- TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

Liability insurance for volunteers
by Andy Ballentine 18 Dec '24

18 Dec '24

Hello, all -- What is your experience with liability insurance coverage for volunteers? At the Bicycle Co-Op of Williamsburg (VA) we have posted "at your own risk" signs, but wonder if there's a better way to handle this. Thanks! Andy

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TONIGHT, ESTA NOCHE, B!B! ASSEMBLY
by Josh Bisker 11 Dec '24

11 Dec '24

Pals, *TONIGHT* is our Bike!Bike! Assembly! *español abajo* What: Deciding who will host *2025: THE RETURN OF BIKEBIKE!* Date: Wednesday, December 11 Time: 6PM Pacific, 7PM Mountain, 8PM Central, 8PM Mexico, 9PM Eastern Place: Jitsi (online) <https://i.meet.mayfirst.org/BB2025> Topic: Bike!Bike! 2025: proposals, discussion, and decision. Attending: You, we hope! Any bike collective organizers past or present. I've written up a guide for how this meeting's structure, in English <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1drJBOUcMMRc2AQ7injZ156Cuf9VRI2v1sIXOcy2…> and Spanish <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NXATJlB3KnbuwuOsg9e3DPtOgQD6-6Vc8GoZnay…>, based on the format of previous Bike!Bike! decision meetings. As of now, I'll be facilitating, and I'm REALLY EXCITED to see you all there! Send out the messages far and wide so we can fill the place with people who care about Bike!Bike!, this community, and this movement. besos JoshJoshJosh * * * Amigos, ESTA NOCHE es nuestra Asamblea de Bike!Bike! *Qué:* Decidir quién será el anfitrión de *2025: ¡EL REGRESO DE BIKEBIKE!* *Fecha:* miércoles 11 de diciembre *Hora: *6:00 p. m., hora del Pacífico, 7:00 p. m., hora de la montaña, 8:00 p. m., hora del centro, 8:00 p. m., hora de México, 9:00 p. m., hora del este *Lugar:* Jitsi (en línea) <https://i.meet.mayfirst.org/BB2025> *Tema: *Bike!Bike! 2025: propuestas, debate y decisión. *Asistentes:* ¡Ustedes, esperamos! Cualquier organizador colectivo de bicicletas, pasado o presente. He escrito una guía sobre cómo se desarrollará esta reunión, en inglés <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1drJBOUcMMRc2AQ7injZ156Cuf9VRI2v1sIXOcy2…> y español <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NXATJlB3KnbuwuOsg9e3DPtOgQD6-6Vc8GoZnay…>, basada en el formato de las reuniones de decisión de Bike!Bike! anteriores. A partir de ahora, seré yo el facilitador y estoy REALMENTE EMOCIONADO de verlos a todos allí. Envíen los mensajes a lo largo y ancho para que podamos llenar el lugar con personas a las que les importa Bike!Bike!, esta comunidad y este movimiento. besos JoshJoshJosh Josh Bisker | 914-500-9890 <http://voice.google.com/calls?a=nc,%2B19145009890>

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Re: Next Bike!Bike! ?
by Rosy Tutton 05 Dec '24

05 Dec '24

Hi All, This is the last thread (RE: Next Bike!Bike! ?) I could find about hosting a Bike!Bike! In 2024. It seems like there won't be one this year from what I could find but we (being a small collective in Whitehorse, YT) are curious if there there is potential for one in 2025 (in Mtl or elsewhere) and if so, how we can support? We are trying to get the ball rolling on our collective here and would love to send someone to learn from the network! Thanks, Rosy

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Big BikeBike Planning Meeting Dec 11 + Notes from Nov 13
by Josh Bisker 05 Dec '24

