apr '08

30 Apr '08

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Hi, Everyone. I love reading everyone's posts. Thanks to the people who have written to me about creating a good bike plan for the Detroit-Windsor region. This past weekend, I was talking with some people. People we know were attending the UN Indigenous People's climate change meeting in New York, and we were talking about some things. My friends and I were talking about climate change, this time in the context of the aboriginal communities that these friends of mine come from. It was a long and interesting conversation. For a little part of it, I talked about bikes, and about how important my bike was to me in Detroit and about how my bike shapes my world view and my thoughts about community planning, etc. They all drive trucks, these friends of mine, even the ones from the city, and they think I'm a little nuts for riding my bike everywhere, but they could also see an increased potential for bikes in some of their communities. In some of their communities, bikes are not so practical. In others, they could be made into a more functional option for day-to- day practical use, if there was an infrastructure to support them- a place to get bikes, a place to go to repair them, etc. We wondered about a "Bike Shop in a Box"-- could you get a big rubbermaid tub and put a whole bike shop into it? (Maybe two tubs plus a stand?) Could you make such a thing that would be easy to ship North or into the B.C. interior, by train or plane etc.? Do the people from "Bikes Not Bombs" know how to do this-- have some of you done this before? Is there a good way of doing this already known? What should go into the box, and how could we make this economical-- is there an economy of scale-- how many Boxed Shops would you need to create to get a good deal on the tools, do you think? Would suppliers be interested in creating a 'Shop in Box' as a product to offer through their catalogue, even? We're just thinking about the feasibility of this right now. For lots of reasons, it might be a dumb or unworkable idea, but one worth checking out. If any of you have done this, or if you know what the best things to put into the box are, please e-mail me. Sasha On Tue, 29 Apr 2008 01:56:20 -0400 "Urban Bike Project Wilmington, DE" <urbanbikeproject(a)gmail.com> wrote: >"we still have the Bike Against! stencil and about ten different >colors of spray paint..." > >Rafael, is that why you changed your name? I can only imagine the >positive message this has spread in Fort Collins... > >Jennifer, > >I think you want a name that instantly gives people a snapshot of >what >you do. Mike's comment rings pretty true. Often people will call >or >email about donating bikes and then ask what it is exactly that we >do. > If you do bikes and art call it something with bikes and art and >you'll be set. The Bike Gallery or something innocent. BICAS' >name >is pretty cool and explanatory. > >Once you pick it, stick with it. Like Rafael said, your shops >actions/quality are more important than the name. > >Brian > >On 4/28/08, bike against <bikeagainst(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> Hey Jennifer and all, Rafael from Fort Collins,CO here... >> >> I agree with Rachel, keep it simple... >> >> I believe the name does not make the project, the PROJECT makes >the name, >> just like band names, as long as the music is good people will >dig the >> name... >> >> In our case, for the first four years our project was known as >the Bike >> Against ! collective or Co-op and due to our current situation >we are now >> just called The Fort Collins Bike Co-op... yeah,is not radical >but it >> doesn't have to be. We still have the same ideals and philosophy >that gave >> birth to the organization and again, the quality of your work is >ALL that >> matters in the end. >> >> By changing our name we were able to have access to a lot more >resources >> and therefore help a lot more people. >> >> As for the militant riders out there,who believe that riding a >bicycle as >> main or ONLY means of transportation is also an act of political >expression >> and resistance,we still have the Bike Against! stencil and about >ten >> different colors of spray paint... >> >> Also there's less risk that the name will be already taken. >> >> >> -- >> Rafael Cletero >> Project Coordinator >> Fort Collins Bicycle Co-op >> ph (970) 484 38 04 >> www.fcbikecoop.org >> _______________________________________________ >> Thethinktank mailing list >> Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- >bikecollectives.org >> >> > > >-- >Urban Bike Project of Wilmington >1908 N. Market Street (entrance is in the parking lot behind the >building) >Wilmington, DE 19801 > >Hours: >Thursday 6:30-9:00 >Saturday 1:00-4:00 > >Visit us online at http://urbanbikeproject.org >_______________________________________________ >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 wkYEARECAAYFAkgXN2wACgkQ5O7ahKJmrRkYFgCgqeGADGv4XT1x3eg9Bn49IPiPHqUA ninVivrE08nsJH1DEYWah7e0d/Q1 =zIuK -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Thethinktank Digest, Vol 20, Issue 21
by Mario Bruzzone 30 Apr '08

