- TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

Seattle Job Opportunity - Bike Works' Development & Office Coordinator
by Lexi Keeler 03 Jun '10

03 Jun '10

Development & Office Coordinator Role Overview The Bike Works Development & Office Coordinator assists Bike Works in its development of sustainable fundraising efforts through donor research and relationship building, data analysis and information management, donor communications, strategy development, and creating supporting materials to achieve the agency's annual and long-range development and fundraising goals. The Bike Works Development & Office Coordinator also supports office operations. This position reports directly to the Development Manager. This is an excellent opportunity for a strong multi-tasker with substantive administrative and writing skills, excellent attention to detail, computer skills (some database experience preferred), and enthusiasm for working as part of a team. Essential Job Functions * Manage donor and email databases to ensure accurate donor records. * Provide logistical support for the Bike Works Annual Auction and other fundraising events. * Process incoming donations, including preparing acknowledgement letters, donor listings, and other donor recognition activities. * Manage Bike Works' web presence, including web site, Twitter, Facebook and the Bike Works Blog. * Coordinate our donor email newsletter, mailing appeals, and other donor communication and cultivation. * Maintain accurate and organized development files and electronic records. * Participate with Development Manager and other staff in developing strategies for effective fundraising. * Manage administrative volunteers. * Coordinate all aspects of the administrative systems and facilities operations within the office, including maintaining an organized work environment, purchasing office equipment and supplies, and responding to general requests for information. * Maintain phone and voicemail systems, including answering phones when available. * Oversee information systems, including website, computer networks, and other major office communications systems. * Support accounting activities, including receiving and copying checks, making weekly deposits, and mailing payments to vendors. * Work in partnership with Development Manager, Executive Director, Board of Directors, other staff, and Key Stakeholders to contribute to the organization's vision, participate in organization-wide programs, and help create a sustainable organizational culture. Qualifications & Experience Required: * Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience. * 2 years professional work experience; nonprofit experience desirable. * Excellent verbal communication skills and strong writing and editing capabilities. * Ability to multi-task and manage multiple priorities and deadlines. * Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills. * Advanced skills with Microsoft Office and the Windows environment; proficiency in relational databases. * Ability to work well independently with minimal supervision and as part of a team; work well with diverse styles and personalities. * Willingness to work outside of office hours on occasion to support events. * Strong commitment to promoting bicycling, supporting youth and to advancing social change. Preferred: * Prior development experience. * Experience with event logistics, planning, and management. * Some experience with volunteer management and public relations a plus. * Familiarity with fundraising strategies. Compensation $25,000-28,000 (starting salary depends on experience), plus benefits, including medical, vacation, sick leave, and flexible work schedule/environment. How to Apply Please visit our website at www.bikeworks.org for more information about Bike Works. Email your resume, cover letter, and contact information for three references to development(a)bikeworks.org. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE. Position open until filled; applications received by June 23rd will receive priority consideration. People of color are strongly encouraged to apply. Bike Works is an Equal Opportunity and queer-friendly employer. Lexi Keeler Development Manager Bike Works 3709 S. Ferdinand St. Seattle, WA 98118 206-725-9408 ext. 1 <http://www.bikeworks.org> http://www.bikeworks.org Follow us on Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bike-Works/139782759674?ref=ts> and Twitter <http://twitter.com/bikeworks206> "Building sustainable communities by educating youth and promoting bicycling."

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Federal Funding - Sibley Bike Depot Bike Library
by Jason Tanzman 02 Jun '10

02 Jun '10

Sibley Bike Depot in St. Paul, MN (www.sibleybikedepot.org) recently received a $193,000 federal grant as part of the Non-motorized Transportation Pilot Program, which provided roughly $25 million each to 4 communities (Minneapolis, MN; Sheboygan, WI; Columbia, MO; Davis, CA) to promote biking and walking. The funding - allocated as part or the 2005 federal transportation bill - mostly went to large infrastructure projects like bike lanes, racks, and government programs, but in their last round of funding they gave out a few "small" grants for education/programming. The funding we got was to implement a Bike Library program - we're building a fleet of 220 bikes, equipped for transportation purposes with rack, fenders, lights, lock, helmet, and bike map to lend out to low-income communities for 6-month loan periods. In addition to bikes, we provide classes in safe cycling, bike maintenance, group rides, and really whatever programming the participants want. We are specifically focusing on making reliable bikes available to communities traditionally marginalized in the bike and transportation world, including women, immigrants, and people of color. We're lending all bikes out through partner agencies - organizations such as affordable housing agencies, job placement centers, community organizations, and more. To see a bit of press coverage we've received for the program, check out http://www.startribune.com/local/stpaul/89886292.html . The current federal Transportation Bill is expired (it keeps getting short extensions until they pass a new bill) - hopefully Obama and Ray LaHood will pass something that creates more opportunities to support grassroots educational programs as well as infrastructure to promote biking, walking, and transit. Maybe something will happen after the midterm elections...but I definitely see possibility in seeking federal dollars for community education programs. The only caveat - getting a federal contract is a bit of a nightmare. All federal awards are done on a reimbursement basis - i.e. you spend $20,000 then they write you a check 3 months later - which can be hard for small non-profits (we had to get a $25,000 line of credit from a local non-profit bank). There are a number of other hoops that can make it a challenge - but I think there are a lot of potential benefits. The jury is still out as to whether this program was good for Sibley to get involved with... Jason Tanzman -- Sibley Bike Depot Volunteer Coordinator 612-232-2737 (cell) 651-222-2080 (shop) www.sibleybikedepot.org Sibley Bike Depot's mission is to be an open, accessible space to educate and empower people to use bicycles as transportation, helping to build a sustainable environment and community. Volunteer with us to help build a bicycling movement in the Twin Cities!

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TE money
by Sarah Green 02 Jun '10

02 Jun '10

Has anyone received Transportation Enhancement money for educational programs... in this scenario obviously regarding bicycles? I am proposing a program here in Delaware and the guys at DelDOT want to hear from another organization who's received a TE grant for something similar. If you have gotten a TE grant or know an organization who has, please let me know! Thanks, Sarah Urban Bike Project

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volunteer hours
by Sarah Green 02 Jun '10

02 Jun '10

sorry if this is a double post but- this goes out to any organization who does work trade... ie, people can buy things in the shop in exchange for volunteering. -how do you delegate jobs to volunteers who don't know how to work on bikes? -what jobs do you have for that kind of volunteer (drop-in) to do? -is there a space separate from functioning Open Shop space where they work? We have thought about this idea as both a good way to compensate volunteers and also a good incentive to recruit volunteer hours, but we have found that the delegation of tasks, the increased volume in the shop, and the lack of bicycle related knowledge in volunteers has made this more work for us than it is worth. Any ideas or suggestions would be welcomed! Sarah Urban Bike Project

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subscribe
by Sarah Green 02 Jun '10

02 Jun '10

subscribe

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Working on expensive bikes in your shop.
by Brian 28 May '10

