- TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

NEW TO NYC- WANT TO MEET THE CO OPS AND PEOPLE ROLLING ROUND TOWN.
by Kim Jensen 21 Oct '09

21 Oct '09

Hello there! My Name is Kim Jensen and I come from the Bicycle Kitchen LA, met many people from the East Coast at Pittsburgh Bike Bike and was hoping to link up with you here to join in the fun and works at the bike collectives and such..... Sorry to use this list for personal reasons, but then again isn't bikes and co ops as personal as it gets. Hope to meet you! Thanks! Kim -- 좋은 소원 김

2 1

10/17/09 Bike Talk
by bike talk 16 Oct '09

16 Oct '09

Hi! Another Saturday, another show...this time we're bringing you: LA Bike Planwith bikivists Stephen and Enci Box The Bike Writers Collective convenes LA Bike Working Group this Saturday at 1 pm to develop a REAL Bike Plan for Los Angeles, one with a vision, one with real imperative language and one with teeth. meeting at Hollywood Adventist Church 1711 N. Van Ness Ave. Hollywood, CA 90028see: http://LABikePlan.com Ryan Bowen Who finds his stolen bike (call-in) USC-Ron Milam At USC, Ron Milam, LA County Bicycle Coalition founder, teaches about the movement towards alternative transportation in Los Angeles. please let us know if you want to be taken off this list. Hear Bike Talk! live on www.killradio.org, 10am-noon Saturdays. Call in at (213) 252-0998. Hear the podcast at kpfk.org: http://www.kpfk.org/programs/170-bike-talk.html See what's new with us at www.biketalk.us Follow us at bike_talk_kpfk on twitter.com

1 0

Bike Talk 10/10/09
by bike talk 10 Oct '09

10 Oct '09

Today: Bicycle Subsidy Voucher providers Accor Services' Director of Marketing Jeremy Doak discusses the program by which bicycle commuters can get $20/ month from employers, tax free. See: http://blumenauer.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=817&I… and a discussion: http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/index.php/t-492137.html Laura Flanagan A member of the L.A. Greensters, a bicycle alternative to fossil fuel based movie crews, hangs out this morning. http://lagreensters.com/ Another Bicycle House Move Boulder, Co. residents moved a house's contents on bicycles. A conference call with participants Dan, Jeff, and Jon. see article: http://www.dailycamera.com/news/ci_13485534 Call in! share your thoughts. -- please let us know if you want to be taken off this list. Hear Bike Talk! live on www.killradio.org, 10am-noon Saturdays. Call in at (213) 252-0998. Hear the podcast at kpfk.org: http://www.kpfk.org/programs/170-bike-talk.html See what's new with us at www.biketalk.us Follow us at bike_talk_kpfk on twitter.com

1 0

One more question and Re: A History of Volunteer Bike Shops
by Alex Rosenblatt 07 Oct '09

07 Oct '09

Thanks to everyone who responded to my original post, I'll be getting in touch in the next few weeks. I have a quick question for the board as I begin to compile a time line: Is anyone aware of which shops would be considered among the first community bicycle organizations in the US? My hunch is Bikes Not Bombs? (1988-89ish) RIBS, in Ithaca, was started in 1991. What about yours? Thanks for the support, Alex On Fri, Oct 2, 2009 at 3:21 PM, Alex Rosenblatt <rosenblatt.alex(a)gmail.com>wrote: > Hello All, > > For the past few years, I've been an Assistant Coordinator at a volunteer > bike shop in Ithaca, NY called Recycle Ithaca's Bicycles (RIBS). RIBS has > been around in some form or another since early 1991. Mired in > organizational difficulties, I (and most of the others involved) have since > moved on and are starting a new bicycle project in the area. > > In my other life, I am a student finishing up my degree. I am currently > beginning to work on compiling a history of volunteer bike shops as they fit > in (or don't) with the various bicycle movements. I am hoping that this > will be a substantial document released in a published form and also an > online form where it could be continuously updated.. As I've begun to read > various histories of cycling, I've found that there is little to mention of > the VBS movement. I have yet to read Bike Cult, however. This seems > ridiculous as we are and can be a crucial facet of the cycling community. My > hopes are that a history could be used as a platform to increase VBS > visibility and popularity by establishing a cohesive narrative. > > I have a few requests: > > I'm looking to talk to anyone and everyone about any facet of the volunteer > bike shop movement specifically the history of shops and how they interact > with the community. Whether, via phone or email, or if possible, in > person, it would a great help. Clearly, this isn't a project I can do via > the internet and academic journals. > > If you know anyone who was involved in your shop in the early days, that > would be a great contact as well. > > Also, if your organization has done its own organizational history (as has > mine - we still have the same problems as 20 years ago!) that would be > welcome as well. > > > While I have not found any indication of this, I'd imagine a project like > this has been done before, if anyone is aware of something similiar, please > let me know. > > > > Sincerely, > > Alex Rosenblatt > Phone: nine-seven-three-nine-four-three-eight-eight-zero-three > > > > >

7 7

Fix bikes in Africa
by MoBo Bicycle Co-op 07 Oct '09

07 Oct '09

FIX BIKES IN AFRICA The organizers of Tour d'Afrique, an annual expedition ride/race going 7,400 miles from Cairo, Egypt, to Cape Town, South Africa, are searching for a good mechanic to support next year's ride. While preventative bike maintenance and cleaning are up to the individual riders, the mechanic will be responsible for fixing participants' bicycles, from simple tune-ups to more complex repairs. The fleet of bikes involved will represent a wide range of countries of origin--so, according to the job announcement, "compatibility with parts and tools will require improvisation and resourcefulness." The 2010 ride takes place from January 16 through May 15. Click on the following link to find out more about the mechanic position and other jobs available with Tour d'Afrique: http://www.tourdafrique.com/company/jobs

1 0

BikeBike Northeast in April - spread the word.....
by andrew lynn 05 Oct '09

05 Oct '09

hi everyone.... Announcing the first BikeBike NE in Troy, NY A regional gathering of bicycle projects in the Northeast US. April 24 & 25, 2010 at the Sanctuary for Independent Media Organized and hosted by Troy Bike Rescue What is BikeBike? BikeBike is an annual international gathering of community bicycle projects. It has happened in cities such as New Orleans, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Minneapolis and Milwaukee. This coming years conference will be in Toronto in the summer of 2010. Regional events, such as BikeBike Southeast have been held in Atlanta and Louisville (upcoming). more info at: http://www.bikebike.org What will happen at BikeBike Northeast? Workshops & discussions for fledgling and experienced shops, a mini film festival, mutant bike welding, trailer building, exploring urban ruins on bike, pick-up polo matches, and whatever else you want to make happen! Who will come to BikeBike Northeast? In addition to the local public, we hope to attract participants from community bike projects as near and as far as: Delaware, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New Haven, Ithaca, Montpelier, Plattsburgh, Burlington, New Hampshire, Boston, State College PA, Providence, Worcester, NYC, and more... Are you on this list? We hope you can make it!! We have received modest interest from various groups, but will need plenty of help getting the word out there. If you hear of people in the Northeast wanting to start ups community shops or simply interested in joining a conversation about building bicycle culture in post-industrial expanses of this corner of the world, please tell them about BikeBike Northeast (and BikeBike International- to be held in Toronto in Summer 2010). CONTACT US VIA OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION http://www.troybikerescue.org/contact http://troybikerescue.org http://mediasanctuary.org

1 0

A History of Volunteer Bike Shops
by Alex Rosenblatt 02 Oct '09

02 Oct '09

Hello All, For the past few years, I've been an Assistant Coordinator at a volunteer bike shop in Ithaca, NY called Recycle Ithaca's Bicycles (RIBS). RIBS has been around in some form or another since early 1991. Mired in organizational difficulties, I (and most of the others involved) have since moved on and are starting a new bicycle project in the area. In my other life, I am a student finishing up my degree. I am currently beginning to work on compiling a history of volunteer bike shops as they fit in (or don't) with the various bicycle movements. I am hoping that this will be a substantial document released in a published form and also an online form where it could be continuously updated.. As I've begun to read various histories of cycling, I've found that there is little to mention of the VBS movement. I have yet to read Bike Cult, however. This seems ridiculous as we are and can be a crucial facet of the cycling community. My hopes are that a history could be used as a platform to increase VBS visibility and popularity by establishing a cohesive narrative. I have a few requests: I'm looking to talk to anyone and everyone about any facet of the volunteer bike shop movement specifically the history of shops and how they interact with the community. Whether, via phone or email, or if possible, in person, it would a great help. Clearly, this isn't a project I can do via the internet and academic journals. If you know anyone who was involved in your shop in the early days, that would be a great contact as well. Also, if your organization has done its own organizational history (as has mine - we still have the same problems as 20 years ago!) that would be welcome as well. While I have not found any indication of this, I'd imagine a project like this has been done before, if anyone is aware of something similiar, please let me know. Sincerely, Alex Rosenblatt Phone: nine-seven-three-nine-four-three-eight-eight-zero-three

3 2

Used Parts: sold or given away with request
by The Recyclery 29 Sep '09

29 Sep '09

Hi all, A financial question: When dealing with used parts, does your collective sell them like new parts and collect sales tax? Or do you give away used parts and suggest a donation for them? Or do you only use other options like work-trade? This eventually has implications to filling out the IRS 990: is the income a "contribution" or included in "sales of inventory"? Jesse -- The Recyclery Collective 7628 N Paulina Chicago, IL 60626 P: 773.262.5900 F:773.751.5241 www.therecyclery.org

2 1

fiscal sponsorship
by allison karow 25 Sep '09

25 Sep '09

hi folks, is anyone a fiscal sponsor for another bike project? if so, what forms did you and your umbrella'ed folks have to fill out? and what responsibilities (ie taxes, liability) do you share legally? any info is appreciated! thanks allison bike saviours bicycle collective tempe, az

4 3

non-profits! board of directors, bylaws or charter
by Blackbird Bicycle Co-op 25 Sep '09

25 Sep '09

Hello, Seeking recommendations for creating the Board of Directors and non-profit bylaws. We are putting together a community meeting, with interested parties, in two weeks and beginning the independent non-profit status (currently we've been affiliated with a local non-profit but now we want to use our wings and fly) Do you have an example of bylaws that you would share? I would like to bring several examples of bylaws to the meeting as a basis for our new document. Gracias Kirsten

3 2

admin of the bike collective wiki
by Ted Striker 24 Sep '09

24 Sep '09

Can you block/ban Boston Vegan Boy I think it's spam Boson Au to Think show details 8:57 AM (15 minutes ago) can you block/ban user "Massage"? dude's a spammer.... _______________________________________________ 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.…

2 1

admin of the bike collective wiki
by Boson Au 24 Sep '09

24 Sep '09

can you block/ban user "Massage"? dude's a spammer....