30 Apr '08

Track down the Davis, CA Bike Church for a portable shop--their whole shop is housed in a "church" that you can drive (bike) around. It's really quite fun! ~Mario Bruzzone Bike Kitchen, San Francisco Wrench Nepal, Kathmandu On Wed, Apr 30, 2008 at 1:23 AM, <thethinktank-request(a)bikecollectives.org> wrote: > Send Thethinktank mailing list submissions to > thethinktank(a)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)bikecollectives.org > > You can reach the person managing the list at > thethinktank-owner(a)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: Bike Shop in a Box (rachael spiewak) > 2. Re: Bike Shop in a Box (Durham Bike Co-op) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:54:16 -0400 > From: "rachael spiewak" <rachael(a)sopobikes.org> > Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Bike Shop in a Box > To: "The Think Tank" <thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org> > Message-ID: > <d74806f70804290854qe7ff55cs70d46b2250a739d1(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > It might be most affordable and easiest to get a complete toolset from one > of the big bike tool companies (via a distributor or a sympathetic local > bike shop). Here's what Park > Tool<http://www.parktool.com/products/category.asp?cat=6>has, for > example. The backpack is a nice idea, but, in my experience, > structurally hard to deal with. I would add to your set a bunch of hard > line tools, which are easy to get donated. Tons of people have metric box > wrenches lying around in their garages. > > Our wiki <http://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/index.php?title=Tools> has > some excellent ideas about stocking tools. > > Good luck! > > rachael > > On Tue, Apr 29, 2008 at 10:57 AM, <dragonfly(a)mac.hush.com> wrote: > > > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > > Hash: SHA1 > > > > > > Hi, Everyone. > > > > I love reading everyone's posts. > > > > Thanks to the people who have written to me about creating a > > good bike plan for the Detroit-Windsor region. > > > > This past weekend, I was talking with some people. People we > > know were attending the UN Indigenous People's climate change > > meeting in New York, and we were talking about some things. > > > > My friends and I were talking about climate change, this time > > in the context of the aboriginal communities that these friends of > > mine come from. It was a long and interesting conversation. > > > > For a little part of it, I talked about bikes, and about how > > important my bike was to me in Detroit and about how my bike shapes > > my world view and my thoughts about community planning, etc. > > > > They all drive trucks, these friends of mine, even the ones > > from the city, and they think I'm a little nuts for riding my bike > > everywhere, but they could also see an increased potential for > > bikes in some of their communities. > > > > In some of their communities, bikes are not so practical. In > > others, they could be made into a more functional option for day-to- > > day practical use, if there was an infrastructure to support them- > > a place to get bikes, a place to go to repair them, etc. > > > > We wondered about a "Bike Shop in a Box"-- could you get a > > big rubbermaid tub and put a whole bike shop into it? (Maybe two > > tubs plus a stand?) Could you make such a thing that would be easy > > to ship North or into the B.C. interior, by train or plane etc.? > > > > Do the people from "Bikes Not Bombs" know how to do this-- > > have some of you done this before? Is there a good way of doing > > this already known? > > > > What should go into the box, and how could we make this > > economical-- is there an economy of scale-- how many Boxed Shops > > would you need to create to get a good deal on the tools, do you > > think? Would suppliers be interested in creating a 'Shop in Box' as > > a product to offer through their catalogue, even? > > > > We're just thinking