- TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

Bike Collectives, an International Effort Deserves Press
by Rich Points 10 Jun '08

10 Jun '08

Collectives, As you know there are over 110 collectives in North America. As I learned at Bike Bike last year no two bike collectives are the same. Despite our differences we have a common goal, we're all working in our own way to get more people riding bikes more often. That being the case I think our work merits national and international media attention. I've been thinking for a while about how we might get our work into the media. Bike Bike offers us a great opportunity to do this. Before Community Cycles heads out for this years conference we'll distribute a press release discussing the conference, why we're going with an emphasis on the international movement. I think if all the collectives attending this years conference should do something similar. Maybe we can create some buzz and get picked up by the AP or something. I personally would like to see the bike collectives to be as well known other re-use places like Salvation Army, Value Village and others. When it comes time to get rid of a bike or pick one up on the cheap the local bike collective should be first on the list. I think using the national media is a great way to show the world that bike collectives are more than your local co-op. What do you guys think? -- Rich Points Community Cycles Director http://CommunityCycles.org Rich(a)CommunityCycles.org 720-565-6019

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oin Us for the 9th Annual Grassroots Use of Technology Conference - It's Not Too Late
by ronald ferrucci 10 Jun '08

10 Jun '08

I cannot make this, but I figure some bike collective folk may be interested. -------------- I just wanted to remind you about the 9th Annual Grassroots Use of Technology Conference. The venue is set. The workshops are scheduled. Registrations are pouring in. It is not to late to join us, you can register at: http://organizerscollaborative.org/conference When: Saturday, June 28th - All Day (8:30am to 6pm) Where: University of Massachusetts Lowell - Wannalancit Building 600 Suffolk Street, Lowell, MA http://organizerscollaborative.org/conference08/directions What: Highlights of the day: Keynote Speaker, Nick Jehlen of Action Mil draw lessons from his recent work on the Winter Soldier campaign organized by Iraq Veterans Against the War. Non-profit Internet Starter Kit: Take Your Website to the Next Level with These Free Online Tools Online Mentoring: Innovative Uses of Technology in Creating and Managing Mentor-Mentee Relationships You Can't Get What You Want Until You Know What You Need: Choosing the Right Software Making the Most Out of the Organizers' Database The Untapped Power of Social Networks for Grassroots Action Getting the Clicks: e-Campaigning in Communities with Few Computers Managing Your Website with Today's Tools Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Roadmap HAVA Great Idea? (HAVA stands for Help America Vote Act) Facebook to Phone Trees: Multi-Generational Outreach Strategies Organizing the Organic Internet Helping Your Computer System Grow Up Keeping it Simple: technology tools that won't make you want to rip your hair out. Collaborative eLearning The Point: A Web-Tool for Collective Action Managing & Recruiting Tech volunteers Strategies for shaping the media/tech future: Policy, funding & organizing Open Media Boston: Building a News Portal with Drupal Lowell is a beautiful, historic city that still remembers its working-class roots The intersection of rivers and canals make it a wonderful place to be on an early summer day. So join us for some engaging connections and some rock-solid knowledge sharing. Become an OC member at our special conference rate and you'll even receive a FREE book from O'Reilly & Assocaites. Looking forward to seeing you there, Felicia | Technology and training to advance and sustain social change | Felicia M. Sullivan Organizers' Collaborative felicia(a)oc-tech.org http://organizerscollaborative.org 617.848.9513 [ voice / fax ] ________________________________ Instantly invite friends from Facebook and other social networks to join you on Windows Live™ Messenger. Invite friends now!

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Bike Thief lessons?
by veganboyjosh＠gmail.com 04 Jun '08

04 Jun '08

Have any of you heard of this? Do any of you do anything similar? Makes sense that it works... http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSL0489099820080604?feedTy… I wonder if any shops out there have some kind of policy about what kind of locks will get reused, and which ones just discarded/recycled. I know we see a ton of crappy, cheap, breakable-with-a-wet-noodle wire/cable locks. What do you do with them? Is there a "minimum level of security" on locks that go out from your shops? Do you do any kind of theft awareness/ lock education?

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Ladies Night at CBSO - June 3, 6pm
by Community Bicycle Shop Omaha 04 Jun '08

04 Jun '08

We're glad to offer our first Ladies Night at Community Bicycle Shop Omaha! The date is Tuesday, June 3 at 6pm. Bring your bicycle project or come to refurbish donated bicycles and learn about bike mechanics. RSVP to this email address.