05 Dec '24

Español abajo Hello pals! This message follows the November 13 meeting about Bike!Bike!. It includes some discussion summaries and next steps. The big news goes at the top though: We’re convening an assembly to decide where the next Bike!Bike! is happening! Date: Wednesday, December 11 Time: 6PM Pacific, 7PM Mountain, 8PM Central (y Mexico), 9PM Eastern Place: Jitsi (online) Topic: Bike!Bike! 2025: proposals, discussion, and decision. Attending: You, we hope! Any bike collective organizers past or present. Format: This meeting will be organized very much like the in-person meetings we remember from previous Bike!Bike! conferences. Groups who are interested in hosting Bike!Bike! 2025 will give a pitch or presentation; the rest of us will have a chance to ask questions, have a discussion, and then make a consensus decision. It’s usually pretty fun and feels like a real bonding activity. At the meeting, Mexico City is going to present a pitch for hosting B!B! 2025. Receiving their presentation, we’ll also have an opportunity to talk about how communications broke down with those organizers/organizations after 2019. It’ll be a chance to talk about how it all felt—and also how to now rebuild trusting relationships across our community, ensure accountability, and provide the kinds of mutual support that will help bring B!B! back to the world. And also, is your organization interested in hosting B!B! next year? This is the moment to throw your hat into the ring! Anyone with a yen to host B!B! next year can pitch. We’d all love to hear from anyone who’s interested in this project: San Marcos? Montreal? Madison? Chicago? Tuscon? Chiapas? Even if you’re interested in hosting in a future year, it might be really fun to hear something from you now. Presentations typically include topics like: - An introduction to your group - Why you want to host B!B! - Why you believe you’re prepared to undertake this big endeavor - Why you think having other people come to your city is important for the greater community or useful to the larger movement - Why you think having other people come to your city is important for your local community or useful to your local movement After your pitch, people ask clarifying questions about your proposal or your collective, then a chance for people to share reservations or critiques, then there’s a discussion. After all the proposals, we’ll have a consensus vote. (I’m planning to send out more details about this process later on, including looking for collaborators to facilitate with.) For now though, just a brief recap of some of the discussion from our last meeting. Full notes are here: https://pad.riseup.net/p/BIKEBIK32025-11-13-keep Our agenda was mostly about communication: - How do we communicate more effectively about BikeBike? - Related, how do we understand the relationship between Bike!Bike! and BikeBikeEverywhere? - How do we help B!B! restart from a solid base with the continuity we had before? Here are some takeaways: - We decided to commit to using the ThinkTank as our primary “home” communication channel to talk about Bike!Bike! through the 2025 conference. - If you’re posting to the ThinkTank, please also post to the Facebook group if that’s possible for you, or ask someone to do this for you. - If you're posting on Thinktank, please write your message in both Spanish and English; use Google Translate if you need (and maybe there are some automating time-savers you can use in your email client). And hey, consider French! - Right now our main communications channels are the ThinkTank and the BikeBike / BiciBici Facebook group, but we also use Discord, WhatsApp, bikebike.org, Instagram, word of mouth, other email lists, and the Bike!Bike! poster to find out about the conference. - If you participate in another channels as well as the ThinkTank, please try to repost messages there to increase their reach - We want to bring people in and invite participation in what’s happening - We also talked about the ThinkTank’s serious pros and cons - It’s a free tool with a long memory and wide reach - It’s clunky and ancient, and many newer orgs just don’t use it. - Its name says nothing about its user community! - At a future B!B! or in another setting, we might benefit by talking about migrating from the ThinkTank to another communications platform that would be easier for more people to use, but still retain its memory - Regarding Bike!Bike! and Bike!Bike!Everywhere, both serve good purposes. - Currently there is no planning happening for B!B!E in 2025 - Not everyone can travel for the in-person conference, so it would still be great to continue having an online component at B!B! if possible (maybe BBE organizers can support creating this for a future in-person conference) Those are the main takeaways, but the notes <https://pad.riseup.net/p/BIKEBIK32025-11-13-keep> are pretty interesting and easy to read through. OK! That’s a huge email! Love you all. Any and all replies appreciated. Besos a todos JoshJoshJosh * * * ¡Hola amigos! Este mensaje es la continuación de la reunión del 13 de noviembre sobre Bike!Bike!. Incluye algunos resúmenes de las discusiones y los próximos pasos. Sin embargo, la gran noticia va al principio: ¡Estamos convocando una asamblea para decidir dónde se llevará a cabo la próxima Bike!Bike!! Fecha: miércoles 11 de diciembre Hora: 6:00 p. m. Pacífico, 7:00 p. m. Montaña, 8:00 p. m. Centro (y México), 9:00 p. m. Este Lugar: Jitsi Tema: Bike!Bike! 2025: propuestas, discusión y decisión. Asistentes: ¡Ustedes, esperamos! Y cualquier otro organizador de colectivos de bicicletas, pasado o presente. Formato: Esta reunión se organizará de manera muy similar a las reuniones en persona que recordamos de las conferencias anteriores de Bike!Bike!. Los grupos que estén interesados en organizar Bike!Bike! 2025 darán una presentación; el resto de nosotros tendremos la oportunidad de hacer preguntas, tener una discusión y luego tomar una decisión de consenso. Por lo general, es muy divertido y se siente como una verdadera actividad de unión. En la reunión, la Ciudad de México presentará una propuesta para albergar B!B! 2025. Después de recibir su presentación, también tendremos la oportunidad de hablar sobre cómo se rompió la comunicación con esos organizadores/organizaciones después de 2019. Será una oportunidad para hablar sobre cómo se sintió todo y también sobre cómo reconstruir relaciones de confianza en toda nuestra comunidad, garantizar la responsabilidad y brindar los tipos de apoyo mutuo que ayudarán a que B!B! regrese al mundo. Y también, ¿su organización está interesada en albergar B!B! el próximo año? ¡Este es el momento de lanzarse al ruedo! Cualquiera que tenga ganas de albergar B!B! el próximo año puede presentar su propuesta. A todos nos encantaría saber de alguien que esté interesado en este proyecto: ¿San Marcos? ¿Montreal? ¿Madison? ¿Chicago? ¿Tuscon? ¿Chiapas? Incluso si está interesado en ser anfitrión en un año futuro, podría ser muy divertido escuchar algo de usted ahora. Las presentaciones suelen incluir temas como: - Una introducción a tu grupo - Por qué quieres ser anfitrión de B!B! - Por qué crees que estás preparado para emprender este gran proyecto - Por qué crees que es importante para la comunidad en general o útil para el movimiento en general que vengan otras personas a tu ciudad - Por qué crees que es importante para tu comunidad local o útil para tu movimiento local que vengan otras personas a tu ciudad Después de tu presentación, las personas hacen preguntas aclaratorias sobre tu propuesta o tu colectivo, luego hay una oportunidad para que las personas compartan reservas o críticas, luego hay una discusión. Después de todas las propuestas, tendremos una votación de consenso. (Estoy planeando enviar más detalles sobre este proceso más adelante, incluida la búsqueda de colaboradores para facilitar el proceso). Por ahora, sin embargo, solo un breve resumen de algunas de las discusiones de nuestra última reunión. Las notas completas están aquí: https://pad.riseup.net/p/BIKEBIK32025-11-13-keep Nuestra agenda fue principalmente sobre comunicación: ¿Cómo comunicamos de manera más efectiva sobre BikeBike? En relación con esto, ¿cómo entendemos la relación entre Bike!Bike! y BikeBikeEverywhere? ¿Cómo ayudamos a que B!B! se reinicie desde una base sólida con la continuidad que teníamos antes? A continuación, se incluyen algunas conclusiones: - Decidimos comprometernos a utilizar el ThinkTank como nuestro principal canal de comunicación para hablar sobre Bike!Bike! a través de la conferencia de 2025. - Si publica en el ThinkTank, publique también en el grupo de Facebook si es posible para usted, o pídale a alguien que lo haga por usted. - Si publica en Thinktank, escriba su mensaje tanto en español como en inglés; use Google Translate si lo necesita (y tal vez haya algunas herramientas automáticas para ahorrar tiempo que pueda usar en su cliente de correo electrónico). ¡Y, por favor, considere el francés! - En este momento, nuestros principales canales de comunicación son el ThinkTank y el grupo de Facebook BikeBike / BiciBici, pero también usamos Discord, WhatsApp, bikebike.org, Instagram, el boca a boca, otras listas de correo electrónico y el sitio web Bike!Bike! póster para obtener información sobre la conferencia. - Si participa en otros canales además del ThinkTank, intente volver a publicar mensajes allí para aumentar su alcance - Queremos atraer a las personas e invitarlas a participar en lo que está sucediendo - También hablamos sobre los pros y contras serios del ThinkTank - Es una herramienta gratuita con una gran memoria y un amplio alcance - Es torpe y antigua, y muchas organizaciones nuevas simplemente no la usan. - ¡Su nombre no dice nada sobre su comunidad de usuarios! - En un futuro B!B! o en otro entorno, podríamos beneficiarnos al hablar sobre la migración del ThinkTank a otra plataforma de comunicaciones que sería más fácil de usar para más personas, pero que aún conservaría su memoria - En cuanto a Bike!Bike! y Bike!Bike!Everywhere, ambos cumplen buenos propósitos. - Actualmente no hay planes para B!B!E en 2025 - No todos pueden viajar para la conferencia en persona, por lo que aún sería genial seguir teniendo un componente en línea en B!B! Si es posible (quizás los organizadores de BBE puedan ayudar a crear esto para una futura conferencia presencial) Esas son las conclusiones principales, pero las notas <https://pad.riseup.net/p/BIKEBIK32025-11-13-keep> son bastante interesantes y fáciles de leer. ¡Bien! ¡Es un correo electrónico enorme! Los quiero a todos. Se agradecen todas las respuestas. Besos a todos JoshJoshJosh Josh Bisker | 914-500-9890 <http://voice.google.com/calls?a=nc,%2B19145009890>