about the feasibility of this right > > now. For lots of reasons, it might be a dumb or unworkable idea, > > but one worth checking out. If any of you have done this, or if you > > know what the best things to put into the box are, please e-mail > > me. > > > > Sasha > > > > On Tue, 29 Apr 2008 01:56:20 -0400 "Urban Bike Project Wilmington, > > DE" <urbanbikeproject(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > >"we still have the Bike Against! stencil and about ten different > > >colors of spray paint..." > > > > > >Rafael, is that why you changed your name? I can only imagine the > > >positive message this has spread in Fort Collins... > > > > > >Jennifer, > > > > > >I think you want a name that instantly gives people a snapshot of > > >what > > >you do. Mike's comment rings pretty true. Often people will call > > > > >or > > >email about donating bikes and then ask what it is exactly that we > > > > >do. > > > If you do bikes and art call it something with bikes and art and > > >you'll be set. The Bike Gallery or something innocent. BICAS' > > >name > > >is pretty cool and explanatory. > > > > > >Once you pick it, stick with it. Like Rafael said, your shops > > >actions/quality are more important than the name. > > > > > >Brian > > > > > >On 4/28/08, bike against <bikeagainst(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > >> Hey Jennifer and all, Rafael from Fort Collins,CO here... > > >> > > >> I agree with Rachel, keep it simple... > > >> > > >> I believe the name does not make the project, the PROJECT makes > > >the name, > > >> just like band names, as long as the music is good people will > > >dig the > > >> name... > > >> > > >> In our case, for the first four years our project was known as > > >the Bike > > >> Against ! collective or Co-op and due to our current situation > > >we are now > > >> just called The Fort Collins Bike Co-op... yeah,is not radical > > >but it > > >> doesn't have to be. We still have the same ideals and philosophy > > > > >that gave > > >> birth to the organization and again, the quality of your work is > > > > >ALL that > > >> matters in the end. > > >> > > >> By changing our name we were able to have access to a lot more > > >resources > > >> and therefore help a lot more people. > > >> > > >> As for the militant riders out there,who believe that riding a > > >bicycle as > > >> main or ONLY means of transportation is also an act of political > > > > >expression > > >> and resistance,we still have the Bike Against! stencil and about > > > > >ten > > >> different colors of spray paint... > > >> > > >> Also there's less risk that the name will be already taken. > > >> > > >> > > >> -- > > >> Rafael Cletero > > >> Project Coordinator > > >> Fort Collins Bicycle Co-op > > >> ph (970) 484 38 04 > > >> www.fcbikecoop.org > > >> _______________________________________________ > > >> Thethinktank mailing list > > >> Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > > >> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- > > >bikecollectives.org > > >> > > >> > > > > > > > > >-- > > >Urban Bike Project of Wilmington > > >1908 N. Market Street (entrance is in the parking lot behind the > > >building) > > >Wilmington, DE 19801 > > > > > >Hours: > > >Thursday 6:30-9:00 > > >Saturday 1:00-4:00 > > > > > >Visit us online at http://urbanbikeproject.org > > >_______________________________________________ > > >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 > > > > wkYEARECAAYFAkgXN2wACgkQ5O7ahKJmrRkYFgCgqeGADGv4XT1x3eg9Bn49IPiPHqUA > > ninVivrE08nsJH1DEYWah7e0d/Q1 > > =zIuK > > -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Thethinktank mailing list > > Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > > > > > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… > > > > > > -- > 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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Re: [TheThinkTank] New shop name ideas, anyone?
by mike eng 29 Apr '08