28 May '10

Hi again. Thanks for the replies to the previous thread, hopefully people found the responses useful. Selling expensive bikes wasn't my question though, perhaps I left my question too open ended. Retry: If a customer walks into your shop with a $5k carbon fiber road bike and wants help doing xxx. Do you have any shop guidelines on what is "too risky" in terms of possible damage to the bike? Perhaps it depends if there is a professional mechanic in the shop at the time, etc... Perhaps you don't care what people do and it's all covered under "we are not responsible"? We've debated it among ourselves at SLO Bike Kitchen. Part of our thought is that it's their bike, we are just there to help. The opposite argument is that they expect us to know everything, and it's sometimes/usually hard to keep track of every step someone does, which may result in them doing something unfortunate while unsupervised. In our case, we are 100% DYI w/us to help and we have no professional service side to the shop. We are also 100% volunteer. Thanks! Brian SLO Bike Kitchen www.slobikekitchen.org

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Expensive bikes in your shop.
by Brian 27 May '10

27 May '10

Hi everybody. What policies do you have or not have concerning work/help with expensive equipment. For example, what are the scenarios in your shop when a full carbon Campy Record bike walks in the door? I could be more specific with questions, but perhaps you could just comment on what discussions you've had among your organizations. Thanks! Brian SLO Bike Kitchen Co-Founder www.slobikekitchen.org

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French DIY bike collective launches website
by Cascadian Fox 27 May '10

27 May '10

Hello, Most of it is pictures (go to the photo section) : http://ateliervelo.free.fr/index.php?id=5 We are in Lyon France in a huge hanger. We make a lot of DIY HPVs from almost 100 percent recycled trash bikes. bikes, fox

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Sorting Bicycles
by Ainsley Naylor 26 May '10

26 May '10

hey all, here is a not-so-hypothetical question. If you had to sort a lot of bicycles (I mean a lot, like a few thousand) how would you do it? The purpose would be to sort them in a user-friendly way, so that in the future you could find the bikes you need (i.e. bikes for a youth program, bikes to sell, bikes to strip) as easily as possible. The bikes will be staying in the same location for the most part which calls for a good sort and store method, although dispersal of the bikes to other spaces will also be easier if we sort them properly. The best suggestion so far is to sort them by wheel size but these bikes don't have their wheels attached - what a headache - so I'm looking for other suggestions. Thanks! Ainsley and the FUCKIGOR bicycle collective :)

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Thethinktank Digest, Vol 45, Issue 17
by B!KE: The Peterborough Community Bike Shop 26 May '10

26 May '10

After doing 200+ safety checks at a police bike auction last weekend, Sarah and I here at B!KE developed a pretty finely tuned sense of bike triage :) (which, of course, will be no match for yours after this project!) While a positive/negative result in any of these situations doesn't necessarily mean the bike is toast, it's a good way to get a quick sense of how much work is needed - and possible to teach a volunteer who don't have strong repair skills. + is the frame damaged? + try to twist the stem with the F wheel between yer legs. While a twistable stem may just be loose, I'm always amazed at how many quill wedges have been stripped on cheaper bikes. + check the F + R hubs (if present) for knock + check the headset for loose/tight + check BB for knock + would it be hypothetically possible to turn the wheel with a chain? + would it be hypothetically possible to stop the bike with at least one brake (while gently coasting uphill...?) + general state of housing, cable, tires (if any). This is just what my morning brain produces, and is more or less what we were doing in the parade of sad overvalued bicycles coming out of the police auction. I think the general idea would be to make a checklist and, if you're feeling particularly organized, including details like frame type, size and colour has the beginnings of a most awesome database, then add up the number of answers one way or another to 'triage' the bike. I wouldn't get too caught up in trying to sort by wheel size, but if that is what makes sense to you, you could do too things: 1) Guess. most 99% of older steel road bikes 'round these parts are going to be 27 x 1 1/4, older cruisers will be 26 x 1 3/8, mountain bikes with be 26 x [decimal], etc. 2) You could try measuring from centre of dropouts to centre of brake pads. This should (hypothetically) be half the ISO bead seat diameter number listed on the side of of the tire. I.e., 27 x 1 1/4 = 630mm = 315mm from c-dropout to c-brake pad (obviously allow for some margin of error) 700c = 622mm = 311mm and so on. The ones I would most focus on would be the older looking cruisers with their impossibly non-standard tire sizes! Good luck! Clifford McCarten B!KE: The Peterborough Community Bike Shop 400 Wolfe St, Peterborough ON (705) 748-6681 http://www.communitybikeshop.org > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Tue, 25 May 2010 20:19:23 -0400 > From: Ainsley Naylor <needleandthread(a)gmail.com> > To: The Think Tank <thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org> > Subject: [TheThinkTank] Sorting Bicycles > Message-ID: > <AANLkTingSliDf0PTNjkVMesgfI20WFmNeajnKidvnOAU(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > hey all, here is a not-so-hypothetical question. If you had to sort a lot of > bicycles (I mean a lot, like a few thousand) how would you do it? The > purpose would be to sort them in a user-friendly way, so that in the future > you could find the bikes you need (i.e. bikes for a youth program, bikes to > sell, bikes to strip) as easily as possible. The bikes will be staying in > the same location for the most part which calls for a good sort and store > method, although dispersal of the bikes to other spaces will also be easier > if we sort them properly. > > The best suggestion so far is to sort them by wheel size but these bikes > don't have their wheels attached - what a headache - so I'm looking for > other suggestions. > > Thanks! > Ainsley and the FUCKIGOR bicycle collective > :) >

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buenos aires
by Jodie Banks 24 May '10

24 May '10

Does anyone know of a volunteer bicycle shop or coop in Buenos Aires? The internet has not turned up much. Thanks! Jodie Off the Chain Bicycles, Anchorage, AK

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Job Opening in Los Angeles: "Bike Wrangler", Abandoned/Used Bike Recovering
by Ramon Martinez 22 May '10

22 May '10

Hey Everyone, Ramon Martinez here from LA's new County Cycling Collaborative (The CCC) made up of local bike collectives including the Bicycle Kitchen, The Bike Oven, The Bikerowave and the Valley Bikery (along with two local bike advocacy and education organizations, the LA County Bike Coalition and C.I.C.L.E.). We all got together to write a grant for a working position known as the Bike Wrangler, that would scour the County's universities, police departments, Metropolitan Transportation Authority and other sources to find used bikes, recover them, and redistribute them. Now that the money has been awarded to us, we're looking to hire the position. Check out more details and find a job description at the Bike Coalition's blog<http://lacbc.wordpress.com/2010/05/21/job-opening-la-county-cycling-collabo…>. Send a resume and cover letter to bikewrangler(a)la-bike.org by June 7th at 5pm and we look forward to seeing you in LA. Pass the word on and keep rocking out in the big bike world. Ramon Martinez Board Member, Bicycle Kitchen Advocacy & Outreach Coordinator, LA County Bike Coalition

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A day in the life of Community cycles
by Rich Points 21 May '10

21 May '10

http://vimeo.com/11860004 -- Rich Points Community Cycles Executive Director http://CommunityCycles.org Rich(a)CommunityCycles.org 720-565-6019 (W) 303-589-0597 (C) Donate your old car to Community Cycles http://communitycycles.org/get-involved/donatecar.html Volunteer orientations are held 6p.m. on the 4th Tuesday of each month.