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Last week´s Bike Bike meeting and invite to join in next Wednesday´s call / La reunión Bici Bici de la semana pasada e invitación a sumarse a la reunión del próximo miércoles
by Angie Libertad 12 Nov '24

12 Nov '24

Hi everyone, Last Wednesday we had an online meeting to discuss the next Bike Bike with attendance from folks in Mexico City, Texas, Arizona, California, Guadalajara, Argentina, Colombia and Canada . It is the first of several planned meetings to discuss how to better communicate and organize collectively the next Bike Bike gathering(s)in 2025 and as a wide network of bike collectives. The most up to date minutes from this last week´s meeting can be found here: https://pad.riseup.net/p/BIKEBIK32025-keep Also if you´d like to learn what B!B!E! has been up to since 2021, check out the bike collectives wiki: https://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/Meetings_and_minutes#November_2021 The next meeting will be next Wednesday November 13th at 5PM EST (Tijuana)/ 7PM CDMX-CST (Texas)/ 8PM EST (NYC). You can join the meeting using this link: https://i.meet.mayfirst.org/BB2025 . The plan is to share the meeting agenda a few days before next Wednesday here and on the rest of the channels. Thank you to everyone who participated in last Wednesday´s meeting and for your patience as we get over some humps and bring back the wide Bike Bike community together. We look forward to everybody joining in the call next week! ******* Hola a todes, El miércoles pasado tuvimos una reunión en línea para discutir el próximo Bici Bici con asistencia de personas de CDMX, Tejas, Arizona, California, Guadalajara, Argentina, Colombia e incluso Canadá. Es la primera de varias reuniones planeadas para discutir cómo comunicarnos mejor y organizarnos colectivamente la(s) próxima(s) reunión(es) de Bici Bici en 2025 y como una red amplia de bici colectivos. Las minutas más actualizadas de la reunión de la semana pasada se pueden encontrar aquí: https://pad.riseup.net/p/BIKEBIK32025-keep También si quieren saber lo que B!B!E! ha estado haciendo desde 2021, échale un vistazo a la wiki de colectivos de bicis: https://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/Meetings_and_minutes#November_2021 La próxima reunión será el próximo miércoles 13 de noviembre a 5PM EST (Tijuana)/ 7PM CDMX-CST (Tejas)/ 8PM EST (NYC). Puedes unirte a la reunión usando este enlace: https://i.meet.mayfirst.org/BB2025 . El plan es compartir la agenda de la reunión unos días antes del próximo miércoles aquí y en el resto de los canales. Gracias a todos los que participaron en la reunión del miércoles pasado y por su paciencia mientras pasamos los baches y volvemos a reunir a la comunidad amplia de Bici Bici. ¡Esperamos que todos se sumen a la llamada de la semana que viene!