29 Apr '08

I'd just echo Rachel's point about not trying too hard to come up with some funky word for the name. Having a self-explanatory name makes it easy for people who know nothing about your program recognize what you do. In our case, at an outreach event, a bunch of people just saw the name and walked up and said, "Oh, I'd never heard of your organization before, but can I donate my old bike to you so it doesn't have to go in the garbage?" And we said, "Absolutely". -- Mike Eng Recycle-a-Bike, Providence, RI www.recycleabike.org

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Article from Common Dreams NewsCenter
by Tom Emm 28 Apr '08

28 Apr '08

A friend <refsvr(a)referralblast.com> wrote: Hello, A friend wanted to share this article with you: http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/04/27/8558/ Thanks! ______________________________________ Common Dreams Breaking News & Views for the Progressive Community www.commondreams.org ________________________________________________________ Referral service by ReferralBlast.com --------------------------------- Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.

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Liability insurance/ Children's legal issues?
by Sandy Robson 28 Apr '08

28 Apr '08

Howdy from St. Paul, Minnesota! We've been having a pretty successful starting season at Sibley Bike Depot--maintenance classes, a women's/trans open shop night, an after school program, art bike projects...it's all going swell. Right now we have a number of children that come to our open-shop hours and earn bikes. We don't have any liability insurance whatsoever, so we've temporarily limited the number of kids allowed in the shop at one time. How do you all handle this? Do you have any advice as to what kind of insurance/ forms we need? Thanks! Sandy Robson (410)206-7826

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Mayor's Ride May 12!
by Community Bicycle Shop Omaha 25 Apr '08

25 Apr '08

2008 Mayor's Ride to Start at the Community Bicycle Shop! Start your day off right on *Monday, May 12 at 8:00* am and bring your bicycle down to 33rd and California! Community Bicycle Shop Omaha (CBSO) is pleased to partner with Mayor Mike Fahey, Activate Omaha, and Bikeable Communities to bring the Mayor's Ride to Gifford Park. This event kicks off National Bike to Work Week and will include the presentation of Omaha's first commuter bicycle map. The mayor will make a proclamation at 8:30 am and the group will ride to the Pedestrian Bridge downtown and back through Creighton's campus. Bicycling to work is good exercise and saves money on gas. Cycling instead of driving is also good for air quality and mitigates global warming. Most important to CBSO is the immediate benefit of your presence on the street! Our streets are safer and more enjoyable when we employ human power to get us where we're going. If you are new to bicycle commuting this is a great way to get started! All you need is a bicycle and helmet. The ride will be guided by the police so that traffic at intersections will be monitored. If you'd like to know more about the event call Stuart at 216-1235 or visit * www.activateomaha.org*.

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Cheap locks/stolen bikes
by plan_9＠riseup.net 25 Apr '08

25 Apr '08

We at the FM Community Bicycle Workshop have had a good,(read: busy, chaotic, overwhelming) first spring openand have run into a few unexpected situations regarding stolen bikes. We have a one bike a year limit policy and have had individuals get bikes from us, then come back the next week saying theirs was stolen and they want to get another one. Some of these were pretty decent, modern bikes (trek 4300, Giant Cyprus, Diamondback BMX) and we don't want to suspect the worst, that these bikes were pawned or sold for profit rather than ridden, but we also don't want to open ourselves up to exploitation either. We have put in place a policy that if you bring us a copy of your police report you are eligible for earning another bike, assuming that folks wouldn't file a false police report. We don't live in an area that has high bike theft rates, except for "bike hopping" where people just grab a bike that isn't being used and leave it wherever they end up. Basically, crime of opportunity rather than intent. The bigger issue here is that we are getting folks bikes who can't normally afford one, but not giving them the means to secure it. We are interested in getting locks to give out to people who get bikes from us through our referral system but are debating which is the best solution. One idea would be to buy cheap cable locks in bulk. Another idea we have had is a much more DIY approach: Get a roll of beefy hardware store chain and a padlock and call it good. Has anyone run into this? Thoughts? -Andy FMCBW

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New shop name ideas, anyone?
by Jennifer Nordhem 25 Apr '08

25 Apr '08

We've decided against using the name Battlesteed for multiple reasons. Does anyone have a good name the didn't get picked for their shop that they still like or came up with after it was set in stone. This is really the only thing that's holding us back right now since we can't file as a non-profit organization until we have one. This is our brief mission: We are a small group of avid cyclists who, through our love for the bike, decided to found Battlesteed Custom Bike Works. Battlesteed's mission is to create a larger, more knowledgeable and self-reliant community in Denver through teaching affordable bicycle mechanics classes in a comfortable, unpretentious learning environment. These are other intentions of the shop: -To hold monthly art shows to support the growing art community of Denver and advertise our services to new potential students. -To sublet space/benches to people (mainly people who are teaching classes and are involved with the shop) for their personal tools... we even have a friend interested in using his space for a screen printing press which he will teach classes in as well. Any ideas?! Thanks, Jen Nordhem Denver

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Following up with Bike Donors
by Rich Points 25 Apr '08

25 Apr '08

Collectives, At Community Cycles when someone donates a bike we have them fill out a tax deductible donation receipt. This is a carbon copy form where the donor gets one copy and we get the other. We then take that info an input into our database. We've done this for about 9 months now and have quite a few Bike_Donor contacts. So far we haven't contacted these donors but I've been thinking of doing a direct mail campaign to these people. My question is, have other collectives done this kind of direct mail? Or more broadly how are you following up with people who donate bikes and parts to you? Peace -- Rich Points Community Cycles Director http://CommunityCycles.org Rich(a)CommunityCycles.org 720-565-6019

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