- TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

honoring earn-a-bike hours from other co-ops / collectives?
by Durham Bike Co-op 13 May '08

13 May '08

Hey all, Maybe there's been another thread on this in the past, but I'll go ahead anyways. Fairly regularly we get e-mails from people who are moving to / staying in town for a while about getting a bike, and I had the thought that sometimes a nice way to deal with this would be to honor earn-a-bike volunteer hours worked at the other programs out there, particularly as transporation is definately a first priority when moving some place new, and in our program (being volunteer run and only open 1-2 days a week) it can take a couple weeks to complete the earn-a-bike. What do other peeps think about this? A good idea, or too much work dropping other programs a line to say what's what? peace, Colin - shop coordinator, DBC. -- Durham Bike Co-op 723 N. Mangum St. Durham, NC 27701 www.durhambikecoop.org

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how do you know when too many is too many?
by veganboyjosh＠gmail.com 13 May '08

13 May '08

i know community cycles is not the only shop on this list that has space issues, nor shortness of volunteer hours.... i'm wondering if any shops out there have some kind of "we're all filled up, we can't take any more bikes" policy. we've got connections with our local police department, so when they sweep through the public bike racks and clean up abandoned bikes, we get them. this brings us several loads of 100-300 bikes per year. we've also got a similar hookup with the university of colorado at boulder, which is 30,000 students strong. this yeilds about the same number of bikes, but in fewer loads. these are in addition to all our other donated bikes from individuals, smaller groups, etc. we're already using cheaper, department store bikes, or those who are beyond repair specifically as stripper bikes, for parts, or for lessons. we don't have a problem getting bikes to use/turnaround, as i'm guessing most of you also don't have this problem. my question is, when do we say "sorry, we're all filled up, we can't take your bike right now"? do any of you have some creative ways that you've solved the "we've got too many bikes and not enough space to keep them while they're waiting for a home"? we have done some work with a couple of different groups that have sent bikes abroad, but we don't want to make this a regular part of our program, for various reasons. to date, we don't have a set policy, but we tend to only participate in those kinds of programs when we're busting at the seams, and getting rid of 300-500 bikes would help tremendously. we've gotten in touch with our local recycling yard, who pretty much takes everything that can be recycled. i personally know that they see several bikes per week in their dumpsters, but they don't have any way to pull those out once they're in, once people dump washing machines, fridges, etc, on top of them. i'd like to see a seperate "bike dumpster" for people to drop them off, and we go and reuse them. the problem is we're gonna need some better way to sort them and keep them until someone can get to them... thanks for reading this far. josh.

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Community Cycles Web Forms - Joomla and RSForm
by Rich Points 13 May '08

13 May '08

Hey All, I've been wanting to write this email for some time now and I'm finally getting around to it on this rainy day. Over the winter we moved CommunityCycles.org over to a Joomla <http://www.joomla.org/>set up. Joomla is cool for many reasons but one of the most useful for us is an inexpensive component called RSForm <http://www.rsjoomla.com/index.php/Buy-RSform-Form-Management-Component.html>. RSForm allows you to create custom web forms with minimal html/php/mysql knowledge although it's good to have a strong background in these technologies. I do have this background and have knocked out large complex forms in record time. I'm using these forms to collect all kinds of data. The result has streamlined a lot of administrative tasks. RSForm functionality is easily explained. When a form is submitted an email is sent to email addresses of your choosing. This email can be in a custom html format. The data is also stored in an online database, this database can be downloaded as a csv file. And one of the coolest things is I can share the forms with others. So if your collective wanted to use our volunteer form, or a part of it, you would need to have RSForm installed on your Joomla site. I can pass you the form files for you to upload and that's it. I've read in the support forums that there are some bugs with this but it seems to work for the most part. If you'd like to give this a try let me know. Anyway have a look at the following, any feedback you may have is appreciated. *Public Forms* * Contact <http://communitycycles.org/contact.html> - The results of this are sent to the core group * Volunteer <http://communitycycles.org/get-involved/volunteer.html> - I set this up about 2 months ago and it has been very effective in finding and plugging in new volunteers. * Bike Month Volunteer <http://www.communitycycles.org/index.php?option=com_forme&fid=23> - This will be used to help plug in people to our bike month activities. * Thursday Youth EAB Sign Up <http://www.communitycycles.org/index.php?option=com_forme&fid=4> - Sign up form for Thursday Youth EAB * Lennard Zinn Workshop Sign Up <http://www.communitycycles.org/index.php?option=com_forme&fid=7> - Sign up for Lennard Zinn Workshop * Bikers Ed Workshop Sign Up <http://www.communitycycles.org/index.php?option=com_forme&fid=9> - Sign up for bikers ed workshops * Membership <http://communitycycles.org/donate.php>- This is an old hand coded form from our old site. I haven't figured out how to integrate PayPal yet. *Data Entry* * EAB Tracking <http://www.communitycycles.org/index.php?option=com_forme&fid=1> - We use this to enter completed EABers. The EABer will get an email with their photo and info. * Bike/Parts Donor <http://www.communitycycles.org/index.php?option=com_forme&fid=5> - This is how we input donations and the people who donated them. *Program Tracking* * EAB Follow up Questionnaire <http://www.communitycycles.org/index.php?option=com_forme&fid=21> - We'll start using this in June and will track how EABers use their bikes after the program. *Bike Fleet Maintenance* * City Bike Feet Maintenance <http://www.communitycycles.org/index.php?option=com_forme&fid=10> - The results of this form go directly to our fleet maintenance guy * UCAR Blue Bike Maintenance <http://www.communitycycles.org/index.php?option=com_forme&fid=13> - The results of this form go directly to our fleet maintenance guy *Online Sales* * Craigs html generator <http://www.communitycycles.org/index.php?option=com_forme&fid=14> - I created this form because we had various people posting to Craigslist. The result was all kinds of various formatting and information. When you fill out this form you get an email with the html code to paste into a new Craigs posting. The form helps streamline the posting process while maintaining a clean format. I plan on creating two versions of this, one for detailed posts and another for more general listings. -- Rich Points Community Cycles Director http://CommunityCycles.org Rich(a)CommunityCycles.org 720-565-6019

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bicycle valet
by james thompson 12 May '08

12 May '08

Riders, New to the list and wanted to share a super fun event we did at a local music venue here in Denton, TX: bicycle valet. Our community bike shop volunteers exchanged tickets for bicycles and placed everyone's ride in a safe place to be retrieved by us at their liesure. No locks or dark alleyway telephone poles required for safety, no fumbling for the right angle on that off-brand U-lock. The parking lot was pleasantly unfull until a late hour. We canvassed at our valet table. Event promoters supported the fewer-cars evening by offering free cover and beverages. The college-age crowd was quite fond of the idea, and I can fairly say we had a blast. Show up earlier than you would for a normal music venue (bar staff graciously helped our solo volunteer through the first rough half hour). Folks, this is fun, but it was work. We valeted seventy bicycles, dozens more locked up themselves, and this at a venue of probably no more than two hundred people. You need at least four people to do this: one ticketeer, one valet, and one security gaurd for the bikes, and one to keep the security gaurd company. Make sure the venue (bar or not) restricts access to the parking area. Make a "map" with ticket numbers and bike locations, no bike without a ticket or license, and ask each picker-uper to describe their bike in detail. And your valet needs to be comfortable on kamikazes (fixies w/no brakes). Remember to turn people's lights off, and take tips for your organization. Bring a good bicycle pump with presta/schraeder capabilities and a gauge. Something we didn't anticipate, the two a. m. crowd produces wobbly folk. It was frankly discussed that some of the less experienced riders might have fared better driving home. Rather than have this devil's argument, make sure you're at a venue of a size you can manage (we were) and that you can get everyone home safely (we did, but I fretted a bit near the end). I'll leave it to my colleagues to add anything else, or make corrections. In Solidarity, James Thompson Shop Manager Querencia Community Bicycle Shop Denton, TX

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Re: [TheThinkTank] KRGV News Story
by tom emm 12 May '08

