- TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

I own the building Time's Up has been operating from in NYC for the last 4 years
by Steve Stollman 09 Dec '07

09 Dec '07

Now that it has been sold, I want to keep helping nurture engaged environmental activism by buying not expensive properties and offering options to buy them from me, in a couple of years, to bike stores and community bike operations that want to locate there. This is what I have been putting out on my website www.LightWheels.com and distributed at BikeBike in Pittsburgh. I only have about three months to find these properties and make the other arrangements, which is not a real long time. I am looking for feedback on this . Also take a look at www.LocalExpression.com at the UpsideDowntown News, which I wrote and assembled about a year ago, as well. Here is some material relating to the community bike movement followed by a proposal relating to finding good hq's. Sharing Bikes etc. Handlebars and pedals make bikes into three-dimensional objects. If these protrusions can be flattened to the body of the bike when not in use, the vehicle is about 6” wide and much easier to both store and transport in the close company of other people. Current technology permits this modification to be performed safely and conveniently. To minimize space needed, there could be a large number of somewhat-identical bikes using variations of this simple design, with adjustable seat heights, to keep initial costs low while providing for the fastest and widest proliferation. At most times, these sturdy bikes will be fine. Buying a shipload will reduce their cost to such a low figure that a few months of advertisements, removable after all costs are covered, could finance the entire exercise. Ads for one month a year or less could finance ongoing top-level maintenance. If properly designed they can be free to use and possibly not need to be locked at special locations as current systems usually demand. http://bike-sharing.blogspot.com. Permanent sidewalk or vehicle defacement by ads touting the same corporate culture of over-consumption that got us in this mess is not necessary. We cannot afford to allow the bottom-line calculus of Clear Channel and the other billboard-industry giants, to decide for us how we share our bikes. Across this country, before this massive invasion of profit-driven, probably sub-standard systems take hold, Community-based bike collectives and other people-friendly individuals and organizations, including some local bike businesses, must begin to assume these responsibilities. This will not destroy the existing bike business, because shops can help create, maintain and upgrade the fleet continuously. Many people will want their own machine regardless, and far more people will be riding all the time. When seas rise so do boats. Paris today is a good example. A second system needs to be established, designed and built, which is comprised of unconventional vehicles, multi-passenger, weather-protected, electric-motor assisted, art-inspired and plain fun. Access to this fleet would need to be restricted and require credit-card id, GPS location devices, special maintenance and a fee-system to help pay for it. Some support should come from the government since it will provide many benefits to the public as a whole, the way other publicly-accessible transit systems ordinarily do. Self-support is ideal and achievable. This could enable a much more creative and adventurous effort than one sponsored by a corporation or government. It is also being suggested that all this be done in tandem with a local-neighborhood based, ambitious and creative system, for sharing rides and vehicles of all kinds. This facility can also accept tax-deductible contributions, some as valuable as cars etc., and generate income from the small fees earned for expediting these much needed various transportation-related companion efforts to reduce traffic. Anchored by a robust and growing community bike effort, a strong framework for positive change can be constructed. If a substantial decrease in the number of cars on the road is achieved this will also help in the improvement of roadway safety for cyclists and others. The soonest path to the safest, highest quality, most diverse, appropriate and convenient system, with the least expensive continuous operating costs, that also rocks, is the goal. The proliferation of these new forms of transport will also require the taming of our highways back into the streets that they were intended to be. We must demand civility and respect from large and dangerous Internal Combustion Engine (ICE)-Age vehicles, and the complete eradication of any lingering people-unfriendly behavior. The reward for this change will be an historic flowering of enjoyable, human-scale, responsible and healthful transportation in our cities and towns. Bikes and Property I want to invest my profit from selling a property in Manhattan to help enable 10 bike shops to establish themselves in their own spaces. Each will each be given an option to buy the space they are renting after a few years, to enable them to grow more rapidly and to own and benefit directly from the improvements they make to their properties and businesses. In some cases this would involve buying existing locations, in others it would mean finding a great local building for sale at a good price in a good location. (As each group is able to purchase its building, the money paid is made available to another group in another state so that they may be able to purchase a building etc.. If this property investment methodology helps in bringing forth better means for bike store owners to control their own futures and expand their businesses, others may decide to invest this way as well. As mortgage credit tightens, the strength of this industry, in the face of $3+ gas and frightening obesity and diabetes rates, could entitle it to an alternate form of investment capital. There are many people today on every stratum of society who are starting to come to terms with the damage being done to a seemingly robust, but actually dangerously fragile, ecosystem. The central role of inappropriate transportation is conspicuous in that picture. They want their kids to be healthy, have a future and love them and they want to have a cleaner conscience. At the same time they want their investments to be sound financially. A program such as this could satisfy all of their needs, while giving bike stores some valuable additional leverage against overly-aggressive landlords, and a better shot at economic justice and self-determination. It is also my intention to use this opportunity to help gain more visibility through these stores for hybrid human-powered/electric-assisted vehicles, including safe, road-worthy and weather-protected wheelchairs. In an aging population, many stores may find this to be one of the most high-growth elements of their businesses and one of the most gratifying. Meanwhile re-defining cycling as basic transportation, not just a pleasurable, recreational activity, will help drive the infrastructure improvements that we so badly need. These upgrades, a flood of new and more utilitarian machines, and the dramatic increases in bicycle and other lightweight vehicle use that they will trigger, will finally begin to bring this vital activity its due respect.