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Gratitude & Support for the BikeBike Planning
by eric clough 06 Nov '24

06 Nov '24

From the South coast of Oregon, I would like to offer appreciation and solidarity for all those persons and organizations currently planning for a new Bike!Bike! event. I read the meeting notes recently sent and I respect all the effort that must go into planning these events. Keep up the good work!!! I have never attended a Bike!Bike! event but I look forward to it in Ciudad Mexico, Texas or anywhere else. Just want you all to know your efforts are appreciated. Eric Front Street Community Bike Works Coos Bay, Oregon US

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I'm going to learn how to use this so anyone have any tips/is anyone actually here?
by bikebikesmtx2025＠gmail.com 02 Nov '24

02 Nov '24

I guess reply to this and I'll learn how replies work

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Bike shop in Everett, WA hiring Exec. Director
by Kristin Kinnamon 23 Oct '24

23 Oct '24

Sharing Wheels Community Bike Shop seeks a qualified and entrepreneurial executive director to lead our established nonprofit in Everett, WA. You do not need to be a bike mechanic to excel at this job. You will be focused on the community part of our organization. The new executive director will help develop and solidify our funding, programs and partnerships with the goal of moving to more suitable space in the next 1-2 years. You will partner with an engaged board of directors, supervise a full-time shop manager, and ensure our programs and finances serve our mission and vision: Keeping People and Bikes Moving in a Snohomish County where anyone can ride, fix or recycle a bicycle. This is a half-time job with flexible schedule and a variety of benefits. Read the job post on our website. <https://sharingwheels.org/about_sharing_wheels/job-openings/> Kristin Kinnamon Sharing Wheels Community Bike Shop, board member McClinchy Camano Classic Century, coordinator 2024 B.I.K.E.S. Club of Snohomish County, member 425-923-7868 (personal cell)

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BIKEBIKE! 2025
by BiciBici 24 Sep '24

24 Sep '24

Hola amigxs del pedal, colectividades e individualidades, Les escribimos de manera afectuosa para compartirles que andamos reviviendo y que nunca hemos dejado de pensar en organizar el Bike Bike en Ciudad de México, pero después de lo que significó la pandemia y el contexto actual en el mundo había sido complejo retomar la organización. Sabemos que han pasado 5 años del último encuentro, pero queremos decirles con mucha emoción que estamos poniendo todos nuestros esfuerzos para que BikeBike! Ciudad de México suceda en las últimas semanas de marzo 2025. En las próximas semanas tendrán más información al respecto, por lo pronto anótenlo en sus calendarios. ¡Abrazos! Pedalea y Resiste Cómite organizativo Bikebike! 2025, Ciudad de México.bikebike(a)riseup.net Hello everyone, bike collectives and community bike friends, We are writing to share an exciting announcement with you. We are starting up organizing a Bike!Bike! gathering in Mexico City for 2025. We have never stopped thinking about organizing the Bike!Bike! in Mexico City but both the pandemic´s impact and the current global context had put a damper on our earnest organizing efforts. We know that it has been 5 years since the last gathering, but we want to tell you with great excitement that we are putting all our efforts into making BikeBike! Mexico City possible in the last weeks of March 2025. In the coming weeks we'll share more details but for now, make sure to mark those last weeks of March in your calendars for Bike!Bike! in Mexico City. Big hugs, Pedalea y Resiste (Get Pedaling and Resist) Bike!Bike! 2025 Mexico City Organizing Committee bikebike(a)riseup.net

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Stuff I've Learned Recently
by cyclista＠inventati.org 20 Sep '24

20 Sep '24

This one I actually figured out awhile ago: - For accessing those 18mm ebike axlenuts on axles with power cables running out of them, and which often having a bash guard also on the axle: FLARE NUT WRENCH. Sockets won't work because electrical cable, box ends won't work because same, and the open end of a combo wrench is most often TOO FAT around its jaws to fit inside the bars of the bash guard or in the recess of the dropout. A flare nut wrench has the clearance of a box end, with the ability to allow passage for the cable that an open end would have. A trick that I'd like to try would be to *make* a flare nut wrench from the box end of a combination wrench by grinding an opening into it. I think it'd have to be one of the older box ends that's just a hex inside though, the newer kinds that are more fully castellated inside for multi-positioning on the nut would probably end up being too structurally weak if you cut a slot in them. And then this one, imparted to me by another mechanic just last week: - In an emergency, you can re-size a larger diameter innertube into a smaller one by tucking the tube inside itself until the desired diameter is reached. This has been dubbed "the foreskin technique" (gross, but appropriate). It's important to leave the tube airless until it has been fit into the tire and the beads are in place. Even though the resulting tube has imbalanced weight from being double-thick where it overlaps itself, once inflated it works well enough that you might not even know the difference riding it. ~cyclista Nicholas