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Bike 2 Bike! Bike! from Capital Region of NY.
by andrew lynn 19 May '10

19 May '10

If anyone out there in the capital region or the Northeast US is interested in participating in a bicycle caravan to Bike!Bike! International, please get in touch, so we can coordinate with you. This is an unsupported approximate 6-day ride each way. We will be cooking our own food and camping at free areas and/or as inexpensively as possible. What supplies to bring and daily routes will be coordinated as things come together in June & July. Much of the route will be on the Erie Canal bike trail, making it mostly flat and scenic. For people interested in only a two-day ride, there will be a send-off brigade riding with us the first day, camping the first night and coming back the following day. Here's a tentative schedule: Sat. August 7 - leave in the AM Arrive in Toronto by Aug. 13 or 14. Monday August 16 - leave Toronto Arrive back in Capital Region around 8/21-22 --- About Bike!Bike!: B!B! is an amazing gathering of community bike projects in its 7th year of existence. It will be a meeting of 2-300 DIY bicycle visionaries from around the US and Canada. This years gathering is being hosted by the Bike Pirates of Toronto, so, if you are going, you will need a passport or enhanced drivers license to cross the border. More info on the gathering here: http://bikebike.org email Andrew at anyone(a)breathingplanet.net to express interest in the ride.

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local events/facebook notifications to think tank?
by Brian Windle 15 May '10

15 May '10

Thought we've been through this a few times... :( Brian -- Urban Bike Project of Wilmington -a 501(c)3 non-profit bike shop- 1908 N. Market Street Wilmington, DE 19802 http://urbanbikeproject.org Hours of Operation: Thursday: 6:30-9:00PM Saturday: 1:00-4:00PM

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Submisson; Thanks!
by dave bauer 13 May '10

13 May '10

*Volunteers Needed in Denver* * * *Who*: Folks who know anything about bicycle repairs, even if you just know how to fix a flat! Please pass this invitation on to other friends who like to volunteer. *When*: Saturday, May 22, 10am-1pm *What*: Inner City Health Center’s 12th Annual Kid’s Fair. Last year, we turned around 450 bicycles, helmets & locks, and it gets bigger every year. Some of the bicycles that are donated are ready to go, some need minor repairs and/or adjustments, and some are not worth fixing but we use them for parts bikes. There are other events going on; a bicycle obstacle course, live music, the police and fire department, sno-cones and cotton candy, health oriented booths, but the bicycle give-away is the biggest draw. We provide the volunteers with food and drinks, bicycles, parts, supplies and compressed air. If you can, please bring a repair stand and basic tools. *Where*: We hit a different school each year, this year at Swansea Elementary school, 4650 Columbine Street, Denver, CO 80216. From I-70 & York, go north on York and take your first right in less than a block on Steavenson Place. Go two blocks east and take a left on Columbine street. Swansea is ½ block north on the east side of the street. *Contact:* For information on the Inner City Health Center and the 11th annual Kid’s Fair: Laura Alden Inner City Health Center 3800 York St. Denver, CO 80205 303.296.1767 Laura direct: 720.833.5091 lauraA(a)innercityhealth.com innercityhealth.com For information on the bicycle program specifically: Dave Bauer Recycle Bicycles Collective 7196 S. Poplar St. Centennial, CO 80112 303.788.0672 davebauer5(a)gmail.com recyclebicycles.net * *

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"East Bay Bike Party Birthday Ride!" sent you a message on Facebook...
by Facebook 13 May '10

13 May '10

Ashley Elliott sent a message to the members of East Bay Bike Party Birthday Ride! -------------------- Subject: Test Ride Tomorrow night! Don't forget our test ride tomorrow night, meeting at Frank Ogawa at 9 pm. Thanks to everyone who's gotten in touch to volunteer for cornering, I hope to meet you all tomorrow! ~Ashley -------------------- To reply to this message, follow the link below: http://www.facebook.com/n/?inbox%2Freadmessage.php&t=1291409008722&mid=2565… ======================================= This message was intended for thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org. If you do not wish to receive this type of email from Facebook in the future, please click on the link below to unsubscribe. http://www.facebook.com/o.php?k=dbb4a3&u=1443204419&mid=2565371G56058d43G1c… Facebook's offices are located at 1601 S. California Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94304.

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Cycles Apc invited you to the event "East Bay Bike Party Birthday Ride!"...
by Facebook 12 May '10

12 May '10

Cycles invited you to "East Bay Bike Party Birthday Ride!" on Friday, May 21 at 9:00pm. Event: East Bay Bike Party Birthday Ride! Start Time: Friday, May 21 at 9:00pm End Time: Saturday, May 22 at 12:00am Where: Frank Ogawa Plaza To see more details and RSVP, follow the link below: http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=113450595357130&mid=2553508G56058d… Thanks, The Facebook Team ___ This message was intended for thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org. If you do not wish to receive this type of email from Facebook in the future, please click on the link below to unsubscribe. http://www.facebook.com/o.php?k=dbb4a3&u=1443204419&mid=2553508G56058d43G1c… Facebook's offices are located at 1601 S. California Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94304.

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EU bike collectives
by Robert McMurry 07 May '10

07 May '10

anyone have information on bike collectives in the EU all i know about is http://www.bikecollectives.org? I have a few friends who are now overseas and wondering what I know about possibilities for DIY bike repair where they are. one specifically in Helsinki. Any information would be helpful. Thanks, Friar Robbie Davis Bike Collective

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19-32nds equals 15mm about
by Bob Giordano 04 May '10

04 May '10

We have found that 19/32 american wrenches work great as 15mm wrenches. We bought 50 at a pawn shop for $5. Used 30 to teach a whole 4th grade class how to remove and add pedals to crank arms. 19/32 equals 15.08mm to be more exact. The inferior metal ones will spread a little after awhile, so higher quality is the way to go. If both ends are open ended, we bend a short spoke and tape it to one end for hanging on our tool board. We paint all tools to keep them around and for easy put back onto the 8 different colored boards. Also, we cover the 19/32 part with masking tape, write 15mm on it, then cover that part with clear packing tape- lasts several months before a spruce up is needed. -- Bob Giordano Free Cycles Missoula. hotline: 406.541.7284 Missoula Institute for Sustainable Transportation www.strans.org, mist(a)strans.org, 406.880.6834

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Random Though: Buying U-Locks direct
by Jonathan Morrison 04 May '10

04 May '10

Bike theft seems to rise and fall with the temperature in Salt Lake City -- and the temperatures are rising. At the SLC Bike Collective, when we tell someone the vulnerability of "affordable" chains, cables and older locks with cylindrical keys and the advantages of u-locks with flat keys -- we have wasted their time (and ours) if they can't afford it. Would anyone be interested in doing a big group order? If you are interested, please let me know what your actual budget is, and your ideal price point. This isn't a sure thing, but I need to know some realistic numbers before I start shopping manufacturers. http://www.manufacturers.com.tw/bicycles/u-locks.html Sincerely, Jonathan Morrison Executive Director Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective 2312 S. West Temple Salt Lake City, UT 84115 w: 801-328-2453 c: 801-688-0183 f: 801-466-3856 www.slcbikecollective.org The mission of the Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective is to promote cycling as an effective and sustainable form of transportation and as a cornerstone of a cleaner, healthier, and safer society. The Bicycle Collective provides refurbished bicycles and educational programs to the community, focusing on children and lower income households.