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bicycle project in rwanda .. need your input
by rachael spiewak 06 Dec '07

06 Dec '07

hi, everyone. thanks so much for your input on the last thread.. i got a lot out of it. this time i've got questions about doing projects in africa. i've been asked to come along as a consultant on a project designed to train five local people to be HIV case workers in a place near Kigali, Rwanda ( www.jcause.org). the folks there say that in order to do their work, they need bicycles. that's where i come in. my job is to get bicycles while we're over there, help fix them up, teach bike repair, etc. i also have to get messenger bags or backpacks so they can haul around meds and paper work, patch kits, multitools, and other on-the-road repair items. it would also be good if there was a repair shop, or at least a set of basic tools. i know that working bikes, david peckham/village bicycle project, and others do big bike distribution projects in places around africa, so i intend to make those connections. but i thought i would check to see if there's any other knowledge among the collective that y'all could share with me... especially contacts with companies who might part with a relatively small in kind donation, things i ought to bring, and tales of adventure. thanks! -- Rachael Spiewak, MSW Executive Director Sopo Bicycle Cooperative www.sopobikes.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Hours of operation: Tues/Thurs 7 pm - 10 pm Sat/Sun 2 pm - 5 pm

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One Street Spotlights Ethics to Increase Bicycling
by Urban Bike Project of Wilmington, Inc. 04 Dec '07

04 Dec '07

Hi All, Wanted to let you know about a new organization to promote/support bike orgs..."One Street" was founded by Sue Knaup, former ED of the Thunderhead Alliance, details are in the press release below. Those of you involved in the "someone's in charge" vs. "err'body pulls their own weight (we hope)" debate might find some interesting ideas in the Ethics and Management sections on the left portion of their website<http://www.onestreet.org/resources_increase_bike.html> . Brian UBP ** * One Street Spotlights Ethics to Increase Bicycling* * * Prescott, Arizona* – *December 3, 2007 – Embracing ethics as the means for increasing bicycling around the world, a new international organization is cultivating novel ground for the bicycle advocacy movement. Each of One Street's founders has seen organizations of all types hobbled by unethical behavior. They formed One Street on the principle that if organizations working to increase bicycling can break the suction of this tendency, the bicycle advocacy movement will finally leap ahead into the mainstream. Through One Street's on-call support and web site, leaders learn how to present bicycling as a top solution for climate change, health crises, oil wars and deadly street designs that threaten people around the world. Ethical management is blended with coaching and resources for campaign planning and communications. These basic services are free to any leader of any organization working to increase bicycling – non-profit, for-profit, government, local, state, national and international. One Street's web site www.onestreet.org offers free resources on ethics and management as well as common bicycling issues. One Street's unique angle is already attracting attention as leaders of organizations large and small contact Sue Knaup, One Street's Executive Director. "My favorite part of the job is helping leaders through the often confusing maze we all encounter as we strive to increase bicycling," Knaup said. "Personality clashes and power struggles hit devoted leaders hard and distract them from their mission. At One Street, our quirky claim to fame is that we understand these tendencies and how to overcome them." While One Street's basic services are free, they rely on donations from their Supporters to keep the doors open and phone lines paid. Supporters can then tap into One Street's higher level programs that include an international listserv, forums on specialized subjects and other networking opportunities for connecting with leaders around the world who are increasing bicycling. Supporters also receive prominent recognition on One Street's web site and other promotional materials. And Supporters can create their own special projects with One Street for increasing bicycling. One Street's name suggests that all streets are connected and thus our actions affect and can help others around the world. This kindness and responsibility are inherent in all of One Street's generous Supporter organizations including: Fuji Bicycles, ADFC of Germany, Arizona Internet Marketing, Ironclad Bicycles, as well as individuals. *For more information, please contact Sue Knaup, Executive Director: 928-541-9841, sue(a)onestreet.org * # # # -- Urban Bike Project of Wilmington 1908 N. Market Street (entrance is in the parking lot behind the building) Wilmington, DE 19801 Phone - 302-654-5304 Visit online at http://urbanbikeproject.org