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Youth Bike Summit--Early Bird registration through April 26!
by Kim Schaffer 19 Aug '24

19 Aug '24

Hi all! The 2024 Youth Bike Summit is shaping up to be a fantastic event, and we'd love to have you join us in Allentown this summer. Here are details! Please let me know if you have questions- Kim Calling all youth cyclists! Grab your helmets and head to the Lehigh Valley, PA, for the 2024 Youth Bike Summit, June 14-16 YBS2024 will bring together up to 400 youth riders and their adult advocates from across the country for three days of workshops and rides, all designed to help youth lead through the power of the bicycle. The theme of YBS2024 is Youth Lead the Way, with a focus on youth who have historically been excluded from cycling. YBS2024 will kick off on Friday evening with a welcome reception at races at the Lehigh Valley Velodrome. Saturday will offer a full day of classroom- and ride-based workshops, and will include opportunities for attendees to Try the Track at the Velodrome or participate in a Bikes & Boating adventure. YBS2024 will culminate on Sunday with a Big Ride that will take attendees through Allentown, along the historic D&L trail, and to Bethlehem's iconic SteelStacks. The Youth Bike Summit is led by the National Youth Bike Council and the YBS steering committee, which includes youth bike advocates from across the country. Community Bike Works, a Lehigh Valley-based Earn a Bike organization, will host YBS2024. "YBS fosters connections among youth and adults who are passionate about youth cycling, while it also helps to build leadership skills of students who are the future of our cycling community," said Joshua Funches, President of NYBC. "The Youth Bike Summit is a magical, life-changing gathering for young people who love bikes," CBW Youth Projects Coordinator Avery Daniels said. "This is the 10th Youth Bike Summit and the most authentically youth-led YBS to date. We are so excited to welcome everyone to YBS2024. Come ride with us this June!" The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Lehigh Valley Greenways Conservation Landscape, and THE LINK trail network have combined for lead sponsorship of the event. National sponsors include Outride, SRAM, The League of American Bicyclists, Sun Bicycles, and Lees-McRae College - Cycling Studies Minor. Local and Regional sponsors include PPL, The Dexter F. & Dorothy H. Baker Foundation, County of Northampton, the City of Allentown, the Nurture Nature Center, Capital Blue Cross, Discover Lehigh Valley(r), County of Lehigh, Fox & Roach/Trident Charities, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Piscitello Bicycle Law, PNC Bank, Lehigh Valley Planning Commission/Lehigh Valley Transportation Study, and Invest in Women Entrepreneurs. Details on YBS 2024 are available at https://communitybikeworks.org/youth-bike-summit-2024. Early bird registration for the three-day event-including four meals-runs through April 26 is just $80 for youth 24 and under, and $130 for adults over 24. Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-youth-bike-summit-tickets-748892747367 ******************************* Kim Schaffer, Executive Director Community Bike Works www.communitybikeworks.org cell: 484.554.8971

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"Stuff I've Learned Recently"
by Jim Sheehan 13 Aug '24

13 Aug '24

- Aluminum foil (crushed lightly and dipped in water) is the best method for cleaning chrome: cheaper, faster, less abrasive than steel wool, and recyclable. Just wear gloves, wipe the brown drips off promptly with a thick, clean, cotton rag, and polish lightly with oil. - Stuck seatposts usually are due to a missing -- or old, ineffective grease barrier between the steel tube and aluminum post. If you *do not try to loosen it by flooding it with oil products first,* there is a much better chance that the ammonia soaking trick will work, since it will be able to seep into the spaces where oil would have already sealed the less viscous ammonia away from contact. Be sure to fill the post to overflowing, and give it at least a few days to sit. Looking forward to other contributions here! Peace, Jim Jim Sheehan Executive Director Ohio City Bicycle Co-op 1779 Merwin St Cleveland, Ohio 44113 216 830 2667 OhioCityCycles.org jim(a)ohiocitycycles.org

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new topic series: "Stuff I've Learned Recently"
by cyclista＠inventati.org 13 Aug '24