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Non-Profit Insurance
by Wilbur Ince 04 Jun '08

04 Jun '08

Not sure if this is the place for this question, but let's try it: I am part of a non-profit bicycle club in the Twin Cities. We own a bus and use it for rides during the Summer. We insure the bus, but pay very high premiums ($300 per month). Does anyone know of sources for insurance like this? Reply on or off list! Thanks! Wilbur

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Bike Short Films
by Rich Points 03 Jun '08

03 Jun '08

Collectives, Community Cycles will be hosting the second annual Bike Shorts Film Festival here in Boulder on bike to work day June 25th. We're looking for a few last entries to fill out schedule. We try to highlight the potential of the bicycle as transportation, fun and recreation. I'm personally interested in seeing films that highlight utilitarian uses of the bike like hauling large objects, trips to the grocery and that kind of thing. And of course we'd love to highlight other bike collectives from around the world. The films can range 30 seconds to 10 minutes. If you have a film you'd like to submit please send it in DVD format by June 15th to: Gary Gingras - Film Fest Community Cycles 2805 Wilderness Pl Ste 1000 Boulder,CO 80301 Peace -- Rich Points Community Cycles Director http://CommunityCycles.org Rich(a)CommunityCycles.org 720-565-6019

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Soliciting donations
by adam schwartz 31 May '08

31 May '08

I am getting ready to send out mass mailings to solicit donations from bike shops, bike companies, tool and parts companies, and local cycling advocacy groups. Has anyone had much luck with this approach? and if so I am curious which companies are likely to send donations or have a history of supporting community or youth bike programs. peace, -- Adam Schwartz Program Coordinator, Renaissance Community Youth Bike Shop 6200 Sheridan Street, Riverdale, MD rideyourbicycle(a)gmail.com (301)275-2362

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low end bikes, Invisible riders
by Michael Wolfe 30 May '08

30 May '08

I like where the discussion is going on Low End Walmart bikes. To provide an interesting prospective, check out this article in Bicycling Magazine. It highlights a part of the cycling population that we not only fail to recognize, but often are oblivious to. It's kind of long but a worthy read. http://www.bicycling.com/article/1,6610,s1-3-12-13639-1-P,00.html

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Re: [TheThinkTank] bicycle shaped objects
by dragonfly＠mac.hush.com 28 May '08

28 May '08

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Hi, All. I'm sitting here in Toronto awaiting this baby's arrival. She's now well overdue. It's bike month here, and we've had the launch of the Toronto Cyclists Union, some cool fundraisers, several great charity and political rides, and a host of other things. My friend who is visiting me from my other home, Detroit, is in total culture shock. This is a good thread. Department store bikes do suck, but I like Noah's post and this one from Chris. Part of my feeling of mild distain for my fellow cyclists in Windsor Ontario is about such silliness as riding on the sidewalk and CLEARLY not making ongoing reparis to their bikes, but part of it is also that most people are riding ugly and poor quality department store or hardware store bikes. Some of the reasons to dislike department store bikes and their riders are not merely about the functionality of the bikes, about which many true things have already been said, but about their aesthetic qualities, or lack thereof. They are just ugly and they have no style. If they have to be dealt with at all, the recommendations that they be given complete overhauls and cared for as best as possible make sense to me-- better any bike than no bike, and the people who ride them probably end up actually loving them, and who am I to disrespect that? The ugliness also needs to be addresssed, though. Because they are cheap and ugly and not worth much, etc., they are actually great for making into art bikes. Sand and prime and repaint the bikes, spray paint them gold and cover them in bits of crome from old cars, cover them in broken mirrors, decoupage pictures of naked ladies all over them and seal in the naked goodness with some sort of top coat-- I have seen all these things and many more odd and marvelous things (including a bike completely covered in those little rubber snakes you can get in toy stores) done to department store bikes, and when I looked at THOSE (admittedly still barely functional) cheap-ass rides, I got over my aversion and scorn, and I thought they were cool. I hope everyone is in a good mood and that the weather is nice where you are. Sasha On Wed, 28 May 2008 14:23:54 -0400 "info(a)re-cycles.ca" <info@re- cycles.ca> wrote: >Recently I have seen many examples of new department store bikes >with >cones TOO tight and some with NO grease in the bearings or >anywhere >else. > >Most of the higher end Costco and department store bikes will last >for >years but they need to be totally overhauled upon purchase >otherwise >they will grind/seize themselves to death within a couple of >seasons. >Kind of puts the low end prices of a good bike shop, that checks, >greases and adjusts their bikes before sale, into perspective. > >Or volunteer at your local community bike shop for a couple of >months, >then buy a new high end Costco bike, spend 2 evenings overhauling >it >yourself and laugh all the way to the bank. > >Chris >--- reno bikes <renobikeproject(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >> arguably dept. store bikes suck. >> but just change your thinking a little. >> they are not a performance machine. >> >> as long as the cones are tight enough, and the wheel straight >enough >> to >> avoid >> touching pads, then whomever rides it will appreciate it. >> >> its a step up from a bus pass. >> >> and some people ride roadmasters for years. they are around. you >have >> seen >> them. >> >> i just keep them rolling and spend more time with better >equipment. >> >> noah > >Chris Wells >(Head Mechanic & Email Handler) > >re-Cycles Bicycle Co-op >477 Bronson Ave. Ottawa > >re-Cycles is open 6pm-10pm Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays >(for volunteering, DIY, bike & parts sales & donation drop off) >AND SUNDAYS 3pm-6pm for Volunteering and Donations! :-) > >Bike sales and donation drop off also available during Cycle >Salvation hours: 9am-5:30pm Tuesday to Friday, and 9am-1pm on >Saturday > >(IMPORTANT: Please remember that while Cycle Salvation will be >using our shop during the day, any public bike repair, whether >volunteer or do-it-yourself, is still only during regular re- >Cycles hours in the evenings.) > >info(a)re-cycles.ca >http://www.re-cycles.ca/ >_______________________________________________ >Thethinktank mailing list >Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- >bikecollectives.org -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Note: This signature can be verified at https://www.hushtools.com/verify Charset: UTF8 Version: Hush 3.0 wkYEARECAAYFAkg9qe4ACgkQ5O7ahKJmrRmh3QCfcrC2swY3dSQIrqbPG3R625/714oA nRS0w/ofPmx/a8rXy+b5Vj6Uurvs =lTwG -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Shareef don't like it.
by Michael Wolfe 28 May '08