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trailer stuff
by Bob Giordano 04 May '10

04 May '10

We have lots of pictures- some too large to scan- and various instruction handouts. We try to spark ideas and let people run with them. We just supply endless bike parts. The main design, easily modified, is: -2 wheels, same size, in bike forks, with bike fork parallel to ground -stem comes out of each fork, with a top tube joining stems -another stem comes out of top tube on left side -another piece of bike tubing extends forward -another stem attaches to extended bike tubing -a seat post goes in stem and contains hitch to chain stay -hitch can be piece of tire (bead left in) that wraps around chain stay and is anchored with a bolt and wing nut, or a shopping cart wheel caster, or?? -hole can be drilled and pin inserted where twisting may occur at stems Other trailers have been made with crutches, bed frames, shopping carts, haywagons, and so on. -Bob G. Free Cycles Missoula http://strans.org/pedaltechnology.html veganboyjosh(a)gmail.com wrote: > Hey Bob, > > Care to share the instructions for trailer building? We'd like to teach a > workshop on how to build a trailer from bike parts, and are looking into a > few different designs.

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tracking statistics
by Mark Rehder 03 May '10

03 May '10

Chris or I have mentioned in the past that re-Cycles has always kept track of certain stats. And these past couple of years it has really paid off in showing how much growth we've had to cope with. As an example, in the old, windowless basement that we occupied until early 2008 we had about 1,500 people use our shop. This includes volunteers, folks doing DIY repair, and people buying stuff. In 2008, in our most recent location, that number jumped to 2,500. In 2009 that soared to 4,400! No wonder we felt a bit constrained and needed to move AGAIN. So we are now ensconced in our new digs (right beside the previous place) and we'll see how things add up this year. We also know that last year we took in at least 1,200 bikes! Many were scrapped, some donated away, and the rest built up for sale. And the last of those are selling fast. We'll exhaust our inventory of ready bikes in the next week or so, then back to our usual game of bikes going out the door as fast as we get them ready. Mark Rehder - General Manager re-Cycles Bicycle Co-op http://re-cycles.ca

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Funding
by charlie madden 01 May '10

01 May '10

To Whom... I am looking for grant funding (or any other source of funding) for Worcester (MA) Earn-A-Bike, Inc. Is anyone aware of such. I'm on the list of a number of the usual RFP postings but as of yet not come across anything even worth submitting a request to. Thanks, Charlie Madden Board Member Worcester Earn-A-Bike, Inc 34 Cambridge St Worcester, MA bikewithcharlie(a)gmail.com 206-669-2356 _________________________________________________________________ The New Busy think 9 to 5 is a cute idea. Combine multiple calendars with Hotmail. http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?tile=multicalendar&ocid=PID2…

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bikebike northeast happened
by andrew lynn 26 Apr '10

26 Apr '10

heres the growing bank of evidence. thanks again to all participants and supporters. http://www.mediasanctuary.org/blog/bikebike-northeast-weekend-media-roundup there are some really amazing photos and videos here. andrew --

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Bike!Bike! Northeast this weekend
by andrew lynn 23 Apr '10

23 Apr '10

bbne is happenin this weekend! http://troybikerescue.org/bikebikene wish us luck! tbr crew

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Building cargo bikes in developing countries
by Bob Giordano 22 Apr '10

22 Apr '10

Very cool and practical... We have a fleet of 'pixie' bikes- kids bikes with big handlebars and raised seat with reinforcement. Everyone loves riding these bikes, in parades, for jousting, to cruise. i can see easy modification for all sorts of utility bikes like the one you picture. Another reason to not recycle all the extra bikes we all get! Please try to save bikes, unless rusted. Space is an issue for all of us, but we all have a duty to try hard to reuse things. You can _always_ find free garages for storage, if you ask for a firm time line, like 6 mo. to a year. ben depp wrote: > I just wanted to share a couple easy to make cargo bikes plans. > http://annbekan.blogspot.com/ > My idea is to just show them off here in Haiti and sell a couple and hope > the idea catches on. There are plenty of old bikes and old welders > perfectly > capable of making them so I don't see a reason to set up a workshop. > -- Bob Giordano Free Cycles Missoula Shop: 732 S. 1st St. West, 541.7284 3PM-7PM Mon-Thurs & 11AM-3PM Sat Missoula Institute for Sustainable Transportation www.strans.org, mist(a)strans.org, 406-880-6834

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anyone have a good solution for old dirty rags?
by veganboyjosh＠gmail.com 21 Apr '10

21 Apr '10

We've got a big pile of the, waiting to be cleaned or tossed or something. What do you all do? Thanks! josh.

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Building cargo bikes in developing countries
by ben depp 21 Apr '10

21 Apr '10

I just wanted to share a couple easy to make cargo bikes plans. http://annbekan.blogspot.com/ My idea is to just show them off here in Haiti and sell a couple and hope the idea catches on. There are plenty of old bikes and old welders perfectly capable of making them so I don't see a reason to set up a workshop.

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Re: [TheThinkTank] anyone have a good solution for old dirty rags?
by winter.snowy.rose＠gmail.com 21 Apr '10

21 Apr '10

What about getting a big pot and boiling the rags? Then you can just keep a reserved pot for the purpose. Just a thought, as I've never tried it. Chloé ------Original Message------ From: Christine Bourgeois Sender: thethinktank-bounces(a)bikecollectives.org To: The Think Tank ReplyTo: The Think Tank Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] anyone have a good solution for old dirty rags? Sent: 21 Apr 2010 11:37 Yes, you will gunking up your washing machine. I tried: not a good idea... Best, Christine Education Coordinator for the Santa Barbara Bicycle Community www.sbbike.org www.bicicentro.org www.cycleMAYnia.org On Wed, Apr 21, 2010 at 8:32 AM, Matt Brittenham <mattface(a)gmail.com> wrote: > I don't know, but was wondering the same thing as we have the same issue. I'm thinking maybe wash on hot with bleach, and maybe some citrus based solvent, but I'm worried about gunking up my washing machine. Anyone have any firsthand experience laundering greasy rags? > > On Apr 21, 2010, at 11:24 AM, veganboyjosh(a)gmail.com wrote: > >> We've got a big pile of the, waiting to be cleaned or tossed or something. >> >> What do you all do? >> >> Thanks! >> >> josh. >> _______________________________________________ >> Thethinktank mailing list >> Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> To unsubscribe, send a blank email to TheThinkTank-leave(a)bikecollectives.org >> To manage your subscription, plase visit: >> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… > > _______________________________________________ > Thethinktank mailing list > Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > To unsubscribe, send a blank email to TheThinkTank-leave(a)bikecollectives.org > To manage your subscription, plase visit: > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… > -- Christine http://cbarreb.smugmug.com/ _______________________________________________ Thethinktank mailing list Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org To unsubscribe, send a blank email to TheThinkTank-leave(a)bikecollectives.org To manage your subscription, plase visit: http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network