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1023 form "description of narrative activities"
by allison karow 01 Dec '07

01 Dec '07

hi all! this is allison from tempe arizona.. it is taking me a while to fill out my 1023 non-profit IRS paperwork (as expected) and i was wondering if anyone has a copy of their attachments to the form. especially the first one where you have to describe your past, present and future activities. i'm just not sure how in-depth to go. on the other hand, if no one has a copy i will certainly post mine after it gets accepted (or rejected!) thanks! al

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Thethinktank Digest, Vol 15, Issue 17
by Tom Emm 01 Dec '07

01 Dec '07

Pat, look at this liability form you might like it. Tom 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: Waivers of Liability (Urban Bike Project of Wilmington, Inc.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Fri, 30 Nov 2007 11:10:43 -0500 From: "Urban Bike Project of Wilmington, Inc." Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Waivers of Liability To: "The Think Tank" Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" I have uploaded our 2 forms, for adults and minors. You will need to fill in your information. The files are Microsoft Word Documents but can be edited using OpenOffice which is free. http://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/index.php?title=Release_of_Liability_Fo… Brian On Nov 29, 2007 1:07 PM, Jonathan Morrison wrote: > > http://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/index.php?title=Release_of_Liability_Fo… > > On Nov 27, 2007 11:42 AM, maintenence collective > wrote: > > > > > Wondering if you ever got those copies of the waiver up? We're opening > > our shop here in portland this saturday and want to have one for members to > > sign. Also, wondering how many shops have liability insurance? We were told > > that sometimes its more dangerous to have, because you'll be more likely to > > be sued if you have assetts to sue for. With no insurance, we have no money > > to give... > > comments? > > -A @Bikefarm > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Thethinktank mailing list > > Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > > > > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Thethinktank mailing list > Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… > > -- Urban Bike Project of Wilmington 1908 N. Market Street (entrance is in the parking lot behind the building) Wilmington, DE 19801 Phone - 302-654-5304 Visit online at http://urbanbikeproject.org

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Waivers of Liability
by plan_9＠riseup.net 30 Nov '07

30 Nov '07

Hey, We just had our first news story done and we are swamped with donated bikes, before we are even done doing the shop fit-up. In addition to this, our local police dept. has donated 200 bikes that they want picked up this weekend. In order to process this many bikes to fit in our smallish space, we need to break most of them down, recycle the junk, and get organized fast. We will be asking the community as a whole to come help us tear these bikes down over the weekend and need to make sure we are covered legally from anything happening in the shop. In addition to getting our insurance squared away, we would like to have a liability waiver to sign, maybe in conjunction with our work-trade sheets that every volunteer fills out to account for hours. Does anyone have a good liability waiver that they wouldn't mind posting to the wiki or emailing me a copy of? We don't really have time to find a lawyer before we need the waiver. Thanks, Andrew FM Community Bicycle Workshop

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Coaster Brake Hub Overhaul
by BovineOaks＠aol.com 27 Nov '07