1 0

admin of the bike collective wiki
by Boson Au 24 Sep '09

24 Sep '09

can you block/ban user "Massage"? dude's a spammer....

1 0

weird auction mentioned at bikebike, cumulative bidding?
by veganboyjosh＠gmail.com 21 Sep '09

21 Sep '09

I don't remember who it was who brought this us, but it was during the grantwriting workshop in the rehearsal room that I think the folks from Fargo put on. At some point, someone got up and explained a rather interesting take on auctioning off something. They suggested using a crappy department store/trashed bike that's headed for the scrap heap anyway. When you have the group of people bidding, they put their bids into the hat as they make them. Ie, the first person bids $5, and puts $5 into the hat. The next person bids $10, and puts $10 in the hat. The third person bids $15, and puts it in the hat. At the end of the auction, the hat now has $30 in it. The last person winds, but the early/low bidders don't keep their money. Does anyone remember who it was who offered this suggestion, or is anyone familiar with it? I'm intrigued, and didn't get a chance to follow up with the guy who brought it up. Thanks! josh.

2 2

Cycles Apc invited you to the event "Free Third Anniversary and Benefit for Cycles of Change APC"...
by Facebook 20 Sep '09

20 Sep '09

Cycles invited you to "Free Third Anniversary and Benefit for Cycles of Change APC" on Sunday, September 27 at 1:00pm. Event: Free Third Anniversary and Benefit for Cycles of Change APC Start Time: Sunday, September 27 at 1:00pm End Time: Sunday, September 27 at 4:00pm Where: 650 W. Ranger Ave, Alameda, Ca 94501 To see more details and RSVP, follow the link below: http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=277076415205&mid=11fd24bG56058d43G… Thanks, The Facebook Team ___ This message was intended for thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org. Want to control which emails you receive from Facebook? Go to: http://www.facebook.com/editaccount.php?notifications=1&mid=11fd24bG56058d4… Facebook's offices are located at 1601 S. California Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94304.

1 0

Anyone have an internship position?
by veganboyjosh＠gmail.com 18 Sep '09

18 Sep '09

Feel like answering some questions off list? We've been presented the possibility of hiring an intern at no cost to us, aside from coming up with the position. I'd be interested to hear from someone who's set up a similar position from scratch, and what hurdles/successes you found, or can steer us around/towards. Thanks! josh.

4 3

What benefits do you offer your members?
by veganboyjosh＠gmail.com 16 Sep '09

16 Sep '09

Hey Everyone. We're doing a big membership push this winter--we just mailed out about 450 membership renewal letters today--and we're looking at what benefits we offer to members. To be clear, our standard membership is the only one someone could do work-trade for. All of the others are cash based. We're open to the idea of someone working more hours to gain better benefits, but haven't seen that much interest in it from our community, and so haven't come up with a structure for it. Here's what we're thinking about offering: $20 - low income membership. same benefits as the standard membership. $35 or EAB student or paying Mech's class student - basic/standard membership. - Use of bike tools whenever the shop is open, access to experienced mechanics and our library of bike repair books to work on your own bike. - Access to the same during "Members only" time/days. - (Dalyn suggested that the phrase "access to the shop" was too vague, and someone like a lot of our members who don't know what a shop includes wouldn't know that it also includes access to exp'ed mechs.) - Membership in Bike To Shop, once that's up and running. - 3 Free 36-hour bike trailer rental per year $100 membership "Century membership" - Same benefits as standard membership, plus: - Members only Preview day for Major bike sales. - Discount on one paid mechanics class per year. - Unlimited Free 36-hour bike trailer rentals per year. $500 membership "Golden Membership" - Same benefits as EAB Sponsor, plus: - Free tuneup on your birthday. - Free access to one paid mechanics class per year. $1000 membership - "Lifetime Membership" Same benefits as Golden Membership for life, plus: We don't have any Lifetime Memberships just yet, but we're hoping to soon....Perhaps with the right benefits package? I'm interested in hearing what other groups are offering to members. What have you had success or failure with. Anyone have any feedback on our plan? Thanks. Hope you're all doing well. josh.

2 1

Directors and Officers Liability Insurance?
by Boson Au 13 Sep '09

13 Sep '09

Hi all, we're in the process renewing our regular liability insurance and came across the Directors and Officers Liability Insurance. To be on the safe side, we decided to purchase that for now, but we're in the midst of deciding if we need it. in my brief understanding; I'm not part of the committee that determines our insurance policy, it seems to be liability for the directors/officers, ie our decision making body aka collective, which is seperate from general liability. this insurance would cover "us" ie if someone wants to sue me due to my actions in the project, rather than the 'project'. I might have this wrong, I'm not sure. so basically, the question posed by members of the collective was, "do other bike projects do this?" so hence this fragmented email. so, if anyone else ran across this I'd love to know how you handled it and why. If you wanna answer in private, that's cool.. if not, post it? thanks in advance. -Boson Au Velocipede Bike Project Baltimore, MD velocipedebikeproject.org

2 1

experienced bike mechanics as volunteers - issues.
by veganboyjosh＠gmail.com 12 Sep '09