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Re: [TheThinkTank] bike rental suggestions
by Corey Grazul 19 Apr '10

19 Apr '10

I'm sure the topic of bike rental has been discussed here before, but if anyone has a link, personal experience, or just some solid advice to share, I'd really appreciate it. I am part of a non-profit community bike shop in Jackson, MI and we are looking into starting a bike rental service through our shop to get more people riding and to generate a bit of income to resource our work. The primary purpose of our rental will be recreation, not transportation. What I'm looking for are some starting points in the insurance/liability/waiver arena. What are my choices, what is most cost effective, what are some specific companies worth looking into, should I just look into a rider for our current insurance, does anyone have a good template waiver to share, etc...? Any other info. about starting a bike rental service would be super helpful. Thanks, Corey Grazul The Fitness Council of Jackson On Tue, Apr 13, 2010 at 4:11 PM, <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: Suggestions for paid work (Chris Wells) > 2. Re: Suggestions for paid work (Scott Gibson) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Tue, 13 Apr 2010 08:20:25 -0700 (PDT) > From: Chris Wells <re-cycles(a)rogers.com> > To: The Think Tank <thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org> > Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Suggestions for paid work > Message-ID: <510696.86702.qm(a)web88207.mail.re2.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > At re-Cycles we decided since (at the time) all of our labour was volunteer > that we should only consider paying wages for a service that we we unable to > accomplish with volunteer labour. So far we have applied this to?4 services. > ? > 1) Day to day contact with other organizations and media which tends to > occur during 9-5 weekdays. Most of our senior volunteer resources have full > time jobs which make them unavailable weekdays. > ? > 2) We needed to find a new shop location, move and incorporate. Arranging > all that was a significant effort that needed corrdinating and was beyond > the amount of time of any of our senior volunteers was able to donate. > ? > 3) Corrdinating the day-to-day running of the organization and doing all > the stuff that no volunteers offered to do in a timely manner. Again a > significant effort that needed corrdinating and was beyond the amount of > time of any of our senior volunteers was able to donate. > ? > 4) Extending our hours to days and weekends. We were getting overwhelmed on > the evenings we were open as well as getting many requests to be open > outside of our evening hours. We knew from past experience we did not have > any senior volunteers available/willing to work days or weekends so we > decided to offer some paid hours. > ? > Services 1-3 ended up being combied into a Director's Honararium allowing > Mark to dedicate the hours required to accomplish those tasks. The need for > service 4 is reviewed twice a year. Thus far no volunteers have come forward > to work those shifts and the work accomplished has relieved some of the > pressure from the evening shifts while also proving to be revenue positive > (after paying the wages). > > Chris Wells > (Email Handler & one of many Volunteer Head Mechanics) > > re-Cycles Bicycle Co-op > 473 Bronson Ave. Ottawa > info(a)re-cycles.ca > http://www.re-cycles.ca/ > > --- On Sun, 4/11/10, Ainsley Naylor <needleandthread(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > > From: Ainsley Naylor <needleandthread(a)gmail.com> > Subject: [TheThinkTank] Suggestions for paid work > To: thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > Date: Sunday, April 11, 2010, 10:55 AM > > > Hey folks > We have been avoiding the very loaded *paid position* conversation for > about 2 years here at Pirates. As we are getting even busier than every > before, and making more than enough money to cover our operation costs, I > think it is time to start hashing out various ideas for ways to pay for > certain tasks to be done. > > I don't think we are in the market to have a paid coordinator or shop > manager, as it would be too likely to lead to authoritarian issues and would > take up too much of our extra cash. Do folks have suggestions or examples of > small-scale employment or honorarium models that have worked for them? > > To give you a guideline let's talk about paying out less than $600 a month. > > thanks! > ainsley. > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > > _______________________________________________ > Thethinktank mailing list > Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > To unsubscribe, send a blank email to > TheThinkTank-leave(a)bikecollectives.org > To manage your subscription, plase visit: > > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… >

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using soft words to explain someone has a crappy bike?
by veganboyjosh＠gmail.com 17 Apr '10

17 Apr '10

Hey Everyone, In the past few days, I've had several bikes people have brought in which are department store bikes of the worst kind. Pressed dropouts, steel cranks, etc. I'm sure you all know the bike of which I write. When explaining mechanical issues to the owner, sometimes the answer to "why do I keep having problems with this bike?" really does come down to a quality of manufacture issue. Of course I don't think anyone here wants to disparage someone's bike, or make them feel not worthy to be in our shops, but buying a bike at Target or Walmart does sometimes come down to a class issue. How to explain this in a way that's not as harsh? Any experiences you've had where it went wrong, or where it went really well? We really do want to encourage people to ride bikes, and getting them on a craphole Roadmaster is pretty much going to just discourage it and frustrate them after about 100 miles. Thanks, y'all. Hope you're all doing well! josh.

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Job opening at Neighborhood Bike Works
by Neighborhood Bike Works 14 Apr '10

14 Apr '10

Neighborhood Bike Works is looking to hire a Lead Bicycle Mechanic for our North Philly shop, located at 1424-26 Susquehanna Avenue. The full job description is available at: http://www.neighborhoodbikeworks.org/NBWMechanicJobDescription.pdf. The start date for the position is March 22nd, 2010. Interested parties should contact Cat Bergeron, North Philly Shop Manager, at cat(a)neighborhoodbikeworks.org; please CC Andy Dyson, Executive Director, at andy(a)neighborhoodbikeworks.org. We encourage you to forward this notice to anyone who might be interested, but please do not repost it publicly. Thanks, Neighborhood Bike Works 3916 Locust Walk Philadelphia, PA 19104 215.386.0316 www.neighborhoodbikeworks.org Donate Now! http://www.justgive.org/nonprofits/donate.jsp?ein=23-3012779

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Suggestions for paid work
by Ainsley Naylor 13 Apr '10

13 Apr '10

Hey folks We have been avoiding the very loaded *paid position* conversation for about 2 years here at Pirates. As we are getting even busier than every before, and making more than enough money to cover our operation costs, I think it is time to start hashing out various ideas for ways to pay for certain tasks to be done. I don't think we are in the market to have a paid coordinator or shop manager, as it would be too likely to lead to authoritarian issues and would take up too much of our extra cash. Do folks have suggestions or examples of small-scale employment or honorarium models that have worked for them? To give you a guideline let's talk about paying out less than $600 a month. thanks! ainsley.