27 Nov '07

The coaster brake hub has the following parts from the drive side to the brake arm side for Suntour and Bendix hubs. When you are trying to put the hub back together this is the order you will need to follow. Axle, Axle nut Washer Lock nut (Thin) Adjusting cone 1" ball bearing retainer with 1/4 inch balls Driver with retaining ring, cog and some have dust caps 1 1/4" ball bearing retainer with 1/4 inch balls Hub shell Clutch ( Usually made of three parts, one being a spring) Brake pads (Some have clutch pads and brake pads) Stationary expander 1 1/4" ball bearing retainer with 1/4 inch balls Dust cap Brake arm Keyed (With chain stay clamp, nut and bolt) Washer Lock nut (Thick) Washer Axle nut Tools needed: Bench Vice, Can be a small 3' Jaw, clamp on vice, or a full size bolted to the table vice. Two cone wrenches to fit the lock nut and adjusting cone, (15 MM and 9/16" or 17 MM are normal) Magnet, Rod or Pen style is nice. Grease (you get to choose the quality you like) Shop rags to remove old grease. Disassembly Procedure The order parts go into the hub shell and the orientation they go into the hub shell are important. Flipping brake pads, bearing retainers, brake arm, hub shell, or adjusting cone can be a really bad thing. As you take parts off the axle, Lift them straight up, and over to a rag, place them in the order you take them off and in the orientation they were on the axle. Do not flip them over in your hand as you put them down on the shop rag. Place a shop rag beside a bench vice. Take off both sets of axle nuts and washers and put them on a rag. One set (nut/washer) in one corner of the rag and one set (nut/washer) on the other corner at the top of the shop rag. Hold the hub so the axle is pointed towards the ceiling and the floor with the brake arm on the bottom side of the hub shell Place the lock nut next to the brake arm in the jaws of the vice, (DO NOT put the axle threads in the jaws) Put the correct cone wrenches on the Lock Nut and the Adjusting Cone. Hold the Adjusting Cone still as you loosen the Lock Nut. put your cone wrenches down. Use your fingers to unscrew the Lock Nut and place it beside the washer on the rag. Use your fingers to unscrew the Adjusting Cone and place it beside the Lock Nut on the rag, Orientation is important. Use the magnetic pen to remove the 1" ball bearing retainer and place it beside the Adjusting Cone on the rag. Orientation is important. Use your fingers to twist the Driver out of the hub shell, place it beside the Ball Bearing Retainer on the rag. It may fall on its side. Use the magnetic pen to remove the 1 1/4" ball bearing retainer and place it beside the Driver on the rag. Orientation is important. In the next step the brake pads will fall out the bottom of the hub shell. If you wrap one finger and a thumb below the bottom flange of the hub shell to catch the brake pads as they fall out. Grasp the hub shell and lift it off the axle. Place it on the rag beside the 1 1/4" ball bearing retainer. Orientation is important. Pick the brake pad off the floor and place them on the rag beside the hub shell. ( I knew you would drop them the first time, you will get better at catching them) Remove the Clutch and place it on the rag beside the Brake Pads. Orientation is important, and the Suntour Clutch likes to fall over. If you have a digital camera take a photo of the parts and their orientation before you clean. This is all that you need to remove to rebuild a hub. If you want to disassemble the rest do the next list, if not skip and go to Cleaning Grasp the Brake Arm and twist it counter clock wise. Loosen the bench vice jaws from the lock nut. Use your fingers to remove the lock nut, place it on the rag next to the second set of axle (nut/washer) Remove the Brake arm and place it on the rag beside the Lock Nut. Orientation is important. Remove Dust Cap from Stationary Expander, and place it beside Brake Arm, Orientation is important. Using your fingers unscrew the Stationary Expander Push on both sides of the 1 1/4" ball bearing retainer to pop it off the Stationary Expander. Place the Stationary Expander beside the Dust Cap, Orientation is important. Place the 1 1/4" ball bearing retainer beside the Stationary Expander. Orientation is important. If you have a digital camera take a photo of the parts and their orientation before you clean. Cleaning I prefer to use a rag and no cleaners. If you use a green color bio degreaser it will work a little better if it is warmed up to 120 F. If you use a Yellow citrus degreaser, use gloves and ventilation. The green stuff is a strong detergent and the yellow is an aromatic citrus acid. If I do not use a solvent then I do not have to remove the solvent from the part with a second compound. Detergents remover the citrus and water removes the detergents from your parts. I like to push out all the bearings out of the retainers and replace them with new grade 300 balls. Grade 25 Campagnolo quality bearings would be overkill. I wipe all the grease I can get off the bearing cups/ cones and the threads of the clutch/ driver. There are also new parts washers that use warm detergent if you like to use big tools. Wash with water after to remove the detergent. Place all the parts back on the shop rag in the correct order and orientation. Reassembly If you did not remove the brake arm from the axle then skip the next nine lines. In the correct orientation place the 1 1/4" ball bearing retainer on the Stationary Expander In the correct orientation screw the Stationary Expander about 1 1/2" onto the Axle In the correct orientation place the Dust Cap on the Stationary Expander In the correct orientation place the Brake Arm on the Stationary Expander Place the Washer against the Brake Arm Screw the Lock Nut on the axle up to the washer, Keep the assembly loose so you can adjust it. I use the 1" Ball Bearing Retainer as a measuring tool to determine where the lock nut is supposed to be. I hold the assembly in one hand and twist the Axle in or out of the rest of the loose assembly until one inch is sticking out from the Lock Nut. Check that the Stationary expander is snug against the lock nut. Place the Lock nut into the jaws of the bench vice. Grasp the Brake arm and tighten it clockwise as hard as you hand will allow. No hammering needed. In the correct orientation place the Clutch on the Axle and onto the Stationary Expander, Twist the clutch until it locks into the Stationary Expander. Look at the inside of the brake pads, Bendix pads will have one end smooth and one end with dents in the surface finish. The smooth sides of the brake pads push against the stationary expanders smooth ramps. on the other end of the brake pad will be little dent marks from the rough edges of the Clutch ramps. Grease up the inside of the Hub Shell and the bearing race cups at the end of the Hub Shell. The more the merrier The following is a strange skill I learned form a good teacher. Place the brake pads between the ears of the Stationary Expander. Pinch the pads as far to the bottom of them as you can. Slide the Hub Shell down over the pads. Do not release your fingers and push the shell down, Let the Hub Shell push your fingers out of the way as you slowly push it down. Twist the Hub Shell to make sure it is seated correctly over the lower bearings. No bearing should be visible from the outside. Install the Upper 1 1/4 bearing retainer, Orientation is important. Grease the Driver cup and cone surfaces. Install the Driver into the Hub Shell, twist it into the Clutch. Install the 1" Ball Bearing Retainer into the Driver. Install the Cone, Orientation is important. Install the Lock Nut Using the appropriate Cone Wrenches adjust the cone and lock it into place. Check the hub adjustment to see if it is too tight or too loose. We have been holding races with our students to Disassemble, name all the parts, and reassemble a coaster brake hub. These were hubs cleaned of all their grease and just for such races. The top time so far is 2:36 Two minutes thirty six seconds. Pinching the brake pads is a real trick. Christopher Wallace BicycleEducation(a)aol.com **************************************Check out AOL's list of 2007's hottest products. (http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop00030000000001)