13 Aug '24

I've decided to start a new series here that I'll call "Stuff I've Learned Recently". The intention is to share exactly that. I often find solutions to problems, or simply learn something new about bicycles, bicycle mechanics, or running a community bike shop. In the case where this knowledge may be arcane or even unique, I often think it's a shame that these techniques and perspectives may be lost. I've considered doing a YouTube channel, but that's more effort than I have to spare. I'm fond of this list and what it represents, so perhaps it can be useful here. No promises on the frequency of posts in this series. They will happen as often as I experience revelations. Many of these bits of knowledge may be already understood by some, but unless most of you already know these things, please try to refrain from "I already knew that" replies. I'll be sure to only post things which I think most readers will benefit from. I'm sure these posts will impress some readers, while impressing upon others exactly how much I hadn't already known. This is okay. Mostly this is a way of speaking what probably otherwise would be unspoken. Other are encouraged to contribute their own entries to this series - but please title them all the same (Stuff I've Learned Recently) for easy searching. To kick off the series, here are the first entries: - High pressure tires (with tubes) require high pressure rim strips. If a common rubber rim strip is used with a deep-v rim, the tube may herniate into the spoke holes even if the rim strip is in good condition and properly centered. There may not even be a tear or rupture in the rim strip itself at the point where the blowout occurred; the tube can simply push the rim strip aside as it bulges into the hole and ruptures. So make sure those road tires get cloth or thick plastic rim strips! - Replacing a broken spoke doesn't always have to mean removing the tube and tire. If the spoke breaks at the flange, you can simply unthread it from the spoke nipple and thread the new one back in without ever removing the tube or tire. - Some e-bike hubmotors feature freewheels whose inner castellations (for interfacing with the socket) are very deep, requiring a very long socket. In some cases the depth may make the castellations difficult to see, making it seem that the freewheel wasn't intended to be removed, similar to some department store kids' BMX sprockets that ship with no castellations at all. However, the castellations are usually present, and a Park FR 1.3 socket will reach them most of the time. The socket may need to be reamed progressively with a large stepper bit at the hexagonal end in order for the connector of the motor control/power cable to pass through. There are also direct-from-china sockets that are especially long that can work, but they also may need to be reamed. - This one's an old revelation, but nobody but me seems to have discovered it, so I'll document it now: When applying torque with a pipe wrench to a seized seatpost to turn it, in cases of extreme seizure the force applied to the jaws will crush and tear the post itself away from the frame, rendering the post inaccessible. This crushing can be prevented by cutting off the seatpost two or three inches above the frame, and stuffing the hollow center with a solid iron rod of the appropriate diameter. As the seatpost is tempted to buckle under the torque of the wrench jaws, instead it braces against the iron core such that greater force can be applied. I have alternately used chisels, rebar, punches, and various bits of scrap metal to stuff seatposts with the appropriate diameter of rod in the past. - This one's also old: some innertube punctures only leak at high pressure, and my not leak at all when inflated and listened for, or placed under water. Outside of a tire, innertubes can only reach relatively low pressures when inflated before completely exploding. Thats about all I can think of for now. Cheers! I hope this was interesting or useful, or both! ~cyclista Nicholas

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Fabricate a walker from bike parts?
by Jonathan Rosenbaum 29 Jul '24

29 Jul '24

Our collective, Positive Spin, has received the request below. I know there are some members with good fabrication experience on this list. Has anyone worked on a similar project, have design plans that would fit these specifications, or advice on how to proceed? Greetings: I'm writing to you in hopes that you might be able to literally help me save my life. Between some bad genetics and acquired injuries I'm currently not able to walk in any meaningful way. Some little bit during physical therapy. I've lost significant muscle mass and things are getting worse. I'm a tall person 201cm (6'7") before the accident wherein my spine suffered a compression injury I'm now 196cm (6'5"). This injury also caused lymphedema in both legs so my weight can vary by hundreds of pounds from 165kg -320kg (360# -700#). Walking and bicycling helps control the lymphedema immensely. I've given much thought to what I need and what I want. A doctor friend asked me what I was wanting and I'm going to incorporate my response to him in this letter as I believe it provides a very good idea of what I'm wanting and a bicycle repair shop would be just the place to make this happen. Upfront I'm not currently working I'm on a fixed disability income so I need to keep costs as low as possible; on the other hand we are talking about regaining my life versus dying slowly so I'll find a way to meet the financial requirements to make this happen. What I want to build: I want to build a walker. Because of my injuries and loss of muscle mass a traditional walker can't be used and a wheelchair or powerscooter won't help me walk again or build muscle mass. Kind of a side by side bicycle with step through (girls) frame, 4 wheels (two in front and two rear) but relatively close together (like a wheelchair it needs to fit through doors). A bench seat is preferred but if I must use a bicycle seat I'm going to get a Hobson Pro. Either way the seat will need to be low enough as to be out of the way when walking but there should a my hip or back fail and I drop. Needs to be high enough that I can continue to "walk" even while seated. I also want front and rear brakes as this is WV and we have steep hills. I want some method of locking the wheels so the walker won't roll about while I'm mounting or dismounting. Some place to carry my crutches would be great as would a cargo area (basket, underseat???) and water bottle cage (couple 2 liter bottles). I'm thinking BMX sized fat tires (idk 16" - 20") so I can go in the grass as well as sidewalks and buildings. I believe at its widest it should be no more than 32" and likely no longer than 54", maybe less, as it will also need to fit into elevators and exam rooms. That step through frame will need to be narrow to accommodate a normal leg spread with normal gait and stride (may require a bit of tube [frame] bending or cutting and welding). It will also need to be quite strong to accommodate my weight and my falling weight should my hip or back fail and I take an uncontrolled seat. An alternative to the narrow central frame might be a frame that I stand between. My illustration shows both ideas. Speaking from an engineering stand point I've no idea which would be stronger. To be honest one luxury option I'd like to be able to put on it would be the ability to turn the seat sideways so I could cook at a stove or work in my garden or in my workshop. This walker would immediately release me from the forced captivity in which I'm trapped. Help me regain muscle mass. Help me recover my physical health. Do activities I love and miss and it could even get me back to work. I most sincerely hope that you are willing and able to help. Thank you,

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Phoenix Bikes Hiring an Executive Director
by Emily Gage 08 Jul '24