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Re: [TheThinkTank] advanced classes
by Angel York 12 Apr '10

12 Apr '10

I think these have been sent out to this listserv before, but maybe some new people are on the list now, and these are still pretty handy and artistically awesome: http://davisbikecollective.org/resources/documents/67-course-materials . Angel On Thu, Apr 8, 2010 at 7:08 PM, Julie Harrell <photonicgirl(a)hotmail.com>wrote: > >> Thank you so much. Here's a link to some of my other writing for the >> Mountain Gazette and Honest Weight. >> >> >> http://www.mountaingazette.com/community/go_higher/ride_for_free_fact_or_fi… >> >> http://www.hwfc.com/CoopScoop/Mar10/sales1article.html >> >> http://www.hwfc.com/CoopScoop/Apr10/suppliers.html >> >> >> >> >> for peace, om shanti >> >> jules >> >> www.photonicgirl.blogspot.com/ >> www.cherryplainfarm.blogspot.com/ >> >> >> >> >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> Date: Thu, 8 Apr 2010 20:04:41 -0600 >> >> From: veganboyjosh(a)gmail.com >> To: thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] advanced classes >> >> Sounds awesome, Julie. Can't wait to see it. >> >> >> >> On Thu, Apr 8, 2010 at 8:02 PM, Julie Harrell <photonicgirl(a)hotmail.com>wrote: >> >> Thank you for your interest. I will have discounted copies on my website, >> at Bike!Bike! and the ADK Sports and Fitness Expo. I'm donating quite a few >> to Trips for Kids (on an ongoing basis) so Marilyn their director will have >> copies for sale through their website (www.tripsforkids.org). >> >> Right now, you can also get them at The Downtube, CK Bikes (used to be >> Klarsfeld), Mad Dog Cycles (Delmar) and the Book House in Albany; The >> Bennington Bookstore, Highlander Bikes and Road and Trails in Bennington; >> The Spoke, Berkshire Outfitters, The Mountain Goat, Ordinary Cycles and >> Plaines in MA; plus of course through my website, ebay and amazon (don't buy >> it through ebay and amazon, I'm only on for the advertising). I'm probably >> forgetting a few shops...just started putting the book out there last week. >> >> My history: I used to edit repair manuals for Bicycle Books back when I >> lived in Marin, CA, then I published my first book through them. I also did >> a lot of volunteer stuff with Trips for Kids (bike mechanic/trip >> leader/teacher) and Marilyn wrote the forward to this book. A Woman's Bike >> Book is a much more interesting Dirt Rag style read than A Woman's Guide to >> Bikes and Biking. The new book also includes 31 pages of color photos, a >> chapter on community action, ... a bike repair chapter that includes a >> what-not-to-do commentary on some of the many mistakes I made as a new bike >> mechanic :) >> >> >> >> >> >> >> for peace, om shanti >> >> jules >> >> www.photonicgirl.blogspot.com/ >> www.cherryplainfarm.blogspot.com/ >> >> >> >> >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> Date: Thu, 8 Apr 2010 19:52:16 -0600 >> From: veganboyjosh(a)gmail.com >> To: thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] advanced classes >> >> >> On Thu, Apr 8, 2010 at 7:46 PM, Julie Harrell <photonicgirl(a)hotmail.com>wrote: >> >> I have a book out on this subject, A Woman's Bike Book. Just got >> published. I'm happy to share online with the group if you are interested. >> >> I'm fairly certain when I say that most everyone reading this would be >> interested. >> >> Also, where to buy the book? >> >> >> >> >> >> >> for peace, om shanti >> >> jules >> >> www.photonicgirl.blogspot.com/ >> www.cherryplainfarm.blogspot.com/ >> >> >> >> >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> From: ryanguzy(a)gmail.com >> Date: Thu, 8 Apr 2010 18:23:56 -0700 >> To: thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] advanced classes >> >> >> These are the handouts that we developed and have been using at Bike >> Saviours. It is now a 6 week class with the first three handouts used for >> the first class. I have been slowly revising and simplifying them and I'd >> love to have other groups collaborate on them. If you would like to >> collaborate let me know and I will add you to the editors list. I have also >> thought about putting these on the wiki and/or adding some creative commons >> markings but I haven't looked into it yet. >> >> Intro: http://docs.google.com/View?id=dcgc3dtg_49fh332jcd >> Choosing a Bike: http://docs.google.com/View?id=dcgc3dtg_38gz2rgpf4 >> Headsets: http://docs.google.com/View?id=dctsxwqx_38fqv3hcc8 >> Bottom Brackets: http://docs.google.com/View?id=dcgc3dtg_37gc4qbfj8 >> Hub Bearings and Gears: http://docs.google.com/View?id=dctsxwqx_3fkt94dhq >> <http://docs.google.com/View?id=dcgc3dtg_38gz2rgpf4>Brakes: >> http://docs.google.com/View?id=dctsxwqx_16g8wqnkcm >> <http://docs.google.com/View?id=dctsxwqx_16g8wqnkcm>Derailleurs and >> Shifters: http://docs.google.com/View?id=dcgc3dtg_50qrpxzhhk >> <http://docs.google.com/View?id=dcgc3dtg_50qrpxzhhk>Wheel Truing: >> http://docs.google.com/View?id=dcgc3dtg_41fjzxhxhm >> >> *Ryan Guzy* >> Bike Saviours >> Tempe, AZ >> >> >> On Thu, Apr 8, 2010 at 6:08 PM, Julie Harrell <photonicgirl(a)hotmail.com>wrote: >> >> On the advanced wheel truing, what I am teaching is the basic stuff >> everyone I hope knows, and including lubing the nipples, listening to the >> spokes by pinging them with your fingernail before attempting to true, >> looking for more thread one some than others, then teaching how to stress >> relieve the wheels while they are on the stand and before they are placed on >> the bike. I don't have an indepth curriculum but I'm teaching from start to >> finish, taking trashed wheels and trying to bring them back to life. >> >> for peace, om shanti >> >> jules >> >> www.photonicgirl.blogspot.com/ >> www.cherryplainfarm.blogspot.com/ >> >> >> >> >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> Date: Thu, 8 Apr 2010 19:52:26 -0400 >> From: ssssscott(a)gmail.com >> To: thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> Subject: [TheThinkTank] advanced classes >> >> >> Hey is there anyone out there who can offer up anything from basic >> breakdown to in-depth curriculum about your Advanced Mechanics Classes. We >> are looking to develop our own at Free Ride! this year. Anything you have >> would be really helpful. >> >> Thanks, >> Scott >> >> ------------------------------ >> The New Busy think 9 to 5 is a cute idea. Combine multiple calendars with >> Hotmail. Get busy.<http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?tile=multicalendar&ocid=PID2…> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Thethinktank mailing list >> Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> To unsubscribe, send a blank email to >> TheThinkTank-leave(a)bikecollectives.org >> To manage your subscription, plase visit: >> >> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… >> >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> Hotmail has tools for the New Busy. Search, chat and e-mail from your >> inbox. Learn more.<http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:…> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Thethinktank mailing list >> Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> To unsubscribe, send a blank email to >> TheThinkTank-leave(a)bikecollectives.org >> To manage your subscription, plase visit: >> >> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… >> >> >> >> >> -- >> Thanks for supporting Community Cycles, Boulder's first and only >> non-profit bike shop! >> Ask me how you can sponsor a Youth Earn-A-Bike student for just $100. >> www.communitycycles.org >> >> ------------------------------ >> The New Busy think 9 to 5 is a cute idea. Combine multiple calendars with >> Hotmail. Get busy.<http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?tile=multicalendar&ocid=PID2…> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Thethinktank mailing list >> Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> To unsubscribe, send a blank email to >> TheThinkTank-leave(a)bikecollectives.org >> To manage your subscription, plase visit: >> >> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… >> >> >> >> >> -- >> Thanks for supporting Community Cycles, Boulder's first and only >> non-profit bike shop! >> Ask me how you can sponsor a Youth Earn-A-Bike student for just $100. >> www.communitycycles.org >> >> ------------------------------ >> The New Busy think 9 to 5 is a cute idea. Combine multiple calendars with >> Hotmail. Get busy.<http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?tile=multicalendar&ocid=PID2…> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Thethinktank mailing list >> Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> To unsubscribe, send a blank email to >> TheThinkTank-leave(a)bikecollectives.org >> To manage your subscription, plase visit: >> >> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… >> >> >