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coaster brakes
by Macho Philipovich 27 Nov '07

27 Nov '07

any shops have coaster brake materials they'd like to share? thanks, macho

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full-timers/directors/project coordinators: how's the job treating you?
by rachael spiewak 27 Nov '07

27 Nov '07

since taking on directing sopo full time, i've come to find that this job is all kinds of intense. wonderful, but exhausting. i'm wondering.. how much if it is me and how much of it is this job? is it unique to community bike shops, or is it like this for other kinds of organizations? or is it more about the organization being a start-up? for the folks in a similar position: what's your day like? hanging in there? thanks! rachael

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tool order
by tom m. 27 Nov '07

27 Nov '07

tips please on how to order tools, I know... go to parktools.com but more detail, exactly what do you do there? _________________________________________________________________ You keep typing, we keep giving. Download Messenger and join the i’m Initiative now. http://im.live.com/messenger/im/home/?source=TAGLM

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Re: [TheThinkTank] full-timers/directors/project coordinators: how's the job treating you?
by omar 26 Nov '07

26 Nov '07

it seems the "get organized" vs. "more leftist than thou" dynamic plays out at all levels of many community bike projects. when our ed left in 2001, the 4 full time staff members stepped up to manage our organization collectively. by 2005, 3 of the 4 had left because, bottom line, they couldn't work together, and projects had dropped to the point that we'd atrophied to a single community bike shop. now, realizing that shit flows downhill and if someone's going to clean it up they should be recognized for it, we've developed a hierarchy, people have assumed managerial and coordinator roles, and we're once again getting a lot done. there are still folks who complain that there's too much structure and want to make things more egalitarian - funnily enough though, they're also the ones who rarely step up, have a hard time showing up to work their shifts and don't seem to get much done. i love my job. its crazy and stressful some days, constantly challenging, infinitely rewarding and a hell of a lot of fun. -- omar bhimji project manager pedal bike depot p. 604.708.4992

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Bicycle Co-Ops & Zoning?
by Jake Liefer 26 Nov '07

26 Nov '07

Hello, I operate a small bike Co-op in a small, run down town called Beaver Falls, PA. We're looking into purchasing a location and think we've found the perfect spot. It's a former business / house with a three car garage and a large glass storefront area. The only problem is that it's zoned residential even though it used to be a business many years ago. The street is pretty run down, with three of the four 'neighbors' being vacant housing, so I'm not too worried about neighbors complaining about it. I'd like to paint our logo on the garage but I'm afraid that it my draw too much attention from the zoning people. Do any of your co-ops operate in non-commercialy zoned space? Have you had any problems arise because of it? Thanks, Jake