12 May '08

> > <div> > > > <b>$4-a-gallon gas boosting bicycle sales, repairs</b> > > > <a href="http://www.krgv.com/Video/News/991153.wvx">Watch Video</a> > > BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Across the country, high gas prices are > > kicking bicycle sales into high gear. <P> > > Bike dealers say they're seeing customers dusting off their old > > two-wheelers -- or buying new ones -- to cope with rising fuel > > prices. <P> > > A spokesman for the Washington. D.C.-based League of American > > Bicyclists says there's a definite increase in people riding bikes. <P> > > He says, "it's due to a mixture of things but escalating gas > > prices is one of them." <P> > > About 18 million bicycles have been sold annually in the U.S. > > over the past few years. The National Bicycle Dealers Association > > says that adds up to about six billion dollars in annual sales. A > > spokesman says bike shops across the country are reporting strong > > sales so far this year. And more people are bringing in bikes that > > have been idling at home. <P> > > A Bismarck, North Dakota, man who opened a shop in April says he > > sold more than 50 bikes in the first month -- double his > > projections. He says everyone who walks in the store is talking > > about gas prices. <P> > > (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) <P> > > Comments: > ------------------------------------------ > > </div> >

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Yahoo! News Story - Gas prices knock bicycle sales, repairs into higher gear - Yahoo! News
by biker 11 May '08

11 May '08

biker (biker(a)nomail.com) has sent you a news article. (Email address has not been verified.) ------------------------------------------------------------ Personal message: Gas prices knock bicycle sales, repairs into higher gear - Yahoo! News http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080511/ap_on_bi_ge/work_bikes_3 ============================================================ Yahoo! News http://news.yahoo.com/

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Soliciting donations
by dragonfly＠mac.hush.com 11 May '08

11 May '08

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Hi, Rafael. These are awesome ideas. Sasha On Sun, 11 May 2008 08:01:51 -0400 bike against <bikeagainst(a)gmail.com> wrote: >Words of wisdom from Gary; we should listen and figure something >out. > >In similar matters, lately i've been thinking quite a bit about >brainstorming / negotiating / launching a Bike Collectives / Tool >manufacturers sponsorship / marketing campaign to get some really >good >deals on tools and other shop supplies by running ads on all >possible >bicycle publications and related websites with " if we don't >break it, no >one will... " type captions; WE as in Us, Community Bike Projects >of the >U.S. > >WHY ? > >NO local bike shop uses their freewheel removing tools 10,15,20 >times in a >day; we do. > >No LBS cuts as many cables or as many yards of housing in a >regular shop day >like we do. > >No LBS uses their chaintools 25+ times in a day... etc,etc. > >In general, not a single tool is used at any LBS as many times per >day as >tools are used and abused at community bike projects. > >Where floor pumps are used, nowhere they get used 50+ times in a >day... > >( i know i can't speak from all the Bike Projects out there,but to > get the >point across i must generalize, you get the idea ) > > > - WE ARE THE ULTIMATE TESTERS - > >Sure, companies have their testing departments / procedures / >staff... but >when Bike Collectives,etc look into any of these companies >products to try' >em out, that's it, that's the real deal. > >We know more than the average wrench which products work AND are >durable and >which aren't... > >I believe this ads could be very appealing to home mechanics >trying to get >the most for their money, hell, maybe even pro/race/team mechanics >looking >for the most bombproof /race-tour worthy equipment could be >interested in >hearing what we have to say about such and such products... > >The ads could feature some of the largest, busiest Co-ops and such >out >there; a different one every month or so, while at the same time >these ads >will help promote our organizations and perhaps also help younger >community >shops to get more recognition and respect from their communities >for their >efforts. > >Mix in a few good facts about the featured organization complete >with >numbers and all and you have a state of the art marketing tool: > >Number of bikes recycled in 2007: 483 > >Number of bikes sent as aid to countries with limited or no access >to bikes: >1500 > >Number of bikes donated to charity: 300 > >Number of bikes relocated into the community through Earn-A-Bike >program: >224 > >Total number of bikes diverted from the Landfill in 2007... > >ETC, ETC... (maybe also things like: years in operation: # number >of >volunteers: # etc. or even some fun facts like what's the weirdest >thing >you've found inside a bike you worked on or something... ( in my >case, i >once found a mummified mouse in the BB and someone else found a >love letter >in a seat post ) > >This will show the general public and the companies WHAT we do >with THESE >tools... > >I realize there's a lot more to it, but this is the main concept. >Thoughts >? > >On the topic of department store bikes, i wanna make stickers that >say " >Friends don't let friends ride Walt-Mart bicycles"... >perhaps we could come up with a shared design that we can all use >and just >add your Project's Name / Logo on it, that way is the same >sticker nation wide and BAM !! we start the Dept, store bike >awareness >campaign... who knows, if done neatly, it could catch some major >mainstream >media attention ( not only indymedia ! ) who wants to join ? > >Sorry this mail was sooo long. > >Wear the grease under your nails with pride. > >Cheers to all, see you in Sunny Cali. > >-R > > >-- >Rafael Cletero >Project Coordinator >Fort Collins Bicycle Co-op >ph (970) 484 38 04 >www.fcbikecoop.org -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Note: This signature can be verified at https://www.hushtools.com/verify Charset: UTF8 Version: Hush 3.0 wkYEARECAAYFAkgm/tsACgkQ5O7ahKJmrRn/tACeKss57AHvVJRCzAtH6A6raSMmtG4A oK+yLeF5mFRBFeT+jGgXt6z81YfA =lpch -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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Insurance/Liability
by Jason Tanzman 09 May '08

09 May '08

I'm new to this list but it seems like an awesome community of shared knowledge! Here is another question that our shop is dealing with - insurance and liability questions. We have recently expanded to a substantially larger space; in the past we operated out of a large garage/warehouse area, with very low rent, one paid staff member (hired as independent contractor), and no insurance. We are growing substantially and we want to make sure we protect all of our customers/volunteers/clients from issues if someone was hurt on one of our bikes or at our shop. But - it seems really expensive, how do community bike shops pay for it? How much do you pay per month for liability insurance? Do you have volunteer lawyers giving legal advice? Do you pay workman's comp for your staff, or do you hire staff as independent contractors? We want to make sure we do this right and protect our people, but it's expensive and hard. Any information is helpful!! -Jason

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Re: [TheThinkTank] pay rates, minimum hours
by Jason Tanzman 09 May '08

09 May '08

At Sibley Bike Depot in St. Paul, MN, we pay our folks $10-12/hr, for both mechanics and our volunteer coordinator. A follow-up question - do most shops hire people as independent contractors or as staff?

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Fancy Parts
by dragonfly＠mac.hush.com 08 May '08