12 Sep '09

Josh here, also from Community Cycles. Sort of in addition to Rich's email, but expanding on it a bit, and bringing in some other cans of worms... We have 3 paid staff members, and the rest are volunteers, or get paid as contractors for teaching one class at a time. I've been doing a lot of reading and thinking about bikebike, and have come to what looks to be some hard decisions. I was brought on as the latest paid staff person, as the "Development Director". Essentially, I'm responsible for 3 things, listed in order of their importance. 1. Membership tracking, coordinating, and communication. 2. Grantwriting and fundraising events, etc. 3. Volunteer Coordination. I'm realizing the more I read about horizontal power structures and consensus based org's that while our issue of volunteers not wanting or able to commit to anything other than dropping by when it suits them could just be that we have a bunch of flaky volunteers, I'm slowly coming to the realization that our model of paid staff and unpaid volunteer staff is flawed. I've started and come super close to sending an email to this list several times asking how we can get more out of our volunteers. I realize the inherent issues of our paid staff requesting more of volunteers. There's all kinds of issues here, but it's the model we're in, and I'm not sure how to address it in a positive, productive way. (Of course, job security for myself and two other people also comes into play, for if we get rid of the paid staff positions, then we've put 3 hard working people out of work.) I'm almost done reading "The Revolution Will Not Be Funded", and would LOVE to continue the discussion we starte at bikebike! online, once some more people have had a chance to read it. (To those of you who asked at bikebike about whether there's any resolution at the end of the book to address whether there's any ways to pay for revolutionary social change org's without funding from foundations, there is. Not some silver bullet magic answer, but they do address the question somewhat.) I'm interested to hear from other org's that have one or more paid staff members how that structure plays out in the dynamics of your staff, volunteer or paid. Do tensions arise? How do you address them? For those of you at the shops with no paid staff, when I bring up that model to friends outside of radical activist circles, the response is often "yeah, but if they're all volunteer run, don't they have jobs aside from the bike shop work? wouldn't having a paid staff person working full time on things allow the org to do more work?" this seems like a logical response. If I personally wasn't working full time at Community Cycles, I would be working full time somewhere else. Two things come to mind. 1. I wouldn't be as happy as I am doing the work for the organization I work for. 2. I wouldn't have as much or any time to devote to Community Cycles as a volunteer. Am I missing something? I'm not looking for a critique of capitalism. Is the major reason why a lot of shops don't have paid staff because of the weird power dynamics it brings? Thanks for taking the time to read this ranting. I hope something fruitful comes of it. Also, if you're still reading this, feel free to call me an idiot. josh. On Fri, Sep 11, 2009 at 12:17 PM, Urban Bike Project Wilmington, DE < urbanbikeproject(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Cool Rich thanks....here is our volunteer structure: > > *Types of Volunteers and Volunteer Structure at UBP* > updated 8/3/09 > > *Drop-In or Unscheduled Volunteers* > -Limited to sorting parts, patching tubes, organizational tasks. > -May be turned away if the shop is too crowded. > > *Scheduled Volunteers > *-Sign up in advance for full shifts in one of the following roles: > -*Greeter* signs people into the shop, answers basic customer questions, > answers phone > -*Parts/Back Room* assists mechanics and customers with finding parts in > the back room, organizes and keeps the back room neat. > -*Sales* assists customers who are looking to purchase a bicycle. > -*Mechanic*(s) assist adult customers who are repairing bicycles. > -*Youth Mechanic*(s) assist youth who are repairing bicycles. > -*Head Mechanic* overseas all activities in the shop and assists Mechanics > with difficult repairs. > > *Core Volunteers* > -Scheduled volunteers who complete 3-4 full shifts per month and 2 tasks > from the Core Volunteer Task Sheet. > -May keep a project bicycle in the shop longer than the standard 2-week > period. > -May attend Core Volunteers only shop time and Core Volunteer meetings. > -Receive discount when ordering parts from J&B Importers catalog > > And this is our experimental Volunteer "Ladder" for moving people up the > chain as it were. The idea being, unskilled volunteers can work up as > slowly or quickly as they want (most greeters end up quickly learning tube > patching during shop time and also basic wheel truing since the truing > station is directly behind the greeter). Same for "skilled but new to the > shop" volunteers. If they really want to work as a mechanic they can see > right in front of them what needs to be done first. > > *Skills Checklist* (head mechanic/volunteer coordinator to sign off on > each requirement) > > *Requirements for Greeter:* > -Attended Volunteer Orientation? Date:______ > > *Additional Requirements for Parts Sorting/Salesperson:* > > -Basic identification of parts > -Pedal removal/installation, Stem/Seat adjustment, Tire Pumping > -Basic Bicycle Sizing Knowledge > > *Additional Requirements for Youth Tire Pumper/Patcher:* > -Wheel Removal/Installation (coaster, freewheel, derailer) > -Tire Removal/Installation, Tube Patching > -"How to work with youth" Basic Training? Date:______ > -3 *full* shifts at other position (date and position): 1)________ > 2)________ 3)_______ > > *Additional Requirements for Mechanic:* > -Attend/Pass Advanced Mechanics Class or Test? Date:_____ > > *Additional Requirements for Youth Mechanic:* > -3 *full* shifts as Mechanic (date): 1)________ > 2)________ 3)_______ > -1 *full* shift as Youth Tire Pumper/Patcher: Date:_____ > * > Additional Requirements for Head Mechanic:* > -3 *full* shifts as Youth Mechanic (date): 1)________ > 2)________ 3)_______ > -1 *full* shift shadowing Head Mechanic (date): Date:______ > -Approval from Collective of Core-Volunteers: Date:______ > > > It's just been hard to convince people with tons of experience that they*really do > * need to (and are required to) be greeter or parts sorter for at least 3 > shifts before they can even think about working with customers. > > Please share thoughts and ideas! > > Brian > > Urban Bike Project of Wilmington > -a 501(c)3 non-profit bike shop- > 1908 N. Market Street (entrance is in the parking lot behind the building) > Wilmington, DE 19802 > > Hours: > Thursday 6:30-9:00 > Saturday 1:00-4:00 > > Visit us online at http://urbanbikeproject.org > > > On Fri, Sep 11, 2009 at 11:28 AM, R Points <poster(a)richpoints.com> wrote: > >> Hey Brian, >> Yeah we have similar issues at Community Cycles. We have a dozen or so >> core volunteers who show up each week for a three hour shift, we call the >> facilitators. Most of these folks have worked in bike shops or are advanced >> shade tree mechanics. By and large most of our facilitators are limited >> when it comes to people skills. In addition, even though these facilitators >> show up on a regular basis it's been almost impossible to schedule them for >> a shift. And a lot of times facilitators show up and don't even work on >> bikes they just hang out. We do have a monthly facilitator meeting which >> has been sparsely attended at best. >> >> Currently we don't have a mechanism for interested volunteers to become >> facilitators or high level volunteers. The result is our facilitator pool >> has become old, stagnant and untrained. To address this we've been working >> on developing a facilitator training process. >> >> The training process, still in it's first draft, is broken into four >> training sessions. The trainings are focused on admin/greeter, daily shop >> ops, mechanics and community outreach. Once you've gone through the >> training you'll be qualified to schedule a three/four hour facilitator shift >> each week at the shop or work on a special project/event. >> >> As you mentioned a lot of enthusiastic volunteers are not particularly >> mechanically inclined. One perk we've talked about is if a new facilitator >> commits to 6 months of shifts they can take our Bike Mechanics 101 class for >> free http://communitycycles.org/programs/classes.html >> >> We'll be launching this new training program at our next facilitator >> meeting at the end of this month. Wish us luck. >> >> Ride On! >> Rich >> >> >> *CC Facili(Tator) Training Manual* >> To become a facilitator or high level volunteer at Community Cycles, you >> need to go through a series of simple trainings. Once you've gone through >> them, you're qualified to represent Community Cycles at events outside of >> the shop. Facilitators gain privilege to order from our wholesalers at 10% >> over cost. >> >> *Criteria* >> >> 1. To be a facilitator you must have completed the training and commit >> to one shift per week for a minimum of a three month period. If you are >> unable to make your shift it is your responsibility to have it covered by >> another facilitator. If you cannot cover your shift please let staff know >> asap that you will not be able to attend. >> 2. Attend a mandatory monthly facilitator meeting at the shop. >> Usually the third Tuesday of each month. >> >> * >> Trainings* >> You'll need to schedule to complete four trainings during open shop >> hours. Each training session is 3 - 4 hours. You must complete the >> trainings within two months of your start date. >> >> >> 1. * Greeter* >> The greeter is one of the most important roles in the shop. >> Functioning as greeter is a quick way for you to get oriented to Community >> Cycles and what we do. We've put together an awesome Greeter manual that >> will help you answer the most common questions we hear in the shop each >> day. >> >> 2. * Kids Bikes and New Donation processing* >> - Strip bikes for parts as needed >> - Check - Frame and wheels for cracks, dings and bends >> - Fix Tubes - patch tubes and replace as needed >> - Replace - Rotten tires, seats, grips, frayed cables and rotten >> cable housing >> - Remove - light and lock hardware, seized rusty chains... >> - Clean - Drive train, wheels and hubs, frame, handle bars... >> - Install - Missing reflectors, valve caps >> - Flatten Bikes >> - Sort parts >> >> 3. * Shadow Facilitator* >> Shadow a certified tater for a shift helping EABers in progress, tune >> ups or sale bikes. Shadow taters will do one tater chore; i.e. clean >> bathroom, take out trash, sweep... After this shift you will be "qualified" >> to help EABers and work on in shop tune ups. >> >> 4. * Grab Bag - Would be taters can choose from any of these >> activities.* >> >> Repeat any of the first three trainings >> Greeter Trainer >> Finisher/Sales >> Community tabling event >> Street team >> UCAR >> CHaRM >> Farmers Market >> North Storage staff assistant >> Tune Ups >> RBC >> Special event >> >> *Super Facilitator* >> Volunteers who demonstrate mastery of bike mechanics and/or volunteer >> beyond one shift per week. Super facilitators gain access to the key code >> on a case by case basis. >> >> - Complete the six week bike mechanics course or other bicycle >> mechanics training course. >> - Demonstrate bicycle mechanic mastery >> - Complete a bike safety instruction course >> - Demonstrate bicycle safety and be capable of teaching a short bike >> safety seminar >> - Volunteer for 2 or more shifts per week >> - Be active on a sub committee of the CC board of directors >> - Work on a special event or campaign. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Urban Bike Project Wilmington, DE wrote: >> >> Hi All, >> >> Since we opened shop I've observed that our best volunteers are those that >> hardly know anything about the mechanical side of bikes but have enthusiasm >> and a desire to learn. They end up being the most patient with customers >> and eventually the best teachers/passers on of bike knowledge. On the flip >> side are experienced bike mechanics. Most, but not all, are pushy, >> completely disregard our "hands off the tools philosophy" and don't >> understand when we ask them to "please attend volunteer orientation" if you >> would like to volunteer as a mechanic here ("but i'm already a mechanic!"). >> >> Recently a bike mechanic of thirty years came in because he heard about us >> and wanted to observe what went on. To make a long story short, he did >> everything BUT observe and I had to ask/tell/almost yell at him several >> times to let people in the shop "do it themselves". The last time I told >> him to "let him do it himself" he responded with "but i have so much >> knowledge to share!", to which I replied "here we let people get that >> knowledge themselves and don't watch over them constantly or take tools out >> of their hands", which he didn't seem to understand ("what if they make a >> mistake and something breaks?!"). To lighten the mood (they'll probably >> laugh, or cry...), bring a hammer out and explain that this is your "rim >> straightener" or "frame alignment tool". >> >> My questions to the other collectives out there: >> >> 1.) Do you have a similar issue? or is it just us, haha >> 2.) How have you gotten experienced mechanics (like the above example) to >> "buy-in" to your system if at first they resisted? >> >> Brian >> >> Urban Bike Project of Wilmington >> -a 501(c)3 non-profit bike shop- >> 1908 N. Market Street (entrance is in the parking lot behind the building) >> Wilmington, DE 19802 >> >> Hours: >> Thursday 6:30-9:00 >> Saturday 1:00-4:00 >> >> Visit us online at http://urbanbikeproject.org >> >> ------------------------------ >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Thethinktank mailing listThethinktank(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-bikecollec… >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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.… > > -- 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

4 4

Community Partners Bike Library
by Jason Tanzman 12 Sep '09

12 Sep '09

Hey everybody, I just wanted to send an email and let folks know about an exciting project that Sibley Bike Depot (St. Paul, MN) is beginning. Sibley received funding in full on Tuesday for a $200,000 program to run a Community Partners Bike Library! The funds were approved by Transit for Livable Communities, a not-for-profit transit advocacy group in charge of allocating a $21 million federal Non-motorized Transit Pilot program in the Twin Cities. This funding will allow Sibley to build up a fleet of 200 bicycles – outfitted for transportation purposes with a rack, fenders, lights, lock, and helmet – to lend out to community members for up to six months. The bike lending will be coordinated through Community Partners – other agencies, such as affordable housing organizations, job placement centers, homeless shelters, and more – who will help identify patrons who will benefit from reliable transportation. Through this program, Sibley hopes to increase the availability of bicycles within working class and poor communities, thus helping to increase access to bicycles and diversify the bicycling movement in the Twin Cities! I am interested to hear any thoughts/feedback/suggestions from anyone who has 1) coordinated a bike library program; or, 2) handled large federal or other government grants (rumored to be a tremendous pain in the ass). 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!