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Tethering Tools - How?
by Rich Points 19 Nov '07

19 Nov '07

We're working with a school who would like to tether a tire pump near the bike parking, We've also thought about tethering tools outside our shop to be used during closed hours. Does anyone have experience with tying tools to cables and this kind of service? Even tethered I'm sure things still get ripped off. If you've done this kind of thing what has been your experience? Peace -- Rich Points Community Cycles Director http://CommunityCycles.org Rich(a)CommunityCycles.org 720-565-6019

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attempting to rouse enthusiasm...
by Previc, Stephanie T 19 Nov '07

19 Nov '07

hello bicycle lovers, I am attempting to organize a "bike day" here in Gainesville this sunday to get the idea circulating about forming a community bicycle project. earlier attempts have failed--the last, our beloved "kickstand", it seems, because everyone involved was a student, and therefore too transient to commit to the project. I am hoping that this event will capture the attention of people who are a little mroe settled, and who will be able to keep the project running smoothly, even during the times when gainesville dies--winter break and summer vacation. i am hoping that i can get some ideas from you folks for how to introduce this project, as it is currently just a concept for free bike repair (and community building!) rather than an actual thing. i'm not really sure where to start, but i am hoping to draw a crowd and get them excited about the sort of things that inspired me when i attended bike!bike! this year. i would love to hear how you introduced you vision of a community bicycle shop to the people in your city, how you drew volunteers, and what kind of model i can follow now that i am starting completely from scratch and attempting to rebuild this collective. also!! i wanted to put together a take-home zine for everyone who attends, maybe including some vignettes about bicycles, some repair tips, and information on other bicycle projects around the country. if you guys could send a paragraph or two on why your collective is awesome (or if you want to contribute something else to put in this booklet) i think it might shed some light on how incredibly vast and varied this free bicycle repair movement is. thanks so much, stephanie (The Kickstand, Gainesville, Florida)

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incorporation into an existing 501c3?
by andrewsawtelle＠riseup.net 16 Nov '07

16 Nov '07

We here at Recycle-A-Bike (www.recycleabike.org) in Providence, RI have been using space at The Steel Yard (www.thesteelyard.org) for a couple seasons now. They're doing some major renovations and site remediations (they're located on an old metalworking site and there's lots of nasty things in the ground and in the air), so we're moving out of the old space and looking for a new one. The Steel Yard seems really excited about the idea of incorporating us as a full department, along with Ceramics + Glass, Metalworking, Foundry, Jewelry, and some other programs. There's also a site on the space where we could build a standalone shop and storage space from shipping containers. They could be a really good fit for our program, and it would save us a lot of dealing with becoming our own legal entity. I didn't hear any situation that was similar to ours in discussions at Bike!Bike! in August. Most people seem to rent space and just do things on the fly, incorporate as their own 501c3, not-for-profit, or collective, be a startup working under the auspices of an existing organization, or have a fiscal sponsor that's hands off. I think we're different because we've been running for 6 years on our own in various spaces, with pretty much no legal status, and we're thinking about joining up with an existing 501c3. I'd like to know if anyone has some advice for us on things to watch out for, or at least make sure we take into account as we think about whether to incorporate ourselves into The Steel Yard. A couple questions I can think of immediately. 1) Jim Bledsoe of the Bicycle Kitchen mentioned that if you become a 501c3, your assets can't ever be transferred to any other legal entity other than another 501c3. This means that if we decided to become part of the Steel Yard, then split in a few years for some reason, we'd have to become our own 501c3. 2) What does it mean to have a loosely organized collective operating within a 501c3 with an established board/staff structure? Since we're not a legal entity on our own, can we write something into an agreement with them that at least recognizes the collective's existence? None of the Steel Yard's other departments started like ours would; they grew out of people coming to them to start classes and other programs. peace, andrew recycle-a-bike providence, ri

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Liability Insurance
by maintenence collective 15 Nov '07

15 Nov '07

Hi all, (bikefarm here) I feel like this was brought up before, but we've recently realised that the QBP application requires Liabiliy Insurance... and it'd be a good thing to own... does anyone know where to get it and how much it costs? thanks... Ariel

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so you want to throw a benefit...
by Cuper 15 Nov '07

