- TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

Milestone: New MailMan delivering soon!
by Jonathan Rosenbaum via Thethinktank 21 Mar '23

21 Mar '23

Dear Thinkers & Researchers @ the Tank, In the next few days we will be migrating our discussion lists away from DreamHost to a modern MailMan software platform (mailman 3) hosted at our own server. This is an awesome milestone for us, and a long time in the making. As far back as 2015 (almost 8 years ago), I observed that the archives for TheThinkTank became unavailable when DreamHost updated their hardware. At that time, in a conversation with the subject line "Update on the Archives", I suggested that we should consider moving away from dependence on a third party hosting service. Ironically, that conversation does not exist in the current archives at DreamHost because all the data between January 17, 2015 to May 13, 2015 was lost by their system. However, I recovered those conversations from my personal email stash, and they are now included in the new archiving system called HyperKitty. Better Search Capability: Another issue we have frequently experienced over the years has been the unavailability of the search engine known as htdig (ht://Dig errors). We now have a new search engine called Xapian. Even when htdig was available, as I pointed out at our recent Tech meeting, the level of detail when performing searches with Xapian is like comparing the difference between the Hubble Space Telescope and the James Web Space Telescope. HyperKitty (Achiver): HyperKitty provides a modern frontend to MailMan. You can now create an account where you may associate your email addresses subscribed to bikecollectives.org discussion lists. When you are logged in to your account, one powerful feature, similar to google groups web interface or traditional online bulletin boards, is that you now have the ability to directly interact with email threads or create new ones without having to utilize your own email client. You can favorite and/or like discussions, and if you have a Gravatar ( https://wordpress.com/me ), it will be visible. Markdown capability is available, but it only works in HyperKitty, so if you want to experiment with this capability, keep in mind that people will see your markdown in normal emails. Directions can be found at https://docs.mailman3.org/projects/hyperkitty/en/latest/rendering.html under Rendering Rules. _Recommendation for digest subscribers:_ Because we now have this awesome capability, rather than replying directly to digest emails, please utilize the login capability of HyperKitty to easily jump into the parts of the threads you want to interact with. This avoids breaking up the thread, which makes the discussion easier for all to understand. Migration and New Home Considerations: After the migration, the web interface will be available at https://lists.bikecollectives.org/ and will no longer say "The list overview page has been disabled temporarily" as found at the current non-secure web interface at http://lists.bikecollectives.org/ . This should all happen, no later, than by Monday, March 20, 2023. The migration consists of changing the DNS addresses to our new email server and mailman 3 discussion list software. Usually in most parts of the world this is a fast process, but there are some DNS servers that are slow to update their cache. This means that some of you may experience the phenomenon where your emails will still end up at the DreamHost instance, and you continue to see the old website. If that is the case, you may want to consider using a different nameserver, like 1.1.1.1, and to ask your service provider to update their DNS servers. Because our email server is brand new, it doesn't have an established reputation for its IP address. However, fortunately our lists address, lists.bikecollectives.org, has a good reputation. Most likely, hopefully, we won't experience issues from larger services that scrutinize bulk email. However, we will be monitoring our logs carefully. Google (gmail), which represents a large percentage of TheThinkTank subscribers, rate limits the number of emails received by their service to 60 per/minute. Erring on the safe-side, we will rate limit emails we are sending out to 30 per/minute, which means emails sent to TheThinkTank should reach everyone in about 30 minutes. If you are experiencing issues after the change, please contact me: Jonathan Rosenbaum <bike(a)bikelover.org> . Other: It should be pointed out, that gmail users who are normal subscribers generally do not receive back a copy of the email they send out to MailMan, see https://wiki.list.org/x/4030680 for an explanation. However, gmail users who are normal subscribers should receive replies, as well as new threads. Other than that .. Yay!! -Jonathan ____________________________________ The ThinkTank mailing List Unsubscribe from this list here: http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o…

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Bike measurements
by Claude Ferron via Thethinktank 12 Mar '23

12 Mar '23

Hello community, bonjour à tous.tes! I'm planning to put our bike inventory online and I was wondering what are the typical data that are relevant to inform potential buyers? What are the key dimensions you would suggest? What is considered a "Large bike" for exemple. Or let's say someone is 6ft tall... What information would it best for them to find. Would you recommend the buyer to measure it's inseam? Kinda looking for best practice here. Thanks all, merci! Claude Ferron La Cyclerie, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada Bike culture + Community workshop www.lacyclerie.ca ____________________________________ The ThinkTank mailing List Unsubscribe from this list here: http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o…

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Volunteer Only Night Concern
by Gabriel Trainer via Thethinktank 09 Mar '23

09 Mar '23

Long time listener, first time caller coming from Bike Farm (all volunteer run collective) here in Portland, OR. We currently have a weekly volunteer only night to build bikes at the shop to sell to the public and recently it has come to my attention that this night can be seen as inequitable and exclusive. This night excludes those who cannot afford to volunteer their time as every other shift we have is open to the public to utilize our space and help for $5/hr, work/trade, or for free if the individual truly needs it. Does anyone else have a volunteer/staff only night? I am having a tough time justifying for myself the existence of this volunteer only night. Looking for thoughts from you all. Kind regards, Gabriel ____________________________________ The ThinkTank mailing List Unsubscribe from this list here: http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o…