08 May '08

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Hi, Everyone. This thread is great. Your are all so knowledgable it makes me happy. Does anyone know what the tax rules are for Canadian shops who want to raise money selling "fancy parts"? Sasha On Thu, 08 May 2008 10:28:16 -0400 Stuart O Anderson <soa(a)ri.cmu.edu> wrote: >Colin's experience is similar to ours. Because our nonprofit >status >comes from another organization that we're part of, our income is >combined with theirs in deciding whether we cross that limit. We >do >cross it and pay sales tax on all our sales. Being a non-profit >means >that the organization isn't owned privately or publicly by folks >who >make a share of the organization's profit - a non profit is still >free >to pay its employees and charge as much as the market will bear >for >its goods/services. > >>From the IRS website, the requirements for tax exemption are at: >http://www.irs.gov/charities/charitable/article/0,,id=96099,00.html > > >The bit that says what a 501(c)(3) may actually _do_ is below: > >The exempt purposes set forth in section 501(c)(3) are charitable, >religious, educational, scientific, literary, testing for public >safety, fostering national or international amateur sports >competition, and preventing cruelty to children or animals. The >term >charitable is used in its generally accepted legal sense and >includes >relief of the poor, the distressed, or the underprivileged; >advancement of religion; advancement of education or science; >erecting >or maintaining public buildings, monuments, or works; lessening >the >burdens of government; lessening neighborhood tensions; >eliminating >prejudice and discrimination; defending human and civil rights >secured >by law; and combating community deterioration and juvenile >delinquency. > > >There's also a section that says you're not allowed to 'inure' >(pay) >people associated with the organization to excess. So, if you're >selling dura-ace brakes on ebay for as much as you can, but using >the >money to pay your volunteers for their time at a reasonable rate >and >improve you're shop (both activities being part of your >'charitable >purpose') then you're all set. > >Stuart > >On Thu, May 8, 2008 at 9:40 AM, Colin Dixon, Phoenix Bikes ><colin.phoenixbikes(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> Income from sales is usually not tax exempt income - unlike >donations - so >> that may complicate things. and it is a bit dicey to give >something to >> someone and then have them give a 'donation' in return. >> That said, usually states have a level below which you don't >have to file >> sales tax. In VA, I believe its $10,000 a year. >> therefore, If you don't sell over $10,000, you don't need a >license to sell >> stuff and don't need to file. If you do sell over, you need to >both register >> to sell stuff (can still be a non-rpofit), and to file monthly >to pay sales >> tax. >> Could be a little off on this, but I think this is the gist. >> - colin >> >> On Thu, May 8, 2008 at 9:08 AM, Justin Pogge <xecax(a)hotmail.com> >wrote: >>> >>> we have a special display for nicer parts that we want a larger >donation >>> for. we have a number of parts hounds that come to our shop to >see what new >>> goodies we have. selling parts like this really helps us out >financially and >>> lets us have more wiggle room when it comes to people not >having very much >>> money to donate for the bicycle that they fix up in our shop. >plus, our >>> mechanics can benefit from these parts by donating to their own >coop and >>> getting parts for much less than they would at a LBS. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> ________________________________ >>> > From: bbohs(a)purdue.edu >>> > To: thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >>> > Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 23:05:10 -0400 >>> > Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Fancy Parts >>> > >>> > If you want to indulge in profit, I hear you too. Make your >classifieds >>> > intellectual to me, and I'll try to make them open for fair >trade. Let me >>> > know. Thank you for helping out the community, even for >individuals who are >>> > as accomplished as some. Thank you >>> > >>> > >>> > Brent Bohs >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > On May 7, 2008, at 10:58 PM, Brent Bohs wrote: >>> > >>> > Thank yo man, you seem to understand how this works. I you >have >>> > profitable items, sell them at what you want. Otherwise, >name a price and >>> > let the masses indulge in your success. Let them know. We >can all benefit >>> > from riding and people that help the whole ordeal are saints >to me, man. >>> > You know you are doing so much for others. Give me a shout! >765-418-1272, >>> > if you want to help the biking community more, I'm sure I can >help you out. >>> > We, at this co-op, don't enrich ourselves, but we sure >enrich any biker we >>> > find in free or cheap parts, labor, and well-being, as we are >trying to >>> > promote biking as a safe and justifiable alternative to car >traffic. >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > Brent >>> > >>> > >>> > On May 7, 2008, at 5:10 PM, james blesdoe wrote: >>> > >>> > HECK NO!!! >>> > >>> > You sell them as you see fit. Nonprofit means you can't >enrich your >>> > self, but your organization is supposed to make a profit In >this economy >>> > that is becoming easier all the time -at least at the Bicycle >Kitchen that >>> > is the case. >>> > >>> > roll on >>> > >>> > Jim >>> > >>> > Erik Stockmeier> wrote: >>> > Question! >>> > >>> > What the heck does everybody's shop do with fancy items of >special worth >>> > to collectors? For example... perhaps you come upon a >donation of half a >>> > dozen 70s unused campi sidepull break sets. Your stock of >breaks is full, >>> > so throwing them in the bin or selling them for 5$ or >shlepping them on a >>> > Roadmaster seems like a waste. Is it ethically ok for a non- >profit to >>> > occasionally indulge collectors as a source of surplus >income? What about >>> > legally for a 501c3? Is it necessary to launder them through >a "buyer" who >>> > sells them at profit and donates the difference? >>> > >>> > Erik >>> > _______________________________________________ >>> > Thethinktank mailing list >>> > Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >>> > >>> > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- >bikecollectives.org >>> > >>> > >>> > ________________________________ >>> > Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! >Mobile. Try >>> > it now._______________________________________________ >>> > Thethinktank mailing list >>> > Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >>> > >>> > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- >bikecollectives.org >>> > >>> > _______________________________________________ >>> > Thethinktank mailing list >>> > Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >>> > >>> > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- >bikecollectives.org >>> >_________________________________________________________________ >>> With Windows Live for mobile, your contacts travel with you. >>> >>> >http://www.windowslive.com/mobile/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_R >efresh_mobile_052008 >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Thethinktank mailing list >>> Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >>> >>> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- >bikecollectives.org >> >> >> >> -- >> Colin Dixon >> Phoenix Bikes >> Barcroft Park >> 4200 S. Four Mile Run Drive >> Arlington, VA >> www.phoenixbikes.org >> (703) 575-7762 >> c: (202) 494-9553 >> _______________________________________________ >> Thethinktank mailing list >> Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- >bikecollectives.org >> >> >_______________________________________________ >Thethinktank mailing list >Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- >bikecollectives.org -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Note: This signature can be verified at https://www.hushtools.com/verify Charset: UTF8 Version: Hush 3.0 wkYEARECAAYFAkgjEXoACgkQ5O7ahKJmrRncbACfVeAHwblq48+ECCZlAeELN2VnB6IA njU+NlS2EAEQ/vclPqFglwxW/7qy =7xLb -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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Re: [TheThinkTank] using the bicycle kitchen's POS system? was :Electronic Tracking
by Jessica McPherson 08 May '08

08 May '08

Did you ever get in touch with that guy Josh Moody from the L.A. bicycle kitchen who presented at bike bike? It sounded like he had written a POS system, don't remember if it was open-source or web-based. Jessica (Free Ride, Pittsburgh) ----- Original Message ---- From: Stuart O Anderson <soa(a)ri.cmu.edu> To: The Think Tank <thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org> Sent: Thursday, May 8, 2008 1:04:14 PM Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] using the bicycle kitchen's POS system? was :Electronic Tracking I've been thinking a lot about building a secure web based open source POS system. If anyone else is interested in this sort of project, or is already working on something like it, please get in touch with me. Stuart On Thu, May 8, 2008 at 1:13 AM, Brent Bohs <bbohs(a)purdue.edu> wrote: > Thank you very much man, we're setting up a co-op around here and are > working on a good inventory system for all our parts and frames and such, > thanks for your input in all this!! It helps us all! Keep in touch. > Brent Bohs > > > On May 8, 2008, at 1:10 AM, Gern Blanston wrote: > > Hi, > Yes, Jim Bledsoe is from the Los Angeles' "Bicycle Kitchen". > Here in LA we have three individual community bike shops: > the Bicycle Kitchen near Hollywood, the Bike Oven in Highland Park, and I'm > with the BikeRoWave in Santa Monica. > The BikeRoWave choose to get a POS software called Retail ICE that is going > to be installed this week. We pieced together the rest from ebay, and some > donations. We bought a touch screen and a bar code scanner, to make things > easy for the staff. We looked at Intuits 'QuickBook POS' that retails for > over $1500, but the Inventory Committee decided to go with the Retail ICE > system that comes with tutorials and learning dvd's which was $75. It is > cheaper if you don't buy the added dvd's. Total for the whole package was > under $700. > That includes: The POS software(looks very powerful, with bookkeeping and > tax functions), a touch screen moniter, a hand wand scanner, a full sized > Scanner/printer. We had a cash drawer and a receipt printer donated to > use. We are not accepting credit card payments so no need for the card > scanner. I'm really excited for the system to get going, as I envision it > helping in soo many ways. Sales, inventory, taxes, contacts, all will be > streamlined. As the Inventory Manager/C.F.O. I am looking forward to > getting my work load down. > I'll provide a more detailed description of Items in the system and a report > on its operation soon. I am extreamly busy but will try to answer any > questions as soon as I can. I can be reached at getgern(at)gmail.com > > _______________________________________________ > Thethinktank mailing list > Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… > > > _______________________________________________ > Thethinktank mailing list > Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… > > _______________________________________________ Thethinktank mailing list Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

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using the bicycle kitchen's POS system? was :Electronic Tracking
by andrewsawtelle＠riseup.net 08 May '08

08 May '08

Yeah, at bikebike in Pittsburgh back in August Josh Moody from the LA Bike Kitchen was talking about their whole POS system and how they could probably make it available to people who want to use it. I've CCed their main contact email so maybe they'll let us know. Andrew Recycle-A-Bike, Providence RI http://www.recycleabike.org Velocipede Bike Project wrote: > This is convenient because we at velocipede are at the same point. I know > that the bike kitchen said they would send out they're software at bike > bike, but I haven't heard back from them....is anyone from the bike > kitchen(in LA) on this list? > > -beth > velocipede bike project > Baltimore, MD > >> I know that this has been discussed before but I didn't see what I was >> specifically looking for in the archives. We are growing faster than >> our paperwork can keep up and are in need of a better system for >> tracking both inventory/bikes-in/bikes-out/donations type stuff as >> well as Work-Trade volunteer hours. I know that there is mention of >> developing a "community bike software suite", does anyone know where >> at in development that is? From what I saw in the archives, some >> places do have databases set up for tracking this stuff, is there any >> chance that could be shared as a template with the wider community? >> Thanks, Andrew >> FM Community Bicycle Workshop >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Thethinktank mailing list >> Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… >> > > > _______________________________________________ > Thethinktank mailing list > Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… >