15 Nov '07

A growing number of people are offering to do benefits for us. And by "offering to do," I mean a person approaches us with an idea, does all the work and most of the promotion, and turns over share of the glory at the end. I really want to encourage this trend. Every once and a while, we run into a conflict of interest, and have to say "no, thank you." (Alleycats may be fun, but many of our friends object to seeing "Run red lights!" and "Support Neighborhood Bike Works!" on the same flier.) I don't much like turning people down, and want written guidelines I can share with would-be organizers. Sometimes it seems like the goal is to use our name to help promote an event, rather than to have an event which helps us. This is okay, up to a point. It's not a benefit for us, though, if it doesn't raise money /for us/. I'd like to request a minimum donation -- either percent of proceeds, or flat amount of cash -- in order for an organizer to use our name, logo, or otherwise suggest it's a benefit for us. That said, I have no idea what would be appropriate. Ten percent? Fifty percent? A hundred dollars? Does anyone have policies or feedback about these sorts of things? Can you share 'em? jimmie -- -- Neighborhood Bike Works tel: 215.386.0316 3916 Locust Walk fax: 215.386.7288 Philadelphia, PA 19104 www.neighborhoodbikeworks.org Providing opportunities to youth through bicycling. NBw has a listserv! To stay in touch, subscribe to nbw(a)list.purple.com via www.purple.com/list.html.

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Parking racks from frames
by Bob Giordano 15 Nov '07

15 Nov '07

we are making bicycle parking racks from frames. very easy and effective. strip down frame, insert stem into seat tube, turn upside down and slide stem onto a 1" piece of round tubing. space them at about 30". a 90" piece of round steel tubing works great: this allows an inverted bike frame on each end, with a frame at 30" and one at 60". this allows 8 bikes to be parked easily. the round tubing should be about 10" off the ground: this is accomplished either with a bmx frame on each end attached via stem in seat tube, or even simpler- bmx handlebars and a stem (similar to the bike stand set up that free ride pittsburgh has a picture of on their web). i'll let the list know when we have a picture. we have 6 of these racks, and we loan them out and/or take them to events (by bike trailer because they are so light). i'd imagine we could have them 'for hire.' we a couple of these in front of our shop too. these racks are a use for frames that have been hit by a car, or low-end bikes. you could also leave some parts on the bike, like the bottom bracket- that way, as energy gets more expensive, the parking racks could possibly serve as a part depo. community gardens are a good outlet for these racks too. if security is an issue, a quick weld or grind can make them more secure. -- Bob Giordano Free Cycles Missoula Shop: 732 S. 1st St. West, 541.7284 3PM-7PM Mon,Tues,Thurs & 11AM-3PM Sat Missoula Institute for Sustainable Transportation www.strans.org, mist(a)strans.org, 406-880-6834

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How To Make A Bike Blender
by Joseph 15 Nov '07

15 Nov '07

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone has plans on how to make a bike blender. I am having hard time finding this stuff on the internet and figured someone must have a simple design. I plan on building it with youth from our programs over the course of a day and hopefully get to share a milkshake at the end of it all. Any resources you have or could point me to would be greatly appreciated. Thanks -Joe Joseph Parietti Program Coordinator Bike Works 3709 S. Ferdinand St, Seattle, WA 98118 (206) 725-9408, ext. 2 www.bikeworks.org

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shop bike racks, locking tools
by Urban Bike Project of Wilmington, Inc. 14 Nov '07

14 Nov '07

Hi All, UBP just moved into our new space! Currently all the bikes are leaning against each other (pedals off, handlebars turned) with no easy way to get ones in the middle out. We have a fairly open floor space and I was wondering if anyone has suggestions for building racks that would hold bikes more upright and separate from each other. The channel systems used by bike shops would be great, but of course we'd rather build something with existing resources and without spending a lot of cash. We don't have much room for hanging bikes, but will be putting up some kind of cable system like Free Ride has for wheels. Another quick question. We are in a shared space situation and are trying to figure out what tools to secure and how. We have been thinking about putting latches on an old fridge and using that to keep valuables. In your experience what type of stuff would walk out of your shop if it wasn't bolted down or locked up? Looking for any and all ideas... Thanks! Brian -- Visit us online at http://urbanbikeproject.org

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sopo wins grant from fund for southern communities
by rachael spiewak 14 Nov '07

14 Nov '07

hi, friends. just wanted to share the fabulous news that we scored a grant from the fund for southern communities <http://www.fundforsouth.org>. we appear to be in good company <http://fundforsouth.org/new/grants/grants2007_2008.htm>. i'm going to upload our application to the wiki later so folks can make use of it. hooray for community bike shops! -rachael