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fix a flat teaching materials
by Sarah Follett (B!KE) 09 Apr '10

09 Apr '10

Hello all, Rather than reinvent the wheel, I thought I'd turn to the great collective resource that is the Think Tank. I was wondering if anyone had a fun handout with steps for how to fix a flat. I'm doing some high school visits with tutorials, and I think having a reference on paper is the only way I'm going to be able to manage to teach a class of 20 youth all at once! Thanks in advance! Sarah Follett Director, B!KE: The Peterborough Community Bike Shop 400 Wolfe St Peterborough, Ontario (705) 748-6681 http://www.communitybikeshop.org

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advanced classes
by Scott Gibson 08 Apr '10

08 Apr '10

Hey is there anyone out there who can offer up anything from basic breakdown to in-depth curriculum about your Advanced Mechanics Classes. We are looking to develop our own at Free Ride! this year. Anything you have would be really helpful. Thanks, Scott

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Wrench Nepal Human-Powered Washing Machine
by Mario Bruzzone 08 Apr '10

08 Apr '10

Hi folks-- I've been meaning to do this for weeks, but I wanted to let everyone on this list know that Aaron Wieler and I wrote up a project report for the hand- and pedal-powered washing machine we helped facilitate in Nepal in 2008. The project was a partnership with the local Nepali NGO Prisoners Assistance Nepal. You can read it here <http://www.wrenchnepal.org/donate2> ( http://www.wrenchnepal.org/donate2) or here <http://bikecart.pedalpeople.com/projects.html>( http://bikecart.pedalpeople.com/projects.html)--it's the same pdf in both places. Wrench Nepal is sadly on hiatus, probably forever, for circumstances outside my control, but both my email and Aaron's are in the pdf. Thanks, Mario Bruzzone San Francisco

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LAB insurance question
by andrew lynn 05 Apr '10

05 Apr '10

hi all, i have been perusing the archive because we are trying to obtain insurance - both to cover our butts, and because we want/need to get our own J&B account and not mooch off our sister project (which has a parent non-profit) any longer. question: is the LAB club insurance (which i think i understand from other emails) enough to put on a J&B application and get approved? does anyone out there do this (have a J&B accoutn and LAB club insurance?) Andrew Lynn Troy Bike Rescue

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Re: [TheThinkTank] [Bicipandilla] Bike Kitchen's can now be found on other planets.
by james blesdoe 01 Apr '10

01 Apr '10

________________________________ I saw a Bike Kitchen in Caprica City, Caprica when I was watching the 'Gravedancing' episode of the SciFi series Caprica. The employees had blue aprons that said "Bike Kitchen". Ride on, _______________________________________________ Bicipandilla mailing list Bicipandilla(a)bicyclekitchen.com http://nine.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/bicipandilla

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Bike!Bike! Northeast Approacheth!
by andrew lynn 01 Apr '10

01 Apr '10

Hi everyone, Were three weeks out from Bike!Bike! Northeast here in Troy, NY and getting excited. If you plan to come, please register, so we have an idea of how much food and housing will be needed. Registration will take 2 minutes or less and can be done here: http://troybikerescue.org/bbneregistration. \\\ What is Bike!Bike! Northeast? /// BBNE is a regional version of the international conference Bike!Bike! It will be a gathering of community bicycle organizers to meet up, share skills, and build something bigger than our individual projects. So far, we have folks registered from Providence, Worcester, Ithaca, North Hampton, NYC and beyond, in addition to many local people. Right now, we are expecting anywhere from 40-60 participants. There will be a sliding scale registration fee of $10-25 and that will cover housing and food for the weekend. This is low/no-waste event; please bring a dish and utensil if possible (we will have extras on hand) http://troybikerescue.org/bikebikene Specific questions about housing? contact Sam at samharrington(a)gmail.com \\\ What kind of workshops are planned? /// The skillshare schedule is shaping up! Things will begin at 10am on Saturday 4/24. From Community Bike Shop 101, to Family Bike Advocacy, Bicycle Organizing with Media, to Welding for Dummies Like Us, and an Outdoor Kids' Rodeo. There is something for everyone, including you! Check it out: http://troybikerescue.org/bbneworkshops \\\ Skillshares and talking are great, but will there be a party?! /// YES! There will be a screening of the movie Veer about the thriving bicycle culture in Portland, Oregon at 7pm, and a rockin dance party with live bands, Blister Pack (Worcester, MA), and Beware! The Other Head of Science (Albany, NY) beginning at 9pm. http://www.myspace.com/bewaretheotherheadofscience http://www.myspace.com/blisterpack Andrew L. & Team BBNE

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Co-ops & shade tree shops
by Joel Gillespie 31 Mar '10

31 Mar '10

I'll apologize up front for the large amount of exposition to come. If you'd prefer to thin-slice, my question is this: What conflicts have other collectives encountered with "shade tree" mechanics and other unofficial LBS's, and what are reasonable steps to take to avoid unnecessary competition with them? Hi, this is Joel Gillespie from The Bike Project of Urbana-Champaign (http://www.thebikeproject.org) in Illinois. We've recently entered into a Facility Use Agreement with the University of Illinois to collaborate with the U of I to open an on-campus location for our cooperative, to be known as the Campus Bike Project (clever, right?). A student group funded by an optional student sustainability fee gave us a grant to convert an old garage into a shop, and the university is allowing us to use the space rent- and utility-free (at least for the first year), and they're paying a 20-hour-per-week employee (me) out of the facilities budget. In return, we're doing basically the same things we already do at our original location -- assist with member repairs and build-a-bikes, refurbish and sell or donate used bikes, and sell a few very low-end, consumable or safety parts like tires, tubes, helmets, locks and lights. Our collective has an ongoing relationship with the U of I parking department where they give us the abandoned bikes from the previous school year (this was something that they approached us about, not something we sought). This new location has been the last straw for one of our erstwhile volunteer staffers, who operates a used-bike sales, frame painting, and bike repair business out of his house. He's made some noise on the local bike listservs and has been accusing us of some pretty nasty things like misusing our nonprofit status and has threatening an FBI investigation, etc., but I guess that's not really the point of my question. His view is that we're unfairly competing with him because we accept grants and get benefits from working with the university. The most reasonable part of his argument is that we're unfairly competing with his business since we sell repaired bikes to non-members, and we also don't have the best membership tracking system, which has probably led to non-members taking advantage of multiple unpaid visits for repair help. We have a "first visit free" policy for use of the shop and tools, after which you have to buy a membership to use the space -- $25 per yr for students, $40 per yr for non-students. Those points have some merit, and we're taking steps to make things more member-centric. We're also going to have very visible maps and handouts showing locations and contact info of LBS's. So, I guess what I'm asking, is that enough? Does what we're doing sound unreasonable? We don't want to bend over backwards to please someone just because they're complaining, but at the same time, we want to be a good neighbor to folks trying to make a decent living. Thanks in advance for your time and insights. Joel Gillespie The Bike Project of Urbana-Champaign _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/210850553/direct/01/