4 3

this list
by Macho Philipovich 12 Sep '09

12 Sep '09

anyone else concerned that the volume of emails has gone way up and the signal-to-noise ratio is way down over the past week or so? in the early days, i understand things were kept fairly open to encourage discussion. that doesn't seem to be a concern anymore, so maybe the list could benefit from some guidelines (rather than 'rules')? it would be nice to avoid flaming, "me too" responses, responses to the whole list that should have gone to an individual, "remove me plz" posts, way off-topic discussion, etc. it hasn't reached a critical point yet, but the problems seem to be similar to ones in the early days of the internet & usenet, so maybe we could borrow a solution from them: a FAQ sent out to new subscribers, and periodically over the list. other thoughts? macho

2 1

biking dog capitalist pig bikes
by an undercover cop 11 Sep '09

11 Sep '09

hey ross, i'm going assume that your final question was in earnest. i'm also going to assume you know full well the answer is "none." (unless someone out there is somehow working on circle a's and bike systems strike bikes in their bike project.) the world we live in is capitalist, therefore bikes are made by capitalists, therefore the bikes we have available to work on are bikes made by capitalists. so, in all seriousness: what difference does it make? -ben > Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:22:06 -0400 > From: "Recycle Bicycle of Harrisburg, Pa" <recyclebicycle(a)verizon.net> > To: "The Think Tank" <thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org> > Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] experienced bike mechanics as volunteers - > issues. > Message-ID: <7CE02DFB260B456181784E9EB9DF3436@VALUED9133F4FA> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Ross from Recycle Bicycle Harrisburg, Pa > > Reference below whether there's any ways to pay for revolutionary social change org's without funding from foundations, there is. Not some silver bullet magic answer, > > Most of our core volunteers are retired and are being paid by that capitalistic system that seems to get bashed on this forum. > I am awed when I see these gray/no hair guys/gals kneeling down and teaching inter city youth bike repair / safety / physics and pushing higher education. > Please send more of those self motivated, financially secure, tool owning volunteers my way. > > Then a question: What percentage of bikes that you work on come from a non-capitalistic factory?

2 1

Re: [TheThinkTank] Community Partners Bike Library
by veganboyjosh＠gmail.com 11 Sep '09

11 Sep '09

Hi Jason, Congratulations. The City of Boulder is looking to start a public paid bike program--similar to Velib in Paris, most likely-- sometime soon. They've scheduled a roundtable discussion about it next week, I believe. I won't be at the meeting with the city, but I was at a previous, not-open-to-the-public meeting with some city staff, when we went over concerns about a potential project here. We did a little research, and I wasn't convinced--nor am I now--that these programs are sustainable in a long term way (more than 2 or 3 years.) I think the maintenance and transport of bikes (from the bottoms of hills to the tops) is more expensive than the program can bring or has brought in any previous program that I'm aware of. Of course, if I'm wrong, I would ABSOLUTELY love to hear about success stories. I'm not talking about first or second generation public bike programs. "First generation" would be the traditional "free bike" programs, where bikes are fixed and just left around busy places for people to use for free. "Second generation" public bike programs are the ones where you have one main check out and check in point. Similar to how one would rent a bike from a bike shop. You wouldn't be able to turn it in across town. I mean the third generation, or "check a bike out from various kiosks around town and turn them in at another kiosk across town" model. Of course, third generational models are all still new enough that they've not been around long enough to have been proven workable or sustainable. Do keep us posted with how it goes with Sibley and the bikes and the process. I'm sure documenting the process will be valuable for other groups looking to do similar work. Thanks, and good luck! josh. On Fri, Sep 11, 2009 at 2:41 PM, Stuart O Anderson <soa(a)ri.cmu.edu> wrote: > This is great news! - Sibley is the place where I first learned to > work with bikes. > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: Jason Tanzman <jason.tanzman(a)gmail.com> > Date: Fri, Sep 11, 2009 at 4:36 PM > Subject: [TheThinkTank] Community Partners Bike Library > To: thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > > > Hey everybody, > > I just wanted to send an email and let folks know about an exciting > project that Sibley Bike Depot (St. Paul, MN) is beginning. Sibley > received funding in full on Tuesday for a $200,000 program to run a > Community Partners Bike Library! The funds were approved by Transit > for Livable Communities, a not-for-profit transit advocacy group in > charge of allocating a $21 million federal Non-motorized Transit Pilot > program in the Twin Cities. > > This funding will allow Sibley to build up a fleet of 200 bicycles – > outfitted for transportation purposes with a rack, fenders, lights, > lock, and helmet – to lend out to community members for up to six > months. The bike lending will be coordinated through Community > Partners – other agencies, such as affordable housing organizations, > job placement centers, homeless shelters, and more – who will help > identify patrons who will benefit from reliable transportation. > Through this program, Sibley hopes to increase the availability of > bicycles within working class and poor communities, thus helping to > increase access to bicycles and diversify the bicycling movement in > the Twin Cities! > > I am interested to hear any thoughts/feedback/suggestions from anyone > who has 1) coordinated a bike library program; or, 2) handled large > federal or other government grants (rumored to be a tremendous pain in > the ass). > > 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! > > _______________________________________________ > 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

3 3

Traffic skills offerings for new riders through our shops?
by Edward G France 11 Sep '09

11 Sep '09

Oh you crazy guys and gals! Here's a quick process point and a then a serious question below. I appreciate the underlying humor in the bike bickering (The Gross post) here, and now that probably no one is reading this, and that I'm procrastinating more immediate tasks here at Bici Centro (in S.B., California) I'll put in my thoughts. First off, we are all professionals here whether paid/unpaid, sleeping in abandoned buildings or starting a familly with a morgage, and we should treat people at our shop and on this disscussion list with respect ALWAYS, so I would reccomend that lively disagreement emails begin: "I can see how (person x) makes this point, but I really disagree. The point I would like to offer is..." At our shop- and I imagine all of ours, we deal with some real characters, sometimes threatening and belligerent. For this reason in our line of work/volunteerism 'de-escallation' skills are a must. In other words If you can't calmly and politely send out of the shop the mentally ill person who just called one of your volunteers a 'fuck-face' then you probably have no place in a community bike shop, or at least in ours here in Santa Barbara. We should probably illustrate the same interpersonal skills via email. *The Real POINT:* While Jonathan's point about anything getting more people on bikes is a good one, the conversation doesn't end there. Whether a rider is a fashionista buying a bike from urban outfitters (which by the way, is a pretty cool technology, why not let people buy bikes in the colors they want?) or a struggling day laborer, (or a fashionista day laborer, which we have a lot of, actually), New bicyclists can be dangerous not because of fixed gear risks but because of traffic and the challenge or sharing the road. When people bicycle unsafely in endangers them, and all of us, because road rage is real, and motorists who feel disrespected or can't read riders predictibly, are probably more likely to take risks next to cyclists. We're not in Copenhagen after all, and it is about 10 times more dangerous to ride in the U.S. then Northern Europe. We have a paradox that faces us. More riders does equal greater safety for all riders(eventually), but in the meantime, putting people on bikes without a good concept of 'street skills' is unfair to the cyclists we claim to support. (or do you disagree?) In short, and perhaps as a different discussion chain: In what ways do your shops try to connect riders to bicycle safety education. (street skills training specifically). For example in Santa Barbara we partner with our Bicycle Coalition and help fill seats in the League of American Bicyclists Classes, which are paid 10 hour workshops. The format isn't perfect, but we are really working to evolve our education program - going so far as to launch a chicago style 'bicycle ambassadors' program with bike buddies and other non-bike gear resources for aspiring cyclists. Here's our street skills sign up page for reference: http://www.sbbike.org/CycleSmart/apply.html I'd love to see some answers and some (hopefully respectful) disagreement! by the way, My favorite point from the last email chain: > Bikes are poetry, let people read what they like! > > > -- all the Best, -- Ed France, Bici Centro Director www.bicicentro.org 805 617-3255 .......__o .......\ <, ....( )/ ( )"We may go to the Moon, but that is not very far. The greatest distance we have to cover still lies within us." -Charles de Gaulle

2 1

Re: [TheThinkTank] Geared hub agenda!
by an undercover cop 11 Sep '09

11 Sep '09

interestingly enough, the luster seems to be fading from the fixed gear mania here in chicago. i work in the streets, and so i spend a lot of time scoping the bikes folks ride. (so much so that i think people think i'm checking *them* out!) as bikes become more and more popular for joe b. commuter, i see lots and lots of "bros" (identified purely by dress code, haircut and/or millinery) riding slick, brand-new, store-bought single speeds. two years ago, it was fixie conversions. last year it was store-bought fixies (schwinn madisons, raleigh streets, etc.). but this year, i've noticed that they all have single-speed freewheels... which makes the bike even *more* of a fashion statement: "i've got the look without the trade-off!" but shit, that's fine by me. because i know that these dudes (and yeah, it's mostly dudes, but that may be the result of where i work more than anything) aren't riding wildly inappropriate bicycles--thereby endangering themselves and others. my guess is that the local shops' sales forces got wise. probably after a bunch of disappointed yups-to-be traded in their rear wheels. of course, the flip side of the increasing number of jane q. citizen bike commuters is the dilution of solidarity amongst cyclist. not until this year have i been yelled at by bike commuters when i'm working my pedicab, and this season, it's happened twice... but that's a different story entirely.* -ben in chicago *one that ends with the full-force application of my brakes, a mild rear-ending, and "if you're going to tell me how to ride my bike, at least give me a safe following distance, ya knob!" hee.