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design specs for steel cable wheel rack?
by Durham Bike Co-op 09 Nov '07

09 Nov '07

Hey Free Ride + anyone else who has done something like this: we're also thinking about installing a cable (+ hooks + spacers) kinda thing for wheel storage, as on the "shop organization" part of the wiki. So: I was wondering if there were any suggestions out there about what type of wire is appropriate; what hardware (ends, anchors, assemblies etc.) to use and how to use them. We'll be going into either brick or wood joists to anchor it, depending on how we lay it out. Thanks. peace, Colin. -- Durham Bike Co-op 723 N. Mangum St. Durham, NC 27701 www.durhambikecoop.org

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BICAS Hiring Community Mechanic / Collective Member
by Ellie Kaszniak 08 Nov '07

08 Nov '07

BICAS, a collectively run non-profit BICYCLE recycling and education center is seeking a part time Staff Collective Member, $7.85/hr. Job Description: assist customers, help with classes, build bikes, coordinate volunteers, etc. Personable and comfortable greeting customers, strong mechanical skills encouraged, bilingual a plus, interest or experience in teaching classes or grant writing/organizational work a plus. Diversity of age, gender, ethnicity encouraged. Accepting applications until November 23rd. Contact bicasunderground(a)yahoo.com or 44 W. 6th St (drop in or mail) for resumes, #628-7950 or e-mail for questions. www.bicas.org. TUCSON, ARIZONA P.S. I tried posting this directly on the bike collectives website but was not able to submit the form... same thing happened a few months ago and someone helped us get it on there. If anyone is able to do that again, it would be hugely appreciated, or just pass this on to anyone that might have interest. Thanks _________________________________________________________________ Boo! Scare away worms, viruses and so much more! Try Windows Live OneCare! http://onecare.live.com/standard/en-us/purchase/trial.aspx?s_cid=wl_hotmail…

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Bike Intake Sheet
by Austin Amos 06 Nov '07

06 Nov '07

I have my first bike donation pickups scheduled for this weekend. I posted an ad in a local weekly trader paper for junk bike pickup service. I plan to repair / service the bikes and off them to the community to test the waters on the bike collective concept. Other members have advised me to get a signature / driver's licence number from the person making the donation of the bike(s). Does anyone have a template form available in Word .doc or .PDF format that I can use as a Bike Intake Sheet. I would almost like something with some legal verbage on it. I plan to provide a copy to my city police for them to research the serial numbers for theft. Additionally I feel that once I achieve 503 C non-profit status I can contact the past groups of donors about their donation values. I also appreciate any additional tips you can provide. Thanks again, Austin Amos

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Craigslist Postings - tires (The Bike Cave - San Marcos, Texas)
by Taylor 31 Oct '07

31 Oct '07

>> recycled as metal scrap (and now that our local MEC store takes our >> dead tires for recycling our garbage now is mainly old seats and >> other plastic bits). >> > > that's a question for you guys... what do you do with your old dry rotted tires? We can't find anyone that will take them in baltimore. I found one place that would charge a dollar a pound to recycle them, obviously not an option for us....... Any ideas about who to talk to and what to do with them if not? The only reuse idea I've had is to make potts out of them which would be time consuming, and only use afew...... Beth Velocipede Bike Project Baltimore, MD RE"CYCLING" , etc. Hello Beth and others, Our ethos at our shop is to recycle EVERYTHING! So besides the usuals, glass, cans, paper and cardboard we make an effort to separate and recycle aluminum (unusable walmart frames) and steel (most bolts, etc.) and patch all our tubes (gives mundane but fun work for those volunteers who dont know much about fixing bikes but want to help the shop, we also have the occasional "tubular tuesday" were we all sit down with a beer and patch tubes like crazy) and give them away for free. I also started to make wind chimes out of used, unusable chainrings, short cables, stems and bent handlebars (aluminum = better sound). They aren't the best sounding windchimes, but they are damn cool and use 100% recycled parts. Try it out and send me a picture if it works! Tires: An idea I had to use the extra tires we discard is to keep them, shred them (something like a wood chipper) then make them into floor mats. I would like to think a good glaze glue would do the trick, but I HAVE NOT tried this out yet (we are super busy, just like every other community bike shop). Its not much help, but its an idea! I will test this theory out and try it soon, if someone beats me to it, let me know! Taylor taylorpow(a)gmail.com www.thebikecave.org

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