08 Jul '24

Hi Everyone, Phoenix Bikes is hiring for our next Executive Director. If you know of anyone who might be a good fit, please encourage them to apply! *Job Title: *Executive Director *Organization:* Phoenix Bikes *Location: *Arlington, VA *Salary: *$75,000 - $90,000 *Details*: See Indeed posting <https://www.indeed.com/job/executive-director-317821f41b17d690?_gl=1*1ali10….>. Applications will be accepted through July 19. It's been a fun (and challenging!) position the last 5+ years for me, and I'd love to hand the reins (handlebars?) off to an incredible leader to take the organization forward! Cheers, Emily _________________ [image: Phoenix Bikes] <https://www.phoenixbikes.org/> *Emily Gage* Executive Director, Phoenix Bikes www.phoenixbikes.org | emily(a)phoenixbikes.org [image: icon] 909 S. Dinwiddie St. Arlington, VA 22204 <https://maps.google.com/?q=909%20S.%20Dinwiddie%20St.%20Arlington,%20VA%202…> [image: icon] (703) 346-0035

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recommendations for filing federal taxes (990/ez) online
by Matthew Pendergraft 02 Jul '24

02 Jul '24

Dear Think Tank - It seems we can no longer file our federal taxes by mail and must e-file / file online. Do you file your federal taxes online, like a 990 or 990-EZ? What website do you use/recommend to file online? For California orgs - the state filing seems easier, still allowing you/us to simply fill, print, and mail-in the forms. But if you have any suggestions there, I'd be happy to hear. Thank you in advance. -Matt Bikes del Pueblo, San Diego - Kumeyaay land

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Donation History?
by Andy Ballentine 27 Jun '24

27 Jun '24

Hello, everyone -- Our operation, the Bicycle Co-Op of Williamsburg (Virginia) is nearly three years old. We receive donated bicycles, refurbish them, and sell them or (mostly!) give them away. We've been amazed at the number of bikes we receive! We've tracked the months when donations have been heavier (like early spring) and when they've been less so (like the winter months), but the donation stream has been surprisingly strong ever since we opened. I have a question for others who receive bicycles by donation, and who have been in operation longer than we have. Does the time come when donations slow down? We're wanting to plan for that, if there's any way we can expect what might happen in the future. Thanks! Andy Ballentine

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krakow
by Chana 18 Jun '24

18 Jun '24

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Kids book about cyclofeminism - in French
by Gabrielle Anctil 14 Jun '24

14 Jun '24

Hey y'all, Just letting you know that this Montreal bike activist has just published a kids book about cyclo-feminism. It tells the story of Claire (inspired by Claire Morissette, an influencial montreal bike activist from the 70s) who, with the help of her new friend Katherine (Kitty Knox), learns to bike to school. It's about solidarity and the slippery slope of cycling which can turn you into an activist without you even noticing HEHEHE. My publisher also produced a printable poster which is available for free - it explains some basic rules of the road for kids who learn to bike. You can find both info about the book + the poster here: https://editionskata.com/produit/claire-a-velo-la-tete-dans-le-guidon/ (for the poster you need to scroll to the bottom of the page, section "Outils disponibles pour aller plus loin"). If any of you knows of a kids book publisher who might be interested in buying the rights and translating it into English or Spanish or any other language, feel free to forward them this email. Have a good day! -- Gabrielle Anctil gabrielleanctil.com <https://www.gabrielleanctil.com/>

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Riding More with Less
by Sam Tracy 12 Jun '24

12 Jun '24

Hello ThinkTank, Greetings! Hope you're well. I wanted to let people know about my new book *Riding More with Less*, published 1/23/24 by PM Press. It focuses on resourceful approaches towards fixing the bikes people actually ride, giving space to topics including how to break rust, knowing when it's safe to reuse parts, and more broadly to the many older technologies still in common use. Best of all, the book also features technical insights and commentary from volunteers and mechanics at 34 community bike shops across 4 countries. Great to encounter so many insightful people, through this project -- I learnt a lot, and as I hope you'll agree their voices add quite a bit. Background: I began working as a mechanic in bike shops in 1994, and this is my fourth bike repair manual. It's the second one that I've done with PM Press. More info can be found at the publisher's website here: https://pmpress.org/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1543 Question: I'll be visiting family in the Boston/Cambridge area the second and third weeks of July, and I'm hoping to set up some book events. Would anyone know people at community shops out there whom I might ask about this? Thanks, Sam Tracy

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Employing 14-15 year olds in VA bike shops
by Emily Gage 10 Jun '24

10 Jun '24

Hi All, Here at Phoenix Bikes in Arlington, VA, we run paid internship programs in our bike shop for high school students. One internship program focuses on “business” skills including the sale of used bikes and mechanics work on bikes; the other internship is focused on having interns teach mechanics skills to other students. We’ve only been employing 16+ students for both. But for the teaching internship, we have more 9th and 10th graders interested than older high schoolers, so we want to revisit whether we can employ younger students. Virginia's teen employment site is super specific about which jobs and employment locations are allowed for 14-15 year olds, whereas rules around job duties for 16+ year olds are much more relaxed. If you are a Virginia-based shop that has employed students younger than 16, what duties did you allow the younger students to do and what labor laws/guidance were you following? Just would love to know if others have gone down this path and made it work. Thanks, Emily Sent from my iPhone