1 0

experienced bike mechanics as volunteers - issues
by Urban Bike Project Wilmington, DE 11 Sep '09

11 Sep '09

Hi All, Since we opened shop I've observed that our best volunteers are those that hardly know anything about the mechanical side of bikes but have enthusiasm and a desire to learn. They end up being the most patient with customers and eventually the best teachers/passers on of bike knowledge. On the flip side are experienced bike mechanics. Most, but not all, are pushy, completely disregard our "hands off the tools philosophy" and don't understand when we ask them to "please attend volunteer orientation" if you would like to volunteer as a mechanic here ("but i'm already a mechanic!"). Recently a bike mechanic of thirty years came in because he heard about us and wanted to observe what went on. To make a long story short, he did everything BUT observe and I had to ask/tell/almost yell at him several times to let people in the shop "do it themselves". The last time I told him to "let him do it himself" he responded with "but i have so much knowledge to share!", to which I replied "here we let people get that knowledge themselves and don't watch over them constantly or take tools out of their hands", which he didn't seem to understand ("what if they make a mistake and something breaks?!"). To lighten the mood (they'll probably laugh, or cry...), bring a hammer out and explain that this is your "rim straightener" or "frame alignment tool". My questions to the other collectives out there: 1.) Do you have a similar issue? or is it just us, haha 2.) How have you gotten experienced mechanics (like the above example) to "buy-in" to your system if at first they resisted? Brian Urban Bike Project of Wilmington -a 501(c)3 non-profit bike shop- 1908 N. Market Street (entrance is in the parking lot behind the building) Wilmington, DE 19802 Hours: Thursday 6:30-9:00 Saturday 1:00-4:00 Visit us online at http://urbanbikeproject.org

2 2

Gross.
by N.O.Bike Project 11 Sep '09

11 Sep '09

Hey y'all, This isn't vital or on topic, unless you dig deep and start thinking about the commodification of bike culture, and the way that capitalism always seems to persevere. Just thought y'all would like to see what's cool these days. I don't know why, but this just made me puke a little. Enjoy. http://bikes.urbanoutfitters.com/ Victor Plan B

20 32

Re: [TheThinkTank] Thethinktank Digest, Vol 37, Issue 12
by Weston Edwards 10 Sep '09

10 Sep '09

Ha! Looks like Urban Outfitters is just a channel through which Republic is selling bikes: http://www.republicbike.com/build.asp?product_category_id=1&product_id=1 (I have been seeing advertizements in my email for Republic for a long time.) Sincerely, Weston Edwards Director University of Utah Bicycle Collective www.ubike.org On Thu, Sep 10, 2009 at 1:37 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. Please Explain Fixie Fixation! (Wendy Monroe) > 2. Re: Gross. (N.O.Bike Project) > 3. Re: Please Explain Fixie Fixation! (Boson Au) > 4. Re: Gross. (Boson Au) > 5. Re: Gross. (Jonathan Morrison) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:39:36 +0200 > From: Wendy Monroe <wendy.monroe(a)usermail.com> > To: The Think Tank <thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org> > Subject: [TheThinkTank] Please Explain Fixie Fixation! > Message-ID: <3AFA156B-E277-4662-84C0-4A5BCED8E1A8(a)usermail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes > > This reminds me to ask something I've been wondering for awhile: why > is riding with a fixed cog relatively fashionable, compared to riding > with > a. a one-speed coaster brake hub, or > b. an internally-geared rear hub? > > Please educate me! > > Wendy Monroe > ( 'no official name for project yet', Amsterdam) > > > On 10 Sep 2009, at 19:04, N.O.Bike Project wrote: > > > Hey y'all, > > > > This isn't vital or on topic, unless you dig deep and start thinking > > about the commodification of bike culture, and the way that > > capitalism always seems to persevere. Just thought y'all would like > > to see what's cool these days. > > > > I don't know why, but this just made me puke a little. > > > > Enjoy. > > > > http://bikes.urbanoutfitters.com/ > > > > Victor > > > > Plan B > > _______________________________________________ > > 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.… > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:57:27 -0500 > From: "N.O.Bike Project" <nolabikeproject(a)gmail.com> > To: The Think Tank <thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org> > Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Gross. > Message-ID: <4AA94C17.90003(a)gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > Jonathan, > > No, that's not it at all. > > I have a bit more of a problem with popularizing flip-flop hubs without > conscientious effort to explain the inherent risk in operation in the > interest of (huge)profit. > > But thanks for the generalization. > > Best, > Victor > > Jonathan Morrison wrote: > > I agree. I don't want everyone riding bikes, they are just for me and > > my cool friends! Now I have to drive a car because it is the > > "alternative" thing to do. > > > > In all seriousness, this will just end up with more butts on > > bikes. Hopefully you don't care if they bought a bike from a > > collective, a local bike shop, department store, urban outfitters, or > > the other places that will soon jump on the bandwagon -- as long as > > they riding a bike. > > > > If capitalism makes it cool to ride a bike, cool to be vegetarian, > > cool to shop local, or whatever initiaitive that would kill to be in > > the position cycling is right now -- then I say bleed the beast. > > Nothing, big or small, is perfect and there is bloodshed in every > > revolution, so pick your battles wisely. > > > > BTW, This is the 5th time it has been sent to me via various parts of > > the cycling community email lists. That is the kind of advertising > > that Urban Outfitters must dream of. > > > > Sincerely, > > > > Jonathan "I am bitter because I knew the band before they were > > popular" Morrison > > > > > > On Thu, Sep 10, 2009 at 11:04 AM, N.O.Bike Project > > <nolabikeproject(a)gmail.com <mailto:nolabikeproject@gmail.com>> wrote: > > > > Hey y'all, > > > > This isn't vital or on topic, unless you dig deep and start > > thinking about the commodification of bike culture, and the way > > that capitalism always seems to persevere. Just thought y'all > > would like to see what's cool these days. > > > > I don't know why, but this just made me puke a little. > > > > Enjoy. > > > > http://bikes.urbanoutfitters.com/ > > > > Victor > > > > Plan B > > _______________________________________________ > > Thethinktank mailing list > > Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > > <mailto:Thethinktank@bikecollectives.org> > > To unsubscribe, send a blank email to > > TheThinkTank-leave(a)bikecollectives.org > > <mailto:TheThinkTank-leave@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.… > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:06:21 -0400 > From: Boson Au <instructions(a)gmail.com> > To: The Think Tank <thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org> > Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Please Explain Fixie Fixation! > Message-ID: > <27f849560909101206q657d626em32b37a1ada6c3e08(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > there's defintely a romanticism of riding with fixed cogs. It is a more > mechanically simpler design and therefore, conjures up the connotations of > 'purity' that is really fashionable. > > > > > On Thu, Sep 10, 2009 at 2:39 PM, Wendy Monroe <wendy.monroe(a)usermail.com > >wrote: > > > This reminds me to ask something I've been wondering for awhile: why is > > riding with a fixed cog relatively fashionable, compared to riding with > > a. a one-speed coaster brake hub, or > > b. an internally-geared rear hub? > > > > Please educate me! > > > > Wendy Monroe > > ( 'no official name for project yet', Amsterdam) > > > > > > On 10 Sep 2009, at 19:04, N.O.Bike Project wrote: > > > > Hey y'all, > >> > >> This isn't vital or on topic, unless you dig deep and start thinking > about > >> the commodification of bike culture, and the way that capitalism always > >> seems to persevere. Just thought y'all would like to see what's cool > these > >> days. > >> > >> I don't know why, but this just made me puke a little. > >> > >> Enjoy. > >> > >> http://bikes.urbanoutfitters.com/ > >> > >> Victor > >> > >> Plan B > >> _______________________________________________ > >> 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.… > > >

1 0

Fwd: [People] Ghost Bike Removal and Reappearance
by veganboyjosh＠gmail.com 10 Sep '09

10 Sep '09

Apologies to those of you also on the Alliance list. Thought this was too cool to not forward. I thought I’d pass this story along to the list. Just over a week ago, our Mayor’s office had a ghost bike removed from public space without alerting the family of the cyclist that was killed. This got some decent press attention here, and is helping us make additional improvements to the intersection where the crash occurred. The family is understandably quite upset at this callous treatment and despite repeated attempts to contact his office about the removal he has still not responded. The bike was removed at the request of a local business owner after about a year of being locked up in the same place. Apparently, the business owner that thought it was unsightly even though the family and friends of the cyclist did a good job of maintaining it. It had become an important symbol to the bike community and reminded us all to be careful. Early this morning, in response to the removal of the ghost bike, 22 new ghost bikes appeared at the same intersection. It was quite a sight to see. Photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/biketrip2006/sets/72157622204193927/ Eric WABA Eric Gilliland Executive Director Washington Area Bicyclist Association 1803 Connecticut Ave NW, 3rd Floor Washington, DC 20009 p) 202-518-0524 f) 202-518-0936 e) gill(a)waba.org w) www.waba.org

2 1

Re: [TheThinkTank] bikebike 2010
by lunch＠bikepirates.com 09 Sep '09

09 Sep '09

Hey Thinktank, We are very excited to be hosting the International Bike!Bike! conference here in Toronto next year. We will be having an initial organizational meeting sometime in the next few weeks and will decide then on the exact date. Most likely it will be at the end of July or sometime early August. Care packages will be sent via snailmail in the spring, so if you did not receive one last year (like if you are just starting a new project/shop) you should submit your address/contact to the Wiki as well as emailing it to us here (info(a)bikepirates.com). We know that crossing the border may be an issue - we have done it three years running - and may require a bit of work for many of you. But you have 11 months to get things processed. The delegates from MOBO have offered to help anyone needing assistance in processing or applying for their passport - they say it is not as difficult as you may think! We'll let you know when the website and forums are up and running. We would love to see more people talking over the website this year. Thanks to everyone in Minneapolis and all over the continent for making Bike!Bike! 2009 a great success and wonderful experience. Love, Ainsley, Geoff, and the Bike Pirate crew.