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Language Exchange in 1 hour / Intercambio de Idiomas en 1 hora
by Bike!Bike! Everywhere! 01 Mar '23

01 Mar '23

Hello everyone! [español abajo] We are continuing to meet for a Spanish-English Language Exchange on Wednesdays - today it starts in an hour! <https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85675444594?pwd=VzhGdWt6NnQwREk3Q3QvTytSbnpmZz09> Practice English or Spanish and help other learners in a friendly atmosphere. Participants speak half the time in English and half in Spanish. Beginners welcome. *Today @ [4pm Pacific / 5pm Mountain / 6pm Central / 7pm Eastern / 9pm Chile]* https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85675444594?pwd=VzhGdWt6NnQwREk3Q3QvTytSbnpmZz09 ======== Español ======== ¡Hola todxs! Continuamos con un intercambio de idiomas (ingles y español) cada miércoles - ¡hoy empieza en una hora! Practique inglés o español y ayude a lxs demás que están aprendiendo en un ambiente amable. Lxs participantes hablan la mitad del tiempo en inglés y la otra en español. Están bienvenidxs lxs principiantes. *Hoy @ [4pm Pacific / 5pm Mountain / 6pm Central / 7pm Eastern / 9pm Chile]* https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85675444594?pwd=VzhGdWt6NnQwREk3Q3QvTytSbnpmZz09

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Re: [TheThinkTank] wheels
by Kevin Dwyer 16 Feb '23

16 Feb '23

Louis- It sounds as though you have a serious problem with rust and wheel failures. If you are presently a service organization, moving to industrial production (especially as a collective) creates a variety of hurdles related to capital and organizational structure. The Mondrian collectives in Spain have been successful as collectives engaged in industrial production, but they have strong government and societal support. You may look to them for structural inspiration. With regard to the underlying problem: (mostly) cheap wheels that are not serviceable, perhaps there are other alternatives? Here are a few I came up with: 1. Partner with a bicycle co-op/collective in the (south) western US where rust is not an issue. In the past, there have been postings to this list of collectives with excess bikes and parts. I’d imagine that you might be able to get a container or rental truck full of just wheels, if you put the word out and were patient. 2. Buy unthreaded blank spokes in bulk. DT and China/Taiwan manufacturers have these available and with a $130 Hozan spoke threader you can make serviceable spokes. (Don’t forget that even nicer spoke threaders will take some time for the cutting and threading) 3. Buy lots of different sizes of cheap straight gauge spokes. For less than $1000, you could go on Ali Baba and buy a stock of nipples and every 14g spoke length available. Restock as needed. 4. Visit the DT facility in Grand Junction, Colorado where they make spokes. You will see the spatial and equipment requirements for spoke making and be better equipped an nd informed as to the requirements for such a project. Best of luck in your project! Eager to hear about your solutions! Kevin Dwyer Salt Lake City, UT > On Feb 16, 2023, at 4:06 AM, MARK via Thethinktank <thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org> wrote: > > > Louis, > > Personally, I think trying to become a spoke manufacturer is a bit over ambitious > unless you had a metal working factory. If you could by full-length spokes to thread > to length, a Phil Wood machine was over $3K last I knew. > > It seems to me your biggest hurdle is getting a wholesale account. Most distributors want > to see a picture of a brick and mortar storefront and some credential and or web-presence. > > We use J&B importers for our "bread and butter" supplies, but also have accounts with QPB and > recently Shimano. > > Yeah, wheels are the Achilles' heal of used bikes, especially rears. I usually start any wheel work > with hitting each nipple with Tri-flow. It also helps to have an adjustable spoke wrench, often > an antique tool in my experience, although we have a Hozan, so they might be still available. > We also has some spoke wrenches that grip three sides of the nipple, sort of, that work well > on stubborn spokes. Hope this helps. > > Mark Hoffman > BikeNB.org > New Britain, CT > USA > > ____________________________________ > > The ThinkTank mailing List > > Unsubscribe from this list here: http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o… >

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wheels
by MARK 16 Feb '23

16 Feb '23

Louis, Personally, I think trying to become a spoke manufacturer is a bit over ambitiousunless you had a metal working factory. If you could by full-length spokes to threadto length, a Phil Wood machine was over $3K last I knew. It seems to me your biggest hurdle is getting a wholesale account. Most distributors wantto see a picture of a brick and mortar storefront and some credential and or web-presence. We use J&B importers for our "bread and butter" supplies, but also have accounts with QPB andrecently Shimano. Yeah, wheels are the Achilles' heal of used bikes, especially rears. I usually start any wheel workwith hitting each nipple with Tri-flow. It also helps to have an adjustable spoke wrench, oftenan antique tool in my experience, although we have a Hozan, so they might be still available. We also has some spoke wrenches that grip three sides of the nipple, sort of, that work wellon stubborn spokes. Hope this helps. Mark HoffmanBikeNB.orgNew Britain, CTUSA