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Pay Rates, minimum hours
by Stuart O Anderson 08 May '08

08 May '08

As a follow up to my last post, among those shops that pay people for their services, how much do you pay? At Free Ride we pay: $15/hr for teaching classes $10-13/hr for fixing up bikes (we pay more to fix bikes that start off being worth less) also, how much time do you expect volunteers to put in in order to be members of your group, if that's how you organize? At Free Ride we require: at least 24 hours every 3 months to be on the collective council Stuart

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Fwd: nowtopia: writings in the anarcho-marxist hinterland....
by Chris Carlsson 07 May '08

07 May '08

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: francesca the coat <the.coat.and.general(a)gmail.com> Date: Wed, May 7, 2008 at 8:25 PM Subject: nowtopia: writings in the anarcho-marxist hinterland.... To: the.coat.and.general(a)gmail.com Dear friends, acquaintances, esteemed professors, good people, The author of "Nowtopia", an interesting book that taps into some of the important questions du jour about revalorization and anticapitalist practice, that also happens to be written by my dear old dad, is in town and having three book talks scattered around new york. I do think it is an interesting interrogation, 'important' even, and I encourage a sojourn out to see what it's all about. I hear the discussions so far during his tour in baltimore, philly, etc, have been pretty interesting and i'm sure the trend will continue in ny. FRIDAY, May 9, 7:30pm: Brecht Forum, manhattan MONDAY, May 12, 7pm: Vox Pop, brooklyn -- Also performing with Carlsson at vox pop: music and sound performance by the indubitable Nader Hasan and the inscrutable Seth Porcello; short films by the incorrigible Brett Story; lecture #2 on the possibility of life without the sun "by" alexis bhagat. WEDNESDAY May 14, 7pm: Bluestockings Books, manhattan I encourage those who enjoy the odd aural experience or visceral film experience to come to vox pop, where Seth Nader and Brett will bring the best of Montreal to our borough. but i'll, sigh, probably be at them all, yelling at my dad like "I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU SAID THAT". no just kidding. more info on the book, etc, below in love f. *Nowtopia* is a book about a new politics of work. It profiles tinkerers, inventors, and improvisational spirits who bring an artistic approach to important tasks that are ignored or undervalued by market society. Rooted in practices that have been emerging over the past few decades, *Nowtopia*'s exploration of work locates an important thread of self-emancipatory class politics beyond the traditional arena of wage-labor. http://www.processedworld.com/carlsson/nowtopia_web/ Outlaw bicycling, urban permaculture, biofuels, free software, and even the Burning Man festival are windows into a scarcely visible social transformation that is redefining politics as we know it. As capitalism continues to corral every square inch of the globe into its logic of money and markets, new practices are emerging through which people are taking back their time and technological know-how. In small, under-the-radar ways, they are making life better right now, simultaneously building the foundation—technically and socially—for a genuine movement of liberation from market life. *Nowtopia* uncovers the resistance of a slowly recomposing working class in America. Rarely defining themselves by what they do for a living, people from all walks of life are doing incredible amounts of labor in their "non-work" time, creating immediate practical improvements in daily life. The social networks they create, and the practical experience of cooperating outside of economic regulation, become a breeding ground for new strategies to confront the commodification to which capitalism reduces us all. The practices outlined in *Nowtopia* embody a deep challenge to the basic underpinnings of modern life, as a new ecologically-driven politics emerges from below, reshaping our assumptions about science, technology, and human potential. With historical grounding, a toolbox drawing from multiple schools of anti-capitalist thought and theory, and a refreshingly pragmatic approach, Carlsson opens our eyes to the revolutions of everyday life. *Chris Carlsson*, executive director of the multimedia history project "Shaping San Francisco," is a writer, publisher, editor, and community organizer. He has edited four collections of political and historical essays. He helped launch the monthly bike-ins known as Critical Mass, and was long-time editor of *Processed World* magazine. -- I am on the road (see schedule at the nowtopia link below) and may be slower than usual to respond... back to normal in July, until then, be patient and thanks! www.nowtopia.org The Nowtopian (my blog): http://www.lipmagazine.org/ccarlsson/

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what do you call people in charge of your shop- shift supervisors and film fest
by Gary Gingras 07 May '08

07 May '08

hey All can't wait to get together in Sept in Cali with you super people. so i am writing a facilitators handbook- Some do not love the "title facilitator" bicycle kitchen calls them cooks and such - looking for a fun title or like to present to the group here at Community cycles. wrenches? cooks? we wil also be having a 2nd annual bike film festval here in Boulder and are taking any submissions - this will be June 25th at the boulder theater on Bike to work day. We will be accepting films until the 15th of June. any 40minute or less films whet ya got i would love to hear!! -- Community Cycles Shop Director 2805 Wilderness place Suite 1000 Boulder CO 80301 gary(a)communitycycles.org

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Fancy Parts
by Erik Stockmeier 07 May '08

07 May '08

Question! What the heck does everybody's shop do with fancy items of special worth to collectors? For example... perhaps you come upon a donation of half a dozen 70s unused campi sidepull break sets. Your stock of breaks is full, so throwing them in the bin or selling them for 5$ or shlepping them on a Roadmaster seems like a waste. Is it ethically ok for a non-profit to occasionally indulge collectors as a source of surplus income? What about legally for a 501c3? Is it necessary to launder them through a "buyer" who sells them at profit and donates the difference? Erik

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Fwd: Re: Bike Shop in a Box
by info＠re-cycles.ca 01 May '08

01 May '08

My response below got blocked (because I responded from the wrong email address): Chris --- Chris Wells <re-cycles(a)rogers.com> wrote: > Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:57:50 -0400 (EDT) > From: Chris Wells <re-cycles(a)rogers.com> > Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Bike Shop in a Box > To: The Think Tank <thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org> > > From our director's web page: http://www.drumbent.com/trailer.html > The kit I based my hockey bag hauling cargo trailer on: > http://www.drumbent.com/trailer.html > > Chris > --- Vyki Englert <vyki.englert(a)thekickstand.org> wrote: > > > The Kickstand sets up a repair stand at our local farmers market > and > > any > > events we get involved in. This is currently what most of our > > outreach > > program consists of. We carry a portable stand, a 4x2 folding > table, > > an > > Ez-up, a tool set, and consumables. We've been doing this for a > very > > short > > while, but the idea is that we have a "market box", a tool box that > > is set > > aside, always ready to go with a good set of tools (we're still > > working on > > exactly what a good set of tools is), that is not used during > regular > > shop > > hours. We just started bringing consumables, patches, cables... > and > > are > > still hammering out exactly what to bring. And of course we always > > have > > some literature on hand, and usually bring some of the bright > orange > > safety > > vest the county bicycle/pedestrian advisory board gave us to pass > > out. > > > > Our only issue currently is that we toss of of this in the back of > a > > pickup > > truck! We are hopefully soon going to have the resources to build > a > > trailer > > (a member is purchasing welding equipment), but don;t as of yet > have > > any > > plans. > > > > Anyone have plans for a good (verylarge) bike trailer? > > > > vyki > > > > www.thekickstand.org > > > > On Tue, Apr 29, 2008 at 3:38 PM, Durham Bike Co-op > > <durhambikecoop(a)gmail.com> > > wrote: > > > > > United Bicycle Parts has a pretty nice looking "mix and match" > tool > > set > > > with items from a variety of different tool makers = around $200, > > if I > > > remember right, and maybe around 50 pieces with the most critical > > stuff > > > (spline tools, chainbreaker, lockring wrench etc.) being shop > > quality stuff. > > > Might be a good place to start. > > > > > > best, > > > Colin - Durham Bike Co-op > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Thethinktank mailing list > > Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > > > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… > > > > > Chris Wells > (Head Mechanic & Email Handler) > > re-Cycles Bicycle Co-op > 477 Bronson Ave. Ottawa > > re-Cycles is open 6pm-10pm Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays > (for volunteering, DIY, bike & parts sales & donation drop off) > > Bike sales and donation drop off also available during Cyclists' > Kitchen hours: 9am-5:30pm Tuesday to Friday, and 9am-1pm on Saturday > > (IMPORTANT: Please remember that while Cyclists' Kitchen will be > using our shop during the day, any public bike repair, whether > volunteer or do-it-yourself, is still only during regular re-Cycles > hours in the evenings.) > > info(a)re-cycles.ca > http://www.re-cycles.ca/ >