1 0

Community Bicycle Programs in Amsterdam?
by Anthony Siracusa 07 Sep '09

07 Sep '09

Hello all-- I'm in Amsterdam as part of a year long journey across five continents to study bicycle cultures, and I'm wondering if anyone on the list knows about community bicycle programs in the Netherlands--particularly in Amsterdam. Any tips or leads are greatly appreciated! I found "Smerig" yesterday--a very well organized and 25 year old co-op operating in formerly squatted but now legal space. Any other suggestions are welcome! Best, -- Anthony Siracusa www.anthonysiracusa.blogspot.com +31 64 75 06 507 Thomas J. Watson Fellow, 2009-2010 People Using Pedal Power: Global Bicycling Communities www.watsonfellowship.org

4 6

Re: [TheThinkTank] bike bike 09 on Flickr?
by Kristen L. Abdullah 05 Sep '09

05 Sep '09

Just posted my photos on flickr. the tag is bikebike 2009, and my username is krissyabdullah. hope you all like! On Thu Sep 03 03:04:21 EDT 2009, joshua muir <muirjoshua(a)gmail.com> wrote: > uploading some photos now. . . great to see you Boson. Great to > see a > whole bunch of other as well- Hopefully i'll make it to Toronto > next year. > > > josh > bike church santa cruz > > On Wed, Sep 2, 2009 at 4:54 AM, Boson Au <instructions(a)gmail.com> > wrote: > >> So I uploaded my personal bike bike pics up on flickr w the tag >> bikebike2009 >> >> if no one objects, perhaps we can all do that for this year's >> pics? I'd >> love to show people back home how awesome this was. >> >> -Boson Au >> velocipede bike project >> baltimore md >> velocipedebikeproject.org >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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.… >> >> > > > -- Joshua Muir > muirjoshua(a)gmail.com > > Frances Cycles -- www.francescycles.com > Handbuilt cycling framesets > Touring, Track, Road,Cross, and Cycletrucks for hauling any > distance > (831) 469-3369 > > The Bicycle Church Collective > Community Self-Service Cycle Repair > 3pm to 7pm everyday except Sunday > 703 Pacific Ave (enter on Spruce St) > Santa Cruz, CA 95060 > (831) 425-2453 > > _______________________________________________ > 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.… > Kristen Abdullah kabdullah(a)ufl.edu

1 0

Freehub database
by andrew lynn 05 Sep '09

05 Sep '09

a few people brought up 'Freehub' database application (i believe developed at the bike kitchen?) in various contexts at BikeBike. Does anyone know how to get any more info on it? Is it free? does it require a dedicated server? is it modular? is it web-based? what is it useful for? Andrew Troy Bike Rescue -- andrew lynn | 518-573-7947 | troy, ny digital media | bike repair | tree work http://www.breathingplanet.net http://www.troybikerescue.org http://www.mediasanctuary.org http://flickr.com/photos/breathingplanet

5 6

Think Tank, and Uniting the Rebels.
by veganboyjosh＠gmail.com 03 Sep '09

03 Sep '09

Hey Everyone, Thanks for coming to bikebike! and being so participatory. I got home, went over my notes, and realized I have two lists of email addresses. Apologies to everyone who's already on the thinktank list for receiving this twice. Just wanted to get this out to as many of you as possible. Please forward to those you think might be interested. One is folks who didn't know about or how to sign up for the Think Tank email listserv. To do that, just click the link below this paragraph, and you'll be added. It's not moderated, so if ever you decide that you don't want to receive emails anymore you'll need to unsubscribe yourself. <TheThinkTank-leave(a)bikecollectives.org> To manage your subscription, plase visit:http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollec… The other list I have, and I suspect some folks who aren't on ThinkTank will be interested in, is those of us who spoke about joining forces as collective bike shops into one big organization, or a federation, or something. The three big things this organization would do are: - Serve as a (501c3) fiscal sponsor for startups. Of course, this would only be offered to bike projects in the US, as other countries have other systems and requirements. Insurance also was mentioned as a possible benefit. - Be able to potentially approach tool and/or part manufacturers directly for lower cost for frequently ordered consumables like cables, brake pads, etc. - Offer some sort of structure for a "Woofing <http://www.wwoof.org/>" type program, where mechanics and organizers from one organization could visit and stay with another organization to check out their systems and organization. - Lastly, and the most easily doled out benefit this group could offer would be startup help for burgeoning projects. Either in the form of money that's collected from existing projects, grants, sales of parts to for-profit shops, etc...; and/or wisdom through offering sample paperwork from other orgs, such as sign up sheets, flyers, curricula, etc. The last one there seemed like the easiest place to start, since a knowledge share wouldn't require all that much infrastructure to establish. In fact, it's already in the works. There is a google spreadsheet here<http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=tEo1aMT9rFo0CgB_ESvW5JQ&hl=en>that hopefully will grow as folks add their information and add columns to track info for other shops, and we can use this to network with shops doing similar work, or with similar programs. Please add your project's name, and it's details when you get a chance. I've volunteered to be the lead person in getting this process started, but I have no experience organizing a group of existing organizations, so hopefully someone else can step in and offer up some expertise and keep the momentum going. Thanks to everyone who came to the workshops, discussed options and potential conflicts. I don't think any of the bulleted list above is out of our reach, but navigating through some of the trickier bits via email could eat up some time. josh.

4 5

bike bike 09 on Flickr?
by Boson Au 03 Sep '09

03 Sep '09

So I uploaded my personal bike bike pics up on flickr w the tag bikebike2009 if no one objects, perhaps we can all do that for this year's pics? I'd love to show people back home how awesome this was. -Boson Au velocipede bike project baltimore md velocipedebikeproject.org

3 2

BikeBike Northeast!?!?
by andrew lynn 02 Sep '09

02 Sep '09

hi everyone. mad props to the grease pit!!!! Mnpls rawked. what do people think about a possible BikeBike NE????? Our long ponderous car trip back combined with numerous people expressing interest in visiting us here in upstate NY hatched the idea of BikeBike Northeast April 2010. This is the email where we put it out there and see what kind of feedback comes back. Why BikeBike Northeast? 1)we dont have to wait a whole year for that bikebike feeling. 2)there is bikebike southeast, right? 3)there are a bunch of shops in these here states over here that werent represented (consciously or unconsciously) at the nat'l conference. 4) hosting bikebike NE would help us jumpstart our summer building bicycle culture and community because it would be a local event as well as a broad regional one. 5)this bikebike would show off our lack of infrastructure and midwestern motorist niceness, thereby strengthening bikebikers urban riding skills and temporarily importing cycling culture to help people understand what we are talking about. What would happen at BikeBike NE? workshops & discussions for fledgling shops, mini film festival, more welding, trailer building, exploring urban ruins on bike, an Albany-style alleycat, and bla bla bla. whatever you all want to happen? Where would this go down? primarily at the Sanctuary for Independent Media (http://mediasanctuary.org), our awesome, volunteer-run community media center. When? Seems like April 23-24 is OK. before bike month, but most of the snow will have possibly maybe kind of melted. Who? Delaware, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Ithaca, Montpelier, Burlington, New Hampshire, Boston, State College PA, Providence, Worcester, NYC, various known on-campus projects..... and??? OK. So this is really just the notes of an earlier brainstorm. what do you all thinks???? Andrew & the TBR crew http://troybikerescue.org

3 2

bike bike 2010?
by Boson Au 01 Sep '09

01 Sep '09

hey everyone, first of all, I just want to say that bike!bike! was rad. I'm happy that I met some new people and reconnected with others. I know that next year's will be held in toronto, but I was wondering if we know what date(s) this will take place? A collective member here works as a nurse and due to that, she has to schedule days off as early in advance as possible. So if the toronto folks can give even an approx week that it will happen itd help her out a lot. thanks in advance -Boson Au velocipede bike project baltimore, md

1 0

Our Booth at Interbike 2009
by Jonathan Morrison 26 Aug '09

26 Aug '09

The Bike Collective Network booth is scheduled for Interbike in the same place as last year. It wasn't in the cards for me to go to Bike!Bike! this year, but if everyone can bring materials from their shop to Bike!Bike! and entrust them with someone who is going to Interbike to drop off at the booth, we we gladly display them. Feel free to send pictures and videos (with labels) to me and we can make a display of them too. Everybody loves pictures. In addition, if you are going to Interbike, let us know, we need people to staff the booth. A large group is staying at Circus Circus and you can get a room with two beds for $22 a night right now on hotels.com. We are cramming as many people in a room as possible to keep the costs down. 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 Get Addicted to Crank! http://www.slcbikecollective.org/crank/ 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. On Tue, Aug 12, 2008 at 10:24 AM, Jonathan Morrison < jonathan(a)slcbikecollective.org> wrote: > Like last year the Bike Collective Network will have an advocacy booth at > Interbike (www.interbike.com) from Sept 24th until Sept 26th. Yes, they > scheduled Bike!Bike! on top of it this year. So if you are not planning on > going to Bike!Bike! this is a great opportunity for grants, tools, parts, > sponsorships, manufacturer seconds, networking, professional workshops that > will put your head in a whirl for months, and not to mention tearing up the > Vegas strip on a bike. So three things: > > 1) This booth is for all of us, and people with deep pockets ask where the > closest community bike shop for a donation, it is helpful if we can give > them your info. So please mail any materials you want handed out before > Sept 22nd to: 2312 S. West Temple; Salt Lake City, UT 84115. If you have > photo albums, they would be great and we will mail them back after the show. > > 2) We will be printing out copies of the Bike Collective Network Directory > (not the wiki) to hand out, so please make sure you are listed. > http://www.bikecollectives.org/component/option,com_sobi2/sobi2Task,addNew/ > > 3) If you are planning on going to Interbike, please contact me (off the > list) so we can establish some volunteer shifts at the booth. If you are > coming alone feel free to room and board with us, we usually get a bunch of > rooms at Circus Circus and pack as many people in as possible. > > -- > 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 > > Get Addicted to Crank! > http://www.slcbikecollective.org/crank/ > > 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. >