28 May '08

Well said. I've been looking at the new city bikes the Sky Yeager has designed for Swobo and they are around $700. It would be good to see high quality commuter bikes for less. On 5/28/08, Sherief <sgaber(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > I think the whole department store bike issue is a real obstacle to > cycling. On the one hand, prices of decent entry level bikes have gone up > up up in recent years, making the 149.95 price point on a lot of those > wal-mart beasts seem reasonable. However, as has been our experience at the > Austin Yellow Bike, and one that I'm sure others have noticed, those bikes > are effectively disposable. All of the parts within them are near > irreparable. Hubs that you can never quite adjust because the cones start > pitting from the box, bad springs, rust, etc. You pay less but if you > actually intend to ride then you end up paying more for a replacement or > futile service. This more often than not puts a sour taste in people's > mouths for cycling and the gateway never happens. > > I've thought about some way we can get the knowledge out about the virtues > of used/older bikes, etc. and the pitfalls of those tantalizingly cheap > department store bikes, combined with the refurbishing and sale of (better) > used bikes. A lot of people don't realize that a bike *should* last you 20, > 30, even 100 years. I've almost wanted to stand around in the department > store bicycle section and hand people leaflets, perhaps shouting "It's a > trap!". When people come into our shop to work on those bikes the > difference is made clear enough to them, but something broader could be > interesting... > > Snobbery towards department store bikes, and more importantly those who > ride them, is counter-productive and doesn't help anyone, but department > store bikes must nonetheless be stopped. Their disposability and hassle is > arguable anti-bicycle. > > -sherief > > On Tue, May 27, 2008 at 9:17 PM, Gern Blanston <getgern(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >> When people ask me what the best bike to get is...I answer, "The best bike >> is which ever one you will get on AND RIDE!, not just have it sit in >> storage." >> >> >> On 5/19/08, Cuper <cuper(a)neighborhoodbikeworks.org> wrote: >>> >>> And what about for the people are won't to come into your coop for all of >>> the perceived social, racial, economic, and other barriers we all know way >>> too well? By telling folks *who are already intimidated by you* that those >>> bikes are garbage, and implying that anyone who buys one is stupid, you are >>> alienating potential shop users and customers. >>> >>> Those department store monsters aren't great, but can be "gateway >>> bikes." If you find a more positive way to pitch your product (instead >>> slamming what many people feel is the best they can do), the folks who are >>> riding department store bikes now are light years more likely to come to you >>> in a year or two or five. >>> >>> 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 BikeStreetJounral(a)NeighborhoodBikeWorks.org at www.neighborhoodbikeworks.org/mailman/listinfo/bikestreetjournal. >>> >>> >>> >>> veganboyjosh(a)gmail.com wrote: >>> >>> >>> >>> On Sun, May 11, 2008 at 8:17 AM, Bruce Lien <bikedadlien(a)yahoo.com> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> how do low income families who can only stretch their budgets far enough >>>> to buy their kid a bike for under $100, $70, or $40 do so? While some might >>>> advocate they buy used bikes, check out the junk sitting at the Goodwill >>>> with exorbitant prices on them, sold as is and you can see why that is not a >>>> viable option. Garage sales are great alternatives, but again the bikes are >>>> sold "as is" which often leaves a bike in need of some TLC from a good >>>> mechanic. Bruce >>> >>> >>> several things the people on this list have or have access to: >>> >>> volunteer power/time/energy. >>> bike knowledge. >>> decent--better than dept store bikes. >>> >>> this is just a brainstorm that just came to me after reading gary, >>> rafael, and bruce's emails....but what if we could somehow get the word out >>> to these low income families with no LBS that the coops are the place to go. >>> some kind of mailorder thing...i'm not sure how it would work, but if we're >>> operating on a national level, then shouldn't we be able to address at least >>> some of the basic needs of everyone in the country? >>> just an idea, i've been thinking about for all of 30 seconds. unlike >>> gary's and rafaels, which both sound awesome and doable... >>> >>> >>> ------------------------------ >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Thethinktank mailing listThethinktank@bikecollectives.orghttp://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.org >>> >>> ------------------------------ >>> >>> No virus found in this incoming message. >>> Checked by AVG. >>> Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.16/1428 - Release Date: 5/12/2008 7:44 AM >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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.… >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > Thethinktank mailing list > Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… > >

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