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Fwd: Re: Bike Shop in a Box
by info＠re-cycles.ca 01 May '08

01 May '08

Trying this from my other account to see if it gets through? Chris --- Chris Wells <re-cycles(a)rogers.com> wrote: > Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:11:22 -0400 (EDT) > From: Chris Wells <re-cycles(a)rogers.com> > Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Bike Shop in a Box > To: The Think Tank <thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org> > > Hi Sasha, > > We worked with Bicycles For Humanity to help send a bike shop in a > box > to Africa. Here is a link to a page on our website (which includes a > link to their's): > > http://www.re-cycles.ca/bfh2007.html > > Perhaps they would be interested in doing something similar more > locally. > > Chris > > --- dragonfly(a)mac.hush.com wrote: > > > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > > Hash: SHA1 > > > > > > Hi, Everyone. > > > > I love reading everyone's posts. > > > > Thanks to the people who have written to me about creating a > > good bike plan for the Detroit-Windsor region. > > > > This past weekend, I was talking with some people. People we > > know were attending the UN Indigenous People's climate change > > meeting in New York, and we were talking about some things. > > > > My friends and I were talking about climate change, this time > > in the context of the aboriginal communities that these friends of > > mine come from. It was a long and interesting conversation. > > > > For a little part of it, I talked about bikes, and about how > > important my bike was to me in Detroit and about how my bike shapes > > my world view and my thoughts about community planning, etc. > > > > They all drive trucks, these friends of mine, even the ones > > from the city, and they think I'm a little nuts for riding my bike > > everywhere, but they could also see an increased potential for > > bikes in some of their communities. > > > > In some of their communities, bikes are not so practical. In > > others, they could be made into a more functional option for > day-to- > > day practical use, if there was an infrastructure to support them- > > a place to get bikes, a place to go to repair them, etc. > > > > We wondered about a "Bike Shop in a Box"-- could you get a > > big rubbermaid tub and put a whole bike shop into it? (Maybe two > > tubs plus a stand?) Could you make such a thing that would be easy > > to ship North or into the B.C. interior, by train or plane etc.? > > > > Do the people from "Bikes Not Bombs" know how to do this-- > > have some of you done this before? Is there a good way of doing > > this already known? > > > > What should go into the box, and how could we make this > > economical-- is there an economy of scale-- how many Boxed Shops > > would you need to create to get a good deal on the tools, do you > > think? Would suppliers be interested in creating a 'Shop in Box' as > > a product to offer through their catalogue, even? > > > > We're just thinking about the feasibility of this right > > now. For lots of reasons, it might be a dumb or unworkable idea, > > but one worth checking out. If any of you have done this, or if you > > know what the best things to put into the box are, please e-mail > > me. > > > > Sasha > > > > On Tue, 29 Apr 2008 01:56:20 -0400 "Urban Bike Project Wilmington, > > DE" <urbanbikeproject(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > >"we still have the Bike Against! stencil and about ten different > > >colors of spray paint..." > > > > > >Rafael, is that why you changed your name? I can only imagine the > > >positive message this has spread in Fort Collins... > > > > > >Jennifer, > > > > > >I think you want a name that instantly gives people a snapshot of > > >what > > >you do. Mike's comment rings pretty true. Often people will call > > > > >or > > >email about donating bikes and then ask what it is exactly that we > > > > >do. > > > If you do bikes and art call it something with bikes and art and > > >you'll be set. The Bike Gallery or something innocent. BICAS' > > >name > > >is pretty cool and explanatory. > > > > > >Once you pick it, stick with it. Like Rafael said, your shops > > >actions/quality are more important than the name. > > > > > >Brian > > > > > >On 4/28/08, bike against <bikeagainst(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > >> Hey Jennifer and all, Rafael from Fort Collins,CO here... > > >> > > >> I agree with Rachel, keep it simple... > > >> > > >> I believe the name does not make the project, the PROJECT makes > > >the name, > > >> just like band names, as long as the music is good people will > > >dig the > > >> name... > > >> > > >> In our case, for the first four years our project was known as > > >the Bike > > >> Against ! collective or Co-op and due to our current situation > > >we are now > > >> just called The Fort Collins Bike Co-op... yeah,is not radical > > >but it > > >> doesn't have to be. We still have the same ideals and philosophy > > > > >that gave > > >> birth to the organization and again, the quality of your work is > > > > >ALL that > > >> matters in the end. > > >> > > >> By changing our name we were able to have access to a lot more > > >resources > > >> and therefore help a lot more people. > > >> > > >> As for the militant riders out there,who believe that riding a > > >bicycle as > > >> main or ONLY means of transportation is also an act of political > > > > >expression > > >> and resistance,we still have the Bike Against! stencil and about > > > > >ten > > >> different colors of spray paint... > > >> > > >> Also there's less risk that the name will be already taken. > > >> > > >> > > >> -- > > >> Rafael Cletero > > >> Project Coordinator > > >> Fort Collins Bicycle Co-op > > >> ph (970) 484 38 04 > > >> www.fcbikecoop.org > > >> _______________________________________________ > > >> Thethinktank mailing list > > >> Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > > >> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- > > >bikecollectives.org > > >> > > >> > > > > > > > > >-- > > >Urban Bike Project of Wilmington > > >1908 N. Market Street (entrance is in the parking lot behind the > > >building) > > >Wilmington, DE 19801 > > > > > >Hours: > > >Thursday 6:30-9:00 > > >Saturday 1:00-4:00 > > > > > >Visit us online at http://urbanbikeproject.org > > >_______________________________________________ > > >Thethinktank mailing list > > >Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > > >http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- > > >bikecollectives.org > > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- > > Note: This signature can be verified at > > https://www.hushtools.com/verify > > Charset: UTF8 > > Version: Hush 3.0 > > > > > wkYEARECAAYFAkgXN2wACgkQ5O7ahKJmrRkYFgCgqeGADGv4XT1x3eg9Bn49IPiPHqUA > > ninVivrE08nsJH1DEYWah7e0d/Q1 > > =zIuK > > -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Thethinktank mailing list > > Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > > > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… > > > >

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Bike Shop in a Box
by plan_9＠riseup.net 30 Apr '08

30 Apr '08

We recently were awarded a $2500 grant to do community outreach in at-risk neighborhoods and community events. We have purchased a bikes-at-work trailer, (6'x3' with removable sections if you don't need as much length). We are patiently waiting its arrival and we'll let you know how it works out. The rest of the funds will go towards two park folding stands, two basic tool sets with the idea of sewing some roll up tool bags, basic supplies like lube, cables, brake pads, etc. We also have budgeted for educational material to pass out as well as advertising so folks will know when we are going to be in their neighborhood. We already did one event at a local universities "Earth Day" celebration and it was a hit. A latent function of this was PR. More than a few people told us that they had heard about the shop and were interested in being involved but they were nervous/intimidated/unsure as to how to actually be involved or even come in and work on their bike. Hopefully their speaking with us at the outreach event alleviated some of those concerns. As for the grant, it was from an area foundation that typically doesn't fund overhead and is very into highly visible community oriented projects in the 1000-4000 range. If anyone has a similar situation and would like a copy of our grant application, contact me and I'll be happy to share. -Andy FM Community Bicycle Workshop

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Bike Shop in a Box
by Bob Giordano 30 Apr '08

30 Apr '08

We have a nice 4-wheel bike we use for lots of things. The link below: http://strans.org/pedaled_sweeper.htm explains how we attached a sweeper and swept the bike lanes by bike power. Last week we welded a hitch to it and towed several types of trailers (boat, heavy machinery, etc.) to move 400 bikes to a festival. Missoula is surrounded by mountains, but the valley is _flat_. Lots of trailer designs are flying out of the shop- a no-weld version with forks, stems, tubes, and a piece of tire for a hitch. a kayak carrier made from aluminum crutches (a wheel fits exactly where the handles on the crutches are). shopping carts with the bottom wheel assembly taken off and 2 rear triangles (a use for those walmart rear triangles) bolted on. eventually we'll get pictures onto the web. we have instructions for the 'crutches trailer' typed up- email me if you want them. my favorite load carrier is the 'long john.' so smooth and versatile. see 1st 2 pics at: http://strans.org/bikestyle.html -Bob G., Free Cycles Missoula