2 1

Re: [TheThinkTank] Thethinktank Digest, Vol 36, Issue 33
by Emily Lindberg 26 Aug '09

26 Aug '09

Recycle-a-bike in providence will be working at Interbike east coast outdoor demo, as well running Roller races and raffle, a bike in movie, and bike vallet. Anyone interested in helping out email emily(a)recycleabike.org, or come by for the events in the evening! happy biking! On Wed, Aug 26, 2009 at 4:07 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. Our Booth at Interbike 2009 (Jonathan Morrison) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 09:52:29 -0600 > From: Jonathan Morrison <jonathan(a)slcbikecollective.org> > To: The Think Tank <thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org> > Subject: [TheThinkTank] Our Booth at Interbike 2009 > Message-ID: > <4dd29fd10908260852md8d9408s3df4ed77b453df19(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > The Bike Collective Network booth is scheduled for Interbike in the same > place as last year. It wasn't in the cards for me to go to Bike!Bike! this > year, but if everyone can bring materials from their shop to Bike!Bike! and > entrust them with someone who is going to Interbike to drop off at the > booth, we we gladly display them. > > Feel free to send pictures and videos (with labels) to me and we can make a > display of them too. Everybody loves pictures. > > In addition, if you are going to Interbike, let us know, we need people to > staff the booth. A large group is staying at Circus Circus and you can get > a room with two beds for $22 a night right now on hotels.com. We are > cramming as many people in a room as possible to keep the costs down. > > 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 > > Get Addicted to Crank! > http://www.slcbikecollective.org/crank/ > > 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. > > > On Tue, Aug 12, 2008 at 10:24 AM, Jonathan Morrison < > jonathan(a)slcbikecollective.org> wrote: > > > Like last year the Bike Collective Network will have an advocacy booth > at > > Interbike (www.interbike.com) from Sept 24th until Sept 26th. Yes, they > > scheduled Bike!Bike! on top of it this year. So if you are not planning > on > > going to Bike!Bike! this is a great opportunity for grants, tools, parts, > > sponsorships, manufacturer seconds, networking, professional workshops > that > > will put your head in a whirl for months, and not to mention tearing up > the > > Vegas strip on a bike. So three things: > > > > 1) This booth is for all of us, and people with deep pockets ask where > the > > closest community bike shop for a donation, it is helpful if we can give > > them your info. So please mail any materials you want handed out before > > Sept 22nd to: 2312 S. West Temple; Salt Lake City, UT 84115. If you have > > photo albums, they would be great and we will mail them back after the > show. > > > > 2) We will be printing out copies of the Bike Collective Network > Directory > > (not the wiki) to hand out, so please make sure you are listed. > > > http://www.bikecollectives.org/component/option,com_sobi2/sobi2Task,addNew/ > > > > 3) If you are planning on going to Interbike, please contact me (off the > > list) so we can establish some volunteer shifts at the booth. If you are > > coming alone feel free to room and board with us, we usually get a bunch > of > > rooms at Circus Circus and pack as many people in as possible. > > > > -- > > 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 > > > > Get Addicted to Crank! > > http://www.slcbikecollective.org/crank/ > > > > 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. > > >

1 0

Non-Profit Industrial Complex
by Macho Philipovich 24 Aug '09

24 Aug '09

Hi everyone, It looks like I'm not going to make it to Bike!Bike! this year, but there was a discussion I was really wanting to initiate. It mostly comes out of lived experience, but is well-articulated by Incite! Women of Color Against Violence in a recent book they wrote called "The Revolution will not be Funded: Beyond the Non-Profit Industrial Complex" I would love for people, especially those in shops with an anti-capitalist/non-hierarchichal/anti-oppressive bent to them to have a look at that book and then to have discussion around some of the points raised, specifically of limitations in 501(c)3, state funding, and foundation funding models. If people have had a chance to look at the book and would like to discuss it here, that would be great, but even better would be if there were someone willing to lead a discussion next month in Minneapolis. Macho http://bike-dump.ca

5 5

Re: [TheThinkTank] Thethinktank Digest, Vol 36, Issue 28
by Clifford McCarten 24 Aug '09

24 Aug '09

Before I get into the distributer stuff, I want to SINCERELY THANK the bike!bike! organizers for sending us the BEAUTIFUL poster and invite. We received it a while back and have affixed it to the wall for good. It made us so happy to feel included in the bikey community (and the poster was gorgeous). We can't make it this year, but have applied for funding that might send us next year. -- Distributer stuff: This is a really exciting project that some of you are taking on, and I echo Geoffrey's comments below about the need for such an org in Canada. The relative ease with which an account can be had through Babac (Quebec distributer) does little to make up for the fact that they're stocked with bottom of the barrel parts. This and the annually increasing minimum to place an order makes a less-than-ideal situation. co-op/shop needs -low volume supply of basic, quality parts -ease of account acquistion (a way to give ordering accounts to orgs that haven't incorporated yet) -ability to sell parts without having a pristine storefront (a requirement for many brands) Obviously, this is a complicated situation, because the bike shop and its users buck the familiar way that capitalism mediates buying/ selling privileges. But nothing we do is easy, right? Shimano's Canadian headquarters is in my city, there is potential to talk with them directly. I'm keen to stay a part of this discussion: are there other canadian shops on this list that see a need for a co-op distributer? Clifford McCarten Co-Director, B!KE: The Peterborough Community Bike Shop 400 Wolfe St, Peterborough ON K9J 2P3 (705) 748-6681 http://www.communitybikeshop.org On 21-Aug-09, at 6:01 PM, thethinktank-request(a)bikecollectives.org wrote: > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2009 18:01:01 -0400 > From: Geoffrey B <vous.je(a)gmail.com> > To: The Think Tank <thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org> > Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Distributors and interacting with the > profit model > Message-ID: > <6ff82e30908211501y557c22e7y9b7d9a453b4194a9(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > In canada, the need for a community operated distibution network is > much > needed. > > I have been frozen out of accounts with big distributors because of > our > close proximity to other bike shops. I was even thinking about > creating a > mail box outside of our city to take on bigger distributors...thus > your idea > of a community operated distro. > > We send out about 3k a month to local Qubec based distro such as > Damco, and > Babac, even a West Coast distro wants our orders...Asama. > > Creating a go to for up and coming community shops is a must. We > need to > make accessibility to basic parts and tools a priority for small > community > initiatives in Canada, America and the United Mexico. > > Geoffrey > Bike Pirates > Toronto, Canada > > ********************************************

2 1

Distributors and interacting with the profit model
by Rigel Christian 21 Aug '09

21 Aug '09

Hi, I had an interesting discussion with someone who worked at a smaller distributor today. I had called in order to try and cultivate a business relationship for our local co-op, which is in desperate need of tools and consumable parts like bearings and cables. He mentioned that a lot more co-ops were inquiring about accounts. He also told me the reasons why co-op/DIY shops were problematic from his end, and it's a reasonable criticism from that perspective. Individually, we simply dont do the volume of business necessary to be attractive to a business interest. The time necessary to administer and verify an account that does maybe a couple hundred dollars worth of business a month for the higher traffic shops kind of burns your profit margins, which are not large at that level. distributors count on reliable, volume business to stay afloat, and take a smaller cut of profit on the assumption that that's the type of business theyll be doing. I've know that some of the longer running co-ops and collectives have relationships with distributors, but clearly many of the newer ones do not. I'm curious about a couple of things. 1) Does your collective have a relationship with a parts distributor? 2) Regardless of the answer to #1, roughly how much does your shop spend on tools/consumables/things-that-one-would-get-from-a-distributor? It seems to me that in the first few years of a co-op/nonprofit/collective situation, lots or most of these organizations leverage either existing ties to, or the goodwill of LBSes. My suspicion is that in some edge cases, where the bike or DIY culture isnt all that strong, this can be a fairly significant issue for a fledgling operation, in terms of both finances and social capital. The idea that i'm trying to push here is that of a sort of buyers club. Disregarding for the moment the perfectly valid criticisms of the legal structure of 501(c)3s, if there was a nonprofit that could act as a go-between for a parts distributor and a number of regional shops, that would serve the needs of both the for-profit distributors AND the co-op shops. distributors wouldnt have to deal with as much volatility from taking on co-ops as charity cases, and co-ops banding together could drive the price of a lot of the most necessary consumables and parts down even further than their current distributor relationships can offer. in the ideal case, of course. I would appreciate any input people have. I dont know if this has been suggested before (I suspect it has), but i didnt see anything in my archive of the last year or so. If I'm totally off base in my assumptions I'd like to know that too, where i went wrong, and what the real deal is. cheers.