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Specialty Tools
by Jonathan Morrison 28 Mar '10

28 Mar '10

At heart I am a tool junkie, so one of the small highlights at Mountain States Bike Bike was seeing some of their specialty tools... http://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/index.php?title=Tools#Specialty_Tools What does your shop use that is special? Sincerely, Jonathan Morrison Executive Director Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective 2312 S. West Temple Salt Lake City, UT 84115 w: 801-328-2453 c: 801-688-0183 f: 801-466-3856 www.slcbikecollective.org The mission of the Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective is to promote cycling as an effective and sustainable form of transportation and as a cornerstone of a cleaner, healthier, and safer society. The Bicycle Collective provides refurbished bicycles and educational programs to the community, focusing on children and lower income households.

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mobile bike shops?
by adam schwartz 26 Mar '10

26 Mar '10

We recently lost our physical workshop/classroom/storage space due to the economy and are considering the concept of going mobile. We already developed a mobile bike shop based out of a landscaping trailer (photos attached), however due to a conflict with our previous partner organization (the Univ of Maryland) and our main funder our mobile bike shop was siezed and its future is currently being negotiated by lawyers. Its really sad and ugly but we are committed to moving forward despite the loss. We have now formed our own 501c3 in incredible time and have fully terminated our partnership with the university. Anyway, I wanted to hear about anyone who has had success with a mobile bike program. We are currently considering using a biodiesel school bus to house our operations as cheap space is very hard to come by in the Washington DC area. Thanks for your input and ideas. -- Adam Schwartz The Renaissance Youth Bike Shop, ECO Inc. rideyourbicycle(a)gmail.com

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mobile bike shops?
by Bob Giordano 26 Mar '10

26 Mar '10

I do think every shop/program should be prepared to go mobile if money or politics does not allow a rentable/buyable space. The streets/trails/parks are _public space_, ideal for public bicycle activity. You can go to the area in need, and post a schedule. Bio bus is understandable, bike power ideal (then no license, registration, fuel and the demo power of biking a small shop has huge positive ripple effects). Parking a bikable rig on the street overnight brings up interesting 'legal' issues. In missoula, a trailer or vehicle must be registered to be left on the street- I'd fight that restriction if it arose though, since bikes have almost zero negative impact. We have parked haywagons full of bikes on the streets for a few days with free parts and instructions for trailer building. -Bob g, free cycles missoula --- adam schwartz wrote: > We recently lost our physical workshop/classroom/storage space due to the > economy and are considering the concept of going mobile. We already developed a mobile bike shop based out of a landscaping trailer (photos attached), however due to a conflict with our previous partner > organization > (the Univ of Maryland) and our main funder our mobile bike shop was siezed > and its future is currently being negotiated by lawyers. Its really sad and > ugly but we are committed to moving forward despite the loss. We have now > formed our own 501c3 in incredible time and have fully terminated our partnership with the university. Anyway, I wanted to hear about anyone who > has had success with a mobile bike program. We are currently considering > using a biodiesel school bus to house our operations as cheap space is very > hard to come by in the Washington DC area. Thanks for your input and ideas. > > -- > Adam Schwartz > The Renaissance Youth Bike Shop, ECO Inc. > rideyourbicycle(a)gmail.com

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Abandoned Bike Collection partnerships with campuses and municipalities
by Erik Stockmeier 25 Mar '10

25 Mar '10

Are there any groups out there with strong partnerships with local municipalities or campuses to collect abandoned bicycles? I know the Recyclery (Chicago) and many other groups certainly pick up donations from police departments and the like, but we have a number of volunteers and a campus environmental group working on setting up a structured collection program and are looking for ways to proceed. Do you, for example, have a specific notice or flyer you attach to bikes? We are thinking of something that says "hello, this bike looks abandoned. if it is yours, you can fix it up at the recyclery. Otherwise it will be removed..." Anyhow, just wondering if anyone has already done this. Thanks for your help! Erik @ The Recyclery (Chicago)

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Accounting for Collectives.
by Jonathan Morrison 22 Mar '10

22 Mar '10

This was started at Mountain States Bike! Bike! but I am hoping it can continue... http://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/index.php?title=Accounting Sincerely, Jonathan Morrison Executive Director Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective 2312 S. West Temple Salt Lake City, UT 84115 w: 801-328-2453 c: 801-688-0183 f: 801-466-3856 www.slcbikecollective.org The mission of the Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective is to promote cycling as an effective and sustainable form of transportation and as a cornerstone of a cleaner, healthier, and safer society. The Bicycle Collective provides refurbished bicycles and educational programs to the community, focusing on children and lower income households.

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collective vs non-profit
by Liza Mattana 18 Mar '10

18 Mar '10

Hey, Can someone lay out a simple list of pros and cons for each please? Right now we're a 501c3, with a 5 member board of directors, 2 part time employees, and several committed volunteers. We came across some issues with the gambling commission when we were trying to get a fundraiser/raffle together. Basically, we need a 15 member voting-member body that votes on the board, which sounds like a collective to me. I don't know, maybe it's not. I'm confused. Thanks, liza -- Liza Mattana president www.pedals2people.org Spokane, WA

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Good luck, louisville!
by veganboyjosh＠gmail.com 18 Mar '10

18 Mar '10

Good luck tomorrow and this weekend Louisville. We're rooting for you and thinking about you kids. Looks like Colorado may get a foot of snow tonight...yay for our out of town guests on bikes, huh? Hope everything goes well. There should be some good bike energy happening this weekend. Love you all. Be safe. josh.

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Suggestions for finding a good shop manager
by Rich Points 17 Mar '10

17 Mar '10

Hey All, We've started looking for a new shop manager. After a week or so of resume submissions nothing stands out. We had the same experience last time we hired a shop manager. I wanted to ask the shops who've sought out and hired a shop manager what their experience has been like. Do you have any suggestions about where to find qualified bike mechanics with non profit backgrounds? Ride On! -- Rich Points Community Cycles Executive Director http://CommunityCycles.org Rich(a)CommunityCycles.org 720-565-6019 (W) 303-589-0597 (C) Donate your old car to Community Cycles http://communitycycles.org/get-involved/donatecar.html

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