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Bike Shop in a Box
by dragonfly＠mac.hush.com 30 Apr '08

30 Apr '08

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Hi, Vyki and Everyone Else. What a good idea! It would be a great thing to have at charity bike races, too. A bike based mobile shop has all sorts of potential. It might be a good model for African, Asian, Latin American and South Asian endeavours, too. The Grameen bank might be interested in the idea, for someone's not already doing it; it might make a good micro credit business. I know someone who is involved with them-- may I forward the idea to them? One of the ideas floated in Detroit was to use the existing infrastructure of Detroit's quite active inner city churches to broaden the reach of the bike community shop; remeber, we were also talking about going to the homeless shelters? A bike shop van that would make the rounds was the thought. A bike trailer is an interesting alternative, though. We have a great guy here who runs a summer time organic catering company; he does all his deliveries by bike. It is cool to see him. People on this list are so interesting and creative. I love getting Think Tank mail! Sasha On Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:06:29 -0400 Vyki Englert <vyki.englert(a)thekickstand.org> wrote: >The Kickstand sets up a repair stand at our local farmers market >and any >events we get involved in. This is currently what most of our >outreach >program consists of. We carry a portable stand, a 4x2 folding >table, an >Ez-up, a tool set, and consumables. We've been doing this for a >very short >while, but the idea is that we have a "market box", a tool box >that is set >aside, always ready to go with a good set of tools (we're still >working on >exactly what a good set of tools is), that is not used during >regular shop >hours. We just started bringing consumables, patches, cables... >and are >still hammering out exactly what to bring. And of course we >always have >some literature on hand, and usually bring some of the bright >orange safety >vest the county bicycle/pedestrian advisory board gave us to pass >out. > >Our only issue currently is that we toss of of this in the back of >a pickup >truck! We are hopefully soon going to have the resources to build >a trailer >(a member is purchasing welding equipment), but don;t as of yet >have any >plans. > >Anyone have plans for a good (verylarge) bike trailer? > >vyki > >www.thekickstand.org > >On Tue, Apr 29, 2008 at 3:38 PM, Durham Bike Co-op ><durhambikecoop(a)gmail.com> >wrote: > >> United Bicycle Parts has a pretty nice looking "mix and match" >tool set >> with items from a variety of different tool makers = around >$200, if I >> remember right, and maybe around 50 pieces with the most >critical stuff >> (spline tools, chainbreaker, lockring wrench etc.) being shop >quality stuff. >> Might be a good place to start. >> >> best, >> Colin - Durham Bike Co-op >> >> On Tue, Apr 29, 2008 at 10:57 AM, <dragonfly(a)mac.hush.com> >wrote: >> >> > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- >> > Hash: SHA1 >> > >> > >> > Hi, Everyone. >> > >> > I love reading everyone's posts. >> > >> > Thanks to the people who have written to me about creating >a >> > good bike plan for the Detroit-Windsor region. >> > >> > This past weekend, I was talking with some people. People >we >> > know were attending the UN Indigenous People's climate change >> > meeting in New York, and we were talking about some things. >> > >> > My friends and I were talking about climate change, this >time >> > in the context of the aboriginal communities that these >friends of >> > mine come from. It was a long and interesting conversation. >> > >> > For a little part of it, I talked about bikes, and about >how >> > important my bike was to me in Detroit and about how my bike >shapes >> > my world view and my thoughts about community planning, etc. >> > >> > They all drive trucks, these friends of mine, even the >ones >> > from the city, and they think I'm a little nuts for riding my >bike >> > everywhere, but they could also see an increased potential for >> > bikes in some of their communities. >> > >> > In some of their communities, bikes are not so >practical. In >> > others, they could be made into a more functional option for >day-to- >> > day practical use, if there was an infrastructure to support >them- >> > a place to get bikes, a place to go to repair them, etc. >> > >> > We wondered about a "Bike Shop in a Box"-- could you get >a >> > big rubbermaid tub and put a whole bike shop into it? (Maybe >two >> > tubs plus a stand?) Could you make such a thing that would be >easy >> > to ship North or into the B.C. interior, by train or plane >etc.? >> > >> > Do the people from "Bikes Not Bombs" know how to do >this-- >> > have some of you done this before? Is there a good way of >doing >> > this already known? >> > >> > What should go into the box, and how could we make this >> > economical-- is there an economy of scale-- how many Boxed >Shops >> > would you need to create to get a good deal on the tools, do >you >> > think? Would suppliers be interested in creating a 'Shop in >Box' as >> > a product to offer through their catalogue, even? >> > >> > We're just thinking about the feasibility of this >right >> > now. For lots of reasons, it might be a dumb or unworkable >idea, >> > but one worth checking out. If any of you have done this, or >if you >> > know what the best things to put into the box are, please e- >mail >> > me. >> > >> > Sasha >> > >> > On Tue, 29 Apr 2008 01:56:20 -0400 "Urban Bike Project >Wilmington, >> > DE" <urbanbikeproject(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> > >"we still have the Bike Against! stencil and about ten >different >> > >colors of spray paint..." >> > > >> > >Rafael, is that why you changed your name? I can only >imagine the >> > >positive message this has spread in Fort Collins... >> > > >> > >Jennifer, >> > > >> > >I think you want a name that instantly gives people a >snapshot of >> > >what >> > >you do. Mike's comment rings pretty true. Often people will >call >> > >> > >or >> > >email about donating bikes and then ask what it is exactly >that we >> > >> > >do. >> > > If you do bikes and art call it something with bikes and art >and >> > >you'll be set. The Bike Gallery or something innocent. >BICAS' >> > >name >> > >is pretty cool and explanatory. >> > > >> > >Once you pick it, stick with it. Like Rafael said, your >shops >> > >actions/quality are more important than the name. >> > > >> > >Brian >> > > >> > >On 4/28/08, bike against <bikeagainst(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> > >> Hey Jennifer and all, Rafael from Fort Collins,CO here... >> > >> >> > >> I agree with Rachel, keep it simple... >> > >> >> > >> I believe the name does not make the project, the PROJECT >makes >> > >the name, >> > >> just like band names, as long as the music is good people >will >> > >dig the >> > >> name... >> > >> >> > >> In our case, for the first four years our project was known >as >> > >the Bike >> > >> Against ! collective or Co-op and due to our current >situation >> > >we are now >> > >> just called The Fort Collins Bike Co-op... yeah,is not >radical >> > >but it >> > >> doesn't have to be. We still have the same ideals and >philosophy >> > >> > >that gave >> > >> birth to the organization and again, the quality of your >work is >> > >> > >ALL that >> > >> matters in the end. >> > >> >> > >> By changing our name we were able to have access to a lot >more >> > >resources >> > >> and therefore help a lot more people. >> > >> >> > >> As for the militant riders out there,who believe that >riding a >> > >bicycle as >> > >> main or ONLY means of transportation is also an act of >political >> > >> > >expression >> > >> and resistance,we still have the Bike Against! stencil and >about >> > >> > >ten >> > >> different colors of spray paint... >> > >> >> > >> Also there's less risk that the name will be already taken. >> > >> >> > >> >> > >> -- >> > >> Rafael Cletero >> > >> Project Coordinator >> > >> Fort Collins Bicycle Co-op >> > >> ph (970) 484 38 04 >> > >> www.fcbikecoop.org >> > >> _______________________________________________ >> > >> Thethinktank mailing list >> > >> Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> > >> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- >> > >bikecollectives.org >> > >> >> > >> >> > > >> > > >> > >-- >> > >Urban Bike Project of Wilmington >> > >1908 N. Market Street (entrance is in the parking lot behind >the >> > >building) >> > >Wilmington, DE 19801 >> > > >> > >Hours: >> > >Thursday 6:30-9:00 >> > >Saturday 1:00-4:00 >> > > >> > >Visit us online at http://urbanbikeproject.org >> > >_______________________________________________ >> > >Thethinktank mailing list >> > >Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> > >http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- >> > >bikecollectives.org >> > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- >> > Note: This signature can be verified at >https://www.hushtools.com/verify >> > Charset: UTF8 >> > Version: Hush 3.0 >> > >> > >wkYEARECAAYFAkgXN2wACgkQ5O7ahKJmrRkYFgCgqeGADGv4XT1x3eg9Bn49IPiPHqU >A >> > ninVivrE08nsJH1DEYWah7e0d/Q1 >> > =zIuK >> > -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > Thethinktank mailing list >> > Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> > >> > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- >bikecollectives.org >> > >> >> >> >> -- >> Durham Bike Co-op >> 723 N. Mangum St. >> Durham, NC 27701 >> www.durhambikecoop.org >> _______________________________________________ >> Thethinktank mailing list >> Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> >> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- >bikecollectives.org >> >> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Note: This signature can be verified at https://www.hushtools.com/verify Charset: UTF8 Version: Hush 3.0 wkYEARECAAYFAkgYzCgACgkQ5O7ahKJmrRkjnACfb17NjhdTunysuEquTr60oPqf/PYA nifEyhmLaQ3jKdIdkgTq88TlLPAr =Zvv7 -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Bike Shop in a Box
by dragonfly＠mac.hush.com 30 Apr '08