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Encuesta sobre llamado a Asamblea virtual Bici!Bici! / Call for Bike!Bike! online Assembly
by Angie Libertad 08 Jun '24

08 Jun '24

Querida Comunidad de Bici!Bici!, En los últimos meses, nos han estado preguntando cuándo será la próxima Bici!Bici! Nos vimos por última vez en el 2018 en Tijuana y desde entonces no hemos podido reunirnos en persona y decidir colectivamente sobre la próxima Bici!Bici! Por esta razón, el comité organizador de Bici! Bici! En Todas Partes! quiere tu opinión sobre tener una asamblea virtual sobre el próximo encuentro de Bici! Bici! y también queremos conocer sus ideas de lo que les gustaría ver en la próxima reunión de Bici! Bici! En Todas Partes! Les pedimos que llenen esta encuesta antes del 13 de junio para que podamos conocer las necesidades de las comunidad ciclistas para nuestra planificación de B!B!E! BbLiga de la encuesta: https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSd9eM1esnn5gz.../viewform Si quieres unirte al comité directivo, siempre necesitamos más ayuda allí, por favor envíanos un correo electrónico a bikebikeeverywhere(a)gmail.com para unirte como voluntaria/o en el comité organizador. ---- Dear Bike!Bike! community, Over the past months, everyone has been asking when the next bike bike is happening. We last saw each other at Bike!Bike! 2018 in Tijuana before the pandemic and we have not had an in-person opportunity to come together and decide collectively on the next Bike! Bike!. For this reason, the Bike! Bike! Everywhere! steering committee wants your feedback on holding an online assembly about the next in person Bike! Bike! and to learn about your ideas of what you´d like to see at the next Bike! Bike! Everywhere! gathering. We ask that you kindly fill out this poll by the 13th of June so we can learn about your bike community's needs to plan the next BBE. Link to poll: https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSe7XFmZepQvyY.../viewform If you'd like to join the steering committee we always need more help there, please send us an email at bikebikeeverywhere(a)gmail.com to join as a volunteer on the organizing committee.

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What do y'all do with old cycling computers?
by Triss Cimò 08 May '24

08 May '24

Hi, all, Our shop's been slowly amassing too many donated old cyclometers (like the old wired ones with spoke-mounted magnets, lots of Cateyes and some Shimanos and other brands). I'm seeing that when they're complete in a box and have all the parts they sometimes sell on eBay, but generally our clientele is not interested in this now obsolete tech. We don't currently have an electronics recycling partner, but I'm worried that looking for a way to recycle these is our only option. Does anyone in this group have wisdom to share on this topic before we go down that route? What have your other shops done with yours? Thanks in advance! -- Triss Cimò* (they/them)* *Crew at The <http://www.thebicycletree.org/>* * Bicycle Tree <http://www.thebicycletree.org/>, Santa Ana, California*

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Biking videos and info for kids
by Marc Ford 08 May '24

08 May '24

Hi folks, Some neighbors are getting together a bike-bus to bike to the local elementary school (up to age 10). The school is cool with it and has asked that there be some kind of unspecified "safety thing". This is all coming together without much notice so all the local organizations that could help are busy. So these neighbors are looking for something to share with the school or parents. I found a couple videos. They are OK but a little preachy. Anyone have anything you've made or like for this? The expectation is that parents are riding with kids, on one lane neighborhood streets. Thanks! Marc

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Phoenix Bikes Hiring for Executive Director
by Emily Gage 04 May '24

04 May '24

Hi Everyone, I've announced I'll be stepping down from my position as Phoenix Bikes' Executive Director at the end of August. I've absolutely loved this role over the past five and a half years and would love to see us find an exceptional person to lead Phoenix Bikes into the future! Phoenix Bikes is an Arlington, Virginia nonprofit that uniquely combines youth educational programs with a full-service bike shop. We pursue a dynamic mission: harnessing the power of bikes to help youth build passion, purpose, and a place in the community. Our incredible supporters—including individual donors, foundations and corporate sponsors, and bike shop customers—make it possible for us to offer our youth programs entirely free of cost and to offer repairs and sales at affordable prices, so that we can serve the underserved in our community. You can learn more about Phoenix Bikes and our work at www.phoenixbikes.org. The Executive Director has overall responsibility for ensuring that programs—both our youth training programs and our community bike shop—are running successfully, executing successful fundraising, managing the financial health and the sustainability of the organization, developing staff, and managing operations. This full-time position manages an annual operating budget of about $700,000 and an outstanding team of five full-time staff and 7-12 part-time staff, supported by over 100 volunteers. Please see our Indeed posting for further details: Phoenix Bikes Executive Director <https://www.indeed.com/job/executive-director-317821f41b17d690?_gl=1*1vkacq…>. *Applications close May 14.* Best, Emily _________________ [image: Phoenix Bikes] <https://www.phoenixbikes.org/> *Emily Gage* Executive Director, Phoenix Bikes www.phoenixbikes.org | emily(a)phoenixbikes.org [image: icon] 909 S. Dinwiddie St. Arlington, VA 22204 <https://maps.google.com/?q=909%20S.%20Dinwiddie%20St.%20Arlington,%20VA%202…> [image: icon] (703) 346-0035

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