14 14

Winnipeg to minneapolis for bikebike-Ride needed!
by shanny1＠telus.net 20 Aug '09

20 Aug '09

1 0

Re: [TheThinkTank] ride wanted- chicago to minneapolis for bike bike!
by Kristen L. Abdullah 17 Aug '09

17 Aug '09

Awesome, keep me updated. If you would like, give me a call at (904)613-4948 ane we can chat about the ride. thanks, krissy On Mon Aug 17 11:03:52 EDT 2009, Geoffrey B <vous.je(a)gmail.com> wrote: > we might be through Chicago by Wed August 26th > > On Sun, Aug 16, 2009 at 2:48 PM, Kristen L. Abdullah > <kabdullah(a)ufl.edu>wrote: > >> Hey, >> I'm couchsurfing in Chicago at the moment, and am looking for a >> ride to >> bike bike in a couple of weeks. Just me and a couple of bags. no >> bike. >> Willing to split gas money. Please email me if you have an extra >> spot. >> thanks in advance! >> >> krissy >> kabdullah(a)ufl.edu >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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.… >> > > > > -- Geoffrey B > > _______________________________________________ > 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.… > Kristen Abdullah kabdullah(a)ufl.edu

2 1

ride wanted- chicago to minneapolis for bike bike!
by Kristen L. Abdullah 17 Aug '09

17 Aug '09

Hey, I'm couchsurfing in Chicago at the moment, and am looking for a ride to bike bike in a couple of weeks. Just me and a couple of bags. no bike. Willing to split gas money. Please email me if you have an extra spot. thanks in advance! krissy kabdullah(a)ufl.edu

2 1

rejecting trash bikes
by Urban Bike Project Wilmington, DE 14 Aug '09

14 Aug '09

hey folks, a moral or social dilemma: when your shop accepts donations of used bikes, but you're already filled to the gills with hundreds of bikes that may or may not ever get fixed up, how do you begin to turn away donations that are really not worth the space? or do you? just looking for some suggestions of how other shops have dealt with this issue. it gets to the point where we don't have the time, space, or man-power to strip down all those pieces-of-crap even to send to the scrap yard, but now that people know that we accept used bikes, it's hard to know how to say no. thanks! sarah Urban Bike Project of Wilmington -a 501(c)3 non-profit bike shop- 1908 N. Market Street (entrance is in the parking lot behind the building) Wilmington, DE 19802 Hours: Thursday 6:30-9:00 Saturday 1:00-4:00 Visit us online at http://urbanbikeproject.org

13 13

rejecting trash bikes
by Bob Giordano 14 Aug '09

14 Aug '09

yes, yes. and we have a nifty new design (although i'm sure it's been done), that puts a pipe through two bottom bracket shells, for a parking rack, and for bike/garden cart/trailer. we use 2 rear triangles cut off 'reject' bikes. more on that to come... -Bob g., free cycles missoula, freecycles.org Angel York wrote: > Rejectable bikes are also pretty great material for making bike trailers. > > On Thu, Aug 13, 2009 at 7:51 PM, MoBo Bicycle Co-op < > mobobicyclecoop(a)gmail.com> wrote:

1 0

Hiring Business Consultant for bike program in Guatemala
by arik grier 13 Aug '09

13 Aug '09

JOB OPENING: International Business Consultant position for an exciting nonprofit appropriate technology center and bicycle retail store in Guatemala. Maya Pedal is the organization that makes and markets “bici- maquinas,” labor-saving, cost-effective pedal powered inventions, to individuals and cooperatives who are off the electrical grid and can’t afford diesel generators. Maya Pedal has amazing technology but lacks sound financial and organizational stewardship. Job Description: Bikes Not Bombs (BNB),Working Bikes Cooperative and Maya Pedal(MP) seek a Spanish-English bilingual person who has small business management and sales background, and experience with nonprofits. This job will require developing a marketing plan and a business plan for the organization, Maya Pedal, a nonprofit appropriate technology center in San Andres de Itzapa, Guatemala. To be an effective consultant in this job you’ll need to be able to work well with people and yet be straightforward in your assessment for restructuring the financial oversight and management of the organization. First order of the day will be to assess the current state of operations and develop a business plan and an annual budget. The second task of work will be to develop and implement a marketing strategy. Thirdly, you will make recommendations as to how the MP Board should be comprised and help to start new board development process. Finally, you will oversee a hiring process to find appropriate administrative personnel for Maya Pedal. Job duration is six months and is expected to begin in early to mid October. Lodging is supplied in beautiful San Andres de Itzapa, Chimaltenango, Guatemala. Job pay will include a round-trip air fare, a return transition stipend, international emergency medical insurance and a $550 stipend per month. Experience working internationally with small businesses in Latin America Is an important plus. This is a tremendous opportunity for someone who wants to gain hands-on working experience with Latin American indigenous nonprofits and marketing of Appropriate Technology. Job tasks will include: • Review and report on current fiscal solvency of Maya Pedal • Review and establish an appropriate accounting system • Assessment of current sales department and marketing strategy • Some direct involvement in customer relations/sales • Development of a business plan for Maya Pedal • Assessment of functionality of Board of Directors and recommendations • Creation of an annual budget and financial reporting system • Help to develop a marketing plan • Research possibilities of web based, on-line giving procedures • Participation in management and shop staff meetings • Work with internal committee to hire administrative personnel for Maya Pedal as recommended and agreed upon by Maya Pedal and international stake holders. This will include review of potential candidates and training personnel once hired. Please send your resume and cover letter by September 8, 2009 to: hiring(a)bikesnotbombs.org or check out the link on the Bikes Not Bombs web site at: http://bikesnotbombs.org/node/584

1 0

Bike shops in Puerto Rico?
by Josh Brown 11 Aug '09

11 Aug '09

Anyone know of, or work at, a bike project in Puerto Rico? We recieved an email (below) from someone looking for one. Thanks! josh. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Community Cycles <igiduran(a)yahoo.com> Date: Sun, Aug 9, 2009 at 12:26 PM Subject: Ignacio Duran has contacted CC about Other To: josh(a)communitycycles.org This message was sent from Ignacio Duran igiduran(a)yahoo.com Ignacio has the following comments I just discovered your website, I'm interested in the social benefits of cycling and would like to be active in Puerto Rico, but I noticed on your list of collectives (showing the different one by States) and noticed that there is none in Puerto Rico, so my question is: is there maybe one that you know of but has not made it to the list or do you know what I could do to start one? Thanks, Ignacio Duran

3 2

Turning prison work into money?
by Bob Giordano 11 Aug '09

11 Aug '09

We've been helping pre-releasers get bikes for several years. They are not allowed to go thru our typical 'bike well' program (2 hours vol time, one class, then build a free bike) because the pre release center does not want them volunteering (we are working on changing that). So they budget $20-$40 to buy a bike from us that they complete. It can be hard on us to facilitate that, so i went to their execs. They suggested, which we are considering: we buy a sweet fleet of bomber bikes (they will help us fund that), and we then rent the bikes to them for $1 a day. They already budget money for food and rent- i think it comes to $14 a day, so $1 more for transport sounds good. i'm thinking 50 cents a day, which is still $180 a year. These would be mountain bikish, fenders, strong rack, light, u-lock, repair kit, helmet, maintenance lesson, safety lesson... Of the 100 in the prerelease program, an average would be: 80 ride bikes, of which 60 come to us, and 19 go to walmart, 1 goes to a retail shop. The prerelease center is on outskirts of town here too, and they are not allowed to ride in n'hoods. They often have been hit by cars, and we are stepping up our advocacy efforts to make the roads safe, there and throughout town. -Bob Giordano, Free Cycles Missoula, MIST veganboyjosh(a)gmail.com wrote: > But perhaps not like it first sounds. > > Does anyone out there work with populations of prisoners or recently > released inmates? Have you had any success finding funding for this work? > > Community Cycles has a program in which we work with our County jail's > work > release program. When inmates here have less than 25% of their sentence > left, and qualify for the program (this is determined by the jail based on > factors such as non-violent, non sexual offenses, behavior during their > stay, etc.) they are given 2 weeks in which to find a job on the outside. > During this 2 week period, they are very strictly monitored, and must > check > in when they arrive at a location, must let the jail know when they are > leaving, etc. > Once they've found and landed a job, they are let out in the morning, and > return to the jail at night, paying rent for the remainder of their > sentence. The job allows them to start saving money for free life once > they're out, and gets them back into a schedule and everything that comes > with the regularity of work. They are not given bus tickets or money for > travel, and must either walk back and forth, or rely on family members and > friends for transportation during this time. The jail is located out of > the > way, several miles from the center of town and any decent work options. > > Community Cycles has partnered with the jail and we are now a place where > inmates in the program can come and get a bike through our regular > Earn-a-Bike > program. They typically do this during the first two or three days of > their > 2 weeks, and then they have wheels which allows them to go farther faster, > and opens up many opportunities for work which walking would't. > > We've heard from the jail that the recidivism rates of those inmates going > through our EAB program are the lowest of any group and that the jail has > had to install more bike parking as a result. > > I've contacted the supervisor of the program on the jail's side, trying to > suss out any possibility of getting some kind of financial support either > through the country, or through other outside groups, but they were of no > help. When I broached the subject, the immediate response was "Well, we > don't have any money, so you're not going to get any from us!" and it > didn't > get better as I probed more. > > Do any of you have any experience with groups that fund work with inmates? > Any suggestions for ways to get or "work release" program to start paying > for itself? Right now, the only thing that makes it a "program" is that > the > Earn-a-Bike participants are a specific demographic--inmates--who all come > from the same place. If they didn't tell us they were in the Work Release > program or staying at the County jail, we would have no idea. > > Thanks! > > josh.

1 0