30 Apr '08

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Hi, Everyone. I love reading everyone's posts. Thanks to the people who have written to me about creating a good bike plan for the Detroit-Windsor region. This past weekend, I was talking with some people. People we know were attending the UN Indigenous People's climate change meeting in New York, and we were talking about some things. My friends and I were talking about climate change, this time in the context of the aboriginal communities that these friends of mine come from. It was a long and interesting conversation. For a little part of it, I talked about bikes, and about how important my bike was to me in Detroit and about how my bike shapes my world view and my thoughts about community planning, etc. They all drive trucks, these friends of mine, even the ones from the city, and they think I'm a little nuts for riding my bike everywhere, but they could also see an increased potential for bikes in some of their communities. In some of their communities, bikes are not so practical. In others, they could be made into a more functional option for day-to- day practical use, if there was an infrastructure to support them- a place to get bikes, a place to go to repair them, etc. We wondered about a "Bike Shop in a Box"-- could you get a big rubbermaid tub and put a whole bike shop into it? (Maybe two tubs plus a stand?) Could you make such a thing that would be easy to ship North or into the B.C. interior, by train or plane etc.? Do the people from "Bikes Not Bombs" know how to do this-- have some of you done this before? Is there a good way of doing this already known? What should go into the box, and how could we make this economical-- is there an economy of scale-- how many Boxed Shops would you need to create to get a good deal on the tools, do you think? Would suppliers be interested in creating a 'Shop in Box' as a product to offer through their catalogue, even? We're just thinking about the feasibility of this right now. For lots of reasons, it might be a dumb or unworkable idea, but one worth checking out. If any of you have done this, or if you know what the best things to put into the box are, please e-mail me. Sasha On Tue, 29 Apr 2008 01:56:20 -0400 "Urban Bike Project Wilmington, DE" <urbanbikeproject(a)gmail.com> wrote: >"we still have the Bike Against! stencil and about ten different >colors of spray paint..." > >Rafael, is that why you changed your name? I can only imagine the >positive message this has spread in Fort Collins... > >Jennifer, > >I think you want a name that instantly gives people a snapshot of >what >you do. Mike's comment rings pretty true. Often people will call >or >email about donating bikes and then ask what it is exactly that we >do. > If you do bikes and art call it something with bikes and art and >you'll be set. The Bike Gallery or something innocent. BICAS' >name >is pretty cool and explanatory. > >Once you pick it, stick with it. Like Rafael said, your shops >actions/quality are more important than the name. > >Brian > >On 4/28/08, bike against <bikeagainst(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> Hey Jennifer and all, Rafael from Fort Collins,CO here... >> >> I agree with Rachel, keep it simple... >> >> I believe the name does not make the project, the PROJECT makes >the name, >> just like band names, as long as the music is good people will >dig the >> name... >> >> In our case, for the first four years our project was known as >the Bike >> Against ! collective or Co-op and due to our current situation >we are now >> just called The Fort Collins Bike Co-op... yeah,is not radical >but it >> doesn't have to be. We still have the same ideals and philosophy >that gave >> birth to the organization and again, the quality of your work is >ALL that >> matters in the end. >> >> By changing our name we were able to have access to a lot more >resources >> and therefore help a lot more people. >> >> As for the militant riders out there,who believe that riding a >bicycle as >> main or ONLY means of transportation is also an act of political >expression >> and resistance,we still have the Bike Against! stencil and about >ten >> different colors of spray paint... >> >> Also there's less risk that the name will be already taken. >> >> >> -- >> Rafael Cletero >> Project Coordinator >> Fort Collins Bicycle Co-op >> ph (970) 484 38 04 >> www.fcbikecoop.org >> _______________________________________________ >> Thethinktank mailing list >> Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- >bikecollectives.org >> >> > > >-- >Urban Bike Project of Wilmington >1908 N. Market Street (entrance is in the parking lot behind the >building) >Wilmington, DE 19801 > >Hours: >Thursday 6:30-9:00 >Saturday 1:00-4:00 > >Visit us online at http://urbanbikeproject.org >_______________________________________________ >Thethinktank mailing list >Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- >bikecollectives.org -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Note: This signature can be verified at https://www.hushtools.com/verify Charset: UTF8 Version: Hush 3.0 wkYEARECAAYFAkgXN2wACgkQ5O7ahKJmrRkYFgCgqeGADGv4XT1x3eg9Bn49IPiPHqUA ninVivrE08nsJH1DEYWah7e0d/Q1 =zIuK -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Thethinktank Digest, Vol 20, Issue 21
by Mario Bruzzone 29 Apr '08