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E-bikes
by Andy Ballentine 16 Feb '23

16 Feb '23

Hi -- How are bike co-ops dealing with e-bikes? We are all-volunteer at the Bicycle Co-Op of Williamsburg (Virginia). We have several very fine mechanics, but none of us is expert in the motors and batteries of e-bikes, and we don't know whether we should accept them as donations or sell them. I'd be interested in others' experience and policies. Thanks -- Andy Ballentine

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Marketing Tools
by Edward Kirkwood 15 Feb '23

15 Feb '23

For community bike shops that rely on used bike sales to help fund the operation, what media related tools do you use to showcase your inventory? Do you rely on your own website or do you utilize social media platforms like Facebook? Allen KirkwoodBroke Spoke Community Bike ShopLexington, KY

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Wheel (components) making : tooling and methods
by ronde d'effort 15 Feb '23

15 Feb '23

Hello dear and esteemed Fellow, I hope this finds you well, I'm writing hoping you afforded and wished to share with the community on wheel-making tooling, methods, and on distributors akin to selling such to collectives. Particularly, we aspire to be more autonomous in making or substituting this most demanded component of bikes within our capacity. For this purpose, we would benefit from advices on lacing methods and bench-size machines to make wheel (parts) that respond soundly to physics, and tighter budgets. We think of machines like Morizumi or Phil Wood, which would perform the operations to make spokes from a stock of stainless steel wire. Or even nipples and maybe rims. For cutting and rolling threads but also, head swaging, elbow bending and reducing wire diameter of spokes by rolling or drawing with acceptable results. Should we also think of methods for using wire with minimal fixtures and metalwork astutely. We don't mean to dream splendidly for the B-Choppe, our basement in Montréal Qc, where we share and uphold anti-oppression ethics and relationships first. Varied wheels size arrive with seized spokes (from de-icing salt) as we contemplate shortages and difficulty to order. Above all in current times, we felt relying on ourselves instead of (very unsteady) supply from far manufacturers to be wise and exciting. While most parts wholesalers refuse selling to us, arguing «unfair» or «too stringent competition». As we seek sustenance and relationships, not profit, but would not mind funding the shop by providing with value. I think this could be technically feasible, some operations could involve re-purposing body-actuated tools used in other trade (especially for diametric reduction of wire). Ideally be combined in dedicated gems like those WheelFanatyk offer with discernment and expertise, I find. Expanding beyond our capacity, If you happened to know organizations whom had summarized knowledge in metallurgy and modeled practical setups, I feel some of us would be excited to know. For instance, which alloy (or actual wire) to use, which forming process to perform (drawing or rolling, at which temperature), which annealing to enable and senseful equipment to build economically for that matter. As a member of a free shop, I'm open to reconsider spokes-and-nipples for other building and truing methods (materials). What I'd be happy to share if we ever came to sound and thrift results. Thanks so much for reading my best Second Language from french. I hope this is senseful and above all, that you are well and holding your values. Thank you so much, with our kind and highest esteem, Louis Atelier B-Choppe Montréal Canada (I hope this is right, as the purpose of the ThinkTank seems to be a «discussion on our Discussion» while I read technical matters on it. And did not see our current preoccupation making a subject on the Wiki. However, I feel a discussion stemming from this post shall benefit more on a Community repertoire where Subjects can be searched in fields like «wheel» ; which the ThinkTank does no longer allow. Suggestions welcomed, thanks). Envoyé avec la messagerie sécurisée [Proton Mail](https://proton.me/).

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RU There
by MARK 11 Feb '23

11 Feb '23

Bike New Britain (CT, USA) operates with a very tiny all-volunteer crewof three volunteers. We're all ex-shop mechanics with an average age of about 73 years. but it's been a struggle and we're only open for a couple of 3-hour days. COVID definitely threw the monkey wrench into things, but since we all had COVID this past year, we are learning to live with it and all the other diseases floating around out there. We're trying to move away from the public's conception that we are just a bike repair/used bike shop.(Hard to get listed as something other that "Used Bike Shop" with Google Biz!)We plan on doing a membership basis to try and cultivate new volunteers, with initially a free membershipthat would allow access to a DIY night to be determined. We envision fee-based membership in the future,as overhead keeps climbing. We just paid a bit over $1600 to Am. Specialty's LAB insurance program! We have had little in the realm of organized rides and hope to develop that as well as Smart Cycling classes. We do an annual Rodeo with the police dept., and have partnered with BikeWalk CT on several Septembertour events. We also supply local agencies with bikes for their clients that need transportation help. I am personally optimistic for the coming year, but only time will tell. I often wonder whether long-term viability is possible without a paid staff person, but getting into paid personnel is a bridge we don't feel we could cross at this juncture. We do offer stipends to LCIs to help with planned SC classes. Mark HoffmanBikeNB.org

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