29 Apr '08

Track down the Davis, CA Bike Church for a portable shop--their whole shop is housed in a "church" that you can drive (bike) around. It's really quite fun! ~Mario Bruzzone Bike Kitchen, San Francisco Wrench Nepal, Kathmandu On Wed, Apr 30, 2008 at 1:23 AM, <thethinktank-request(a)bikecollectives.org> wrote: > Send Thethinktank mailing list submissions to > thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… > > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > thethinktank-request(a)bikecollectives.org > > You can reach the person managing the list at > thethinktank-owner(a)bikecollectives.org > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Thethinktank digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: Bike Shop in a Box (rachael spiewak) > 2. Re: Bike Shop in a Box (Durham Bike Co-op) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:54:16 -0400 > From: "rachael spiewak" <rachael(a)sopobikes.org> > Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Bike Shop in a Box > To: "The Think Tank" <thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org> > Message-ID: > <d74806f70804290854qe7ff55cs70d46b2250a739d1(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > It might be most affordable and easiest to get a complete toolset from one > of the big bike tool companies (via a distributor or a sympathetic local > bike shop). Here's what Park > Tool<http://www.parktool.com/products/category.asp?cat=6>has, for > example. The backpack is a nice idea, but, in my experience, > structurally hard to deal with. I would add to your set a bunch of hard > line tools, which are easy to get donated. Tons of people have metric box > wrenches lying around in their garages. > > Our wiki <http://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/index.php?title=Tools> has > some excellent ideas about stocking tools. > > Good luck! > > rachael > > On Tue, Apr 29, 2008 at 10:57 AM, <dragonfly(a)mac.hush.com> wrote: > > > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > > Hash: SHA1 > > > > > > Hi, Everyone. > > > > I love reading everyone's posts. > > > > Thanks to the people who have written to me about creating a > > good bike plan for the Detroit-Windsor region. > > > > This past weekend, I was talking with some people. People we > > know were attending the UN Indigenous People's climate change > > meeting in New York, and we were talking about some things. > > > > My friends and I were talking about climate change, this time > > in the context of the aboriginal communities that these friends of > > mine come from. It was a long and interesting conversation. > > > > For a little part of it, I talked about bikes, and about how > > important my bike was to me in Detroit and about how my bike shapes > > my world view and my thoughts about community planning, etc. > > > > They all drive trucks, these friends of mine, even the ones > > from the city, and they think I'm a little nuts for riding my bike > > everywhere, but they could also see an increased potential for > > bikes in some of their communities. > > > > In some of their communities, bikes are not so practical. In > > others, they could be made into a more functional option for day-to- > > day practical use, if there was an infrastructure to support them- > > a place to get bikes, a place to go to repair them, etc. > > > > We wondered about a "Bike Shop in a Box"-- could you get a > > big rubbermaid tub and put a whole bike shop into it? (Maybe two > > tubs plus a stand?) Could you make such a thing that would be easy > > to ship North or into the B.C. interior, by train or plane etc.? > > > > Do the people from "Bikes Not Bombs" know how to do this-- > > have some of you done this before? Is there a good way of doing > > this already known? > > > > What should go into the box, and how could we make this > > economical-- is there an economy of scale-- how many Boxed Shops > > would you need to create to get a good deal on the tools, do you > > think? Would suppliers be interested in creating a 'Shop in Box' as > > a product to offer through their catalogue, even? > > > > We're just thinking about the feasibility of this right > > now. For lots of reasons, it might be a dumb or unworkable idea, > > but one worth checking out. If any of you have done this, or if you > > know what the best things to put into the box are, please e-mail > > me. > > > > Sasha > > > > On Tue, 29 Apr 2008 01:56:20 -0400 "Urban Bike Project Wilmington, > > DE" <urbanbikeproject(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > >"we still have the Bike Against! stencil and about ten different > > >colors of spray paint..." > > > > > >Rafael, is that why you changed your name? I can only imagine the > > >positive message this has spread in Fort Collins... > > > > > >Jennifer, > > > > > >I think you want a name that instantly gives people a snapshot of > > >what > > >you do. Mike's comment rings pretty true. Often people will call > > > > >or > > >email about donating bikes and then ask what it is exactly that we > > > > >do. > > > If you do bikes and art call it something with bikes and art and > > >you'll be set. The Bike Gallery or something innocent. BICAS' > > >name > > >is pretty cool and explanatory. > > > > > >Once you pick it, stick with it. Like Rafael said, your shops > > >actions/quality are more important than the name. > > > > > >Brian > > > > > >On 4/28/08, bike against <bikeagainst(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > >> Hey Jennifer and all, Rafael from Fort Collins,CO here... > > >> > > >> I agree with Rachel, keep it simple... > > >> > > >> I believe the name does not make the project, the PROJECT makes > > >the name, > > >> just like band names, as long as the music is good people will > > >dig the > > >> name... > > >> > > >> In our case, for the first four years our project was known as > > >the Bike > > >> Against ! collective or Co-op and due to our current situation > > >we are now > > >> just called The Fort Collins Bike Co-op... yeah,is not radical > > >but it > > >> doesn't have to be. We still have the same ideals and philosophy > > > > >that gave > > >> birth to the organization and again, the quality of your work is > > > > >ALL that > > >> matters in the end. > > >> > > >> By changing our name we were able to have access to a lot more > > >resources > > >> and therefore help a lot more people. > > >> > > >> As for the militant riders out there,who believe that riding a > > >bicycle as > > >> main or ONLY means of transportation is also an act of political > > > > >expression > > >> and resistance,we still have the Bike Against! stencil and about > > > > >ten > > >> different colors of spray paint... > > >> > > >> Also there's less risk that the name will be already taken. > > >> > > >> > > >> -- > > >> Rafael Cletero > > >> Project Coordinator > > >> Fort Collins Bicycle Co-op > > >> ph (970) 484 38 04 > > >> www.fcbikecoop.org > > >> _______________________________________________ > > >> Thethinktank mailing list > > >> Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > > >> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- > > >bikecollectives.org > > >> > > >> > > > > > > > > >-- > > >Urban Bike Project of Wilmington > > >1908 N. Market Street (entrance is in the parking lot behind the > > >building) > > >Wilmington, DE 19801 > > > > > >Hours: > > >Thursday 6:30-9:00 > > >Saturday 1:00-4:00 > > > > > >Visit us online at http://urbanbikeproject.org > > >_______________________________________________ > > >Thethinktank mailing list > > >Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > > >http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- > > >bikecollectives.org > > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- > > Note: This signature can be verified at https://www.hushtools.com/verify > > Charset: UTF8 > > Version: Hush 3.0 > > > > wkYEARECAAYFAkgXN2wACgkQ5O7ahKJmrRkYFgCgqeGADGv4XT1x3eg9Bn49IPiPHqUA > > ninVivrE08nsJH1DEYWah7e0d/Q1 > > =zIuK > > -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Thethinktank mailing list > > Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > > > > > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… > > > > > > -- > Sopo Bicycle Cooperative > 404-425-9989 > www.sopobikes.org > * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * > Hours of operation: > Tues/Thurs 7 pm - 10 pm > Sat/Sun 2 pm - 6 pm >

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Re: [TheThinkTank] New shop name ideas, anyone?
by mike eng 29 Apr '08

29 Apr '08

I'd just echo Rachel's point about not trying too hard to come up with some funky word for the name. Having a self-explanatory name makes it easy for people who know nothing about your program recognize what you do. In our case, at an outreach event, a bunch of people just saw the name and walked up and said, "Oh, I'd never heard of your organization before, but can I donate my old bike to you so it doesn't have to go in the garbage?" And we said, "Absolutely". -- Mike Eng Recycle-a-Bike, Providence, RI www.recycleabike.org

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Article from Common Dreams NewsCenter
by Tom Emm 28 Apr '08

28 Apr '08

A friend <refsvr(a)referralblast.com> wrote: Hello, A friend wanted to share this article with you: http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/04/27/8558/ Thanks! ______________________________________ Common Dreams Breaking News & Views for the Progressive Community www.commondreams.org ________________________________________________________ Referral service by ReferralBlast.com --------------------------------- Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.

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Liability insurance/ Children's legal issues?
by Sandy Robson 28 Apr '08

28 Apr '08

Howdy from St. Paul, Minnesota! We've been having a pretty successful starting season at Sibley Bike Depot--maintenance classes, a women's/trans open shop night, an after school program, art bike projects...it's all going swell. Right now we have a number of children that come to our open-shop hours and earn bikes. We don't have any liability insurance whatsoever, so we've temporarily limited the number of kids allowed in the shop at one time. How do you all handle this? Do you have any advice as to what kind of insurance/ forms we need? Thanks! Sandy Robson (410)206-7826

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Mayor's Ride May 12!
by Community Bicycle Shop Omaha 25 Apr '08

25 Apr '08

2008 Mayor's Ride to Start at the Community Bicycle Shop! Start your day off right on *Monday, May 12 at 8:00* am and bring your bicycle down to 33rd and California! Community Bicycle Shop Omaha (CBSO) is pleased to partner with Mayor Mike Fahey, Activate Omaha, and Bikeable Communities to bring the Mayor's Ride to Gifford Park. This event kicks off National Bike to Work Week and will include the presentation of Omaha's first commuter bicycle map. The mayor will make a proclamation at 8:30 am and the group will ride to the Pedestrian Bridge downtown and back through Creighton's campus. Bicycling to work is good exercise and saves money on gas. Cycling instead of driving is also good for air quality and mitigates global warming. Most important to CBSO is the immediate benefit of your presence on the street! Our streets are safer and more enjoyable when we employ human power to get us where we're going. If you are new to bicycle commuting this is a great way to get started! All you need is a bicycle and helmet. The ride will be guided by the police so that traffic at intersections will be monitored. If you'd like to know more about the event call Stuart at 216-1235 or visit * www.activateomaha.org*.

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Cheap locks/stolen bikes
by plan_9＠riseup.net 25 Apr '08

25 Apr '08

We at the FM Community Bicycle Workshop have had a good,(read: busy, chaotic, overwhelming) first spring openand have run into a few unexpected situations regarding stolen bikes. We have a one bike a year limit policy and have had individuals get bikes from us, then come back the next week saying theirs was stolen and they want to get another one. Some of these were pretty decent, modern bikes (trek 4300, Giant Cyprus, Diamondback BMX) and we don't want to suspect the worst, that these bikes were pawned or sold for profit rather than ridden, but we also don't want to open ourselves up to exploitation either. We have put in place a policy that if you bring us a copy of your police report you are eligible for earning another bike, assuming that folks wouldn't file a false police report. We don't live in an area that has high bike theft rates, except for "bike hopping" where people just grab a bike that isn't being used and leave it wherever they end up. Basically, crime of opportunity rather than intent. The bigger issue here is that we are getting folks bikes who can't normally afford one, but not giving them the means to secure it. We are interested in getting locks to give out to people who get bikes from us through our referral system but are debating which is the best solution. One idea would be to buy cheap cable locks in bulk. Another idea we have had is a much more DIY approach: Get a roll of beefy hardware store chain and a padlock and call it good. Has anyone run into this? Thoughts? -Andy FMCBW

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New shop name ideas, anyone?
by Jennifer Nordhem 25 Apr '08

25 Apr '08

We've decided against using the name Battlesteed for multiple reasons. Does anyone have a good name the didn't get picked for their shop that they still like or came up with after it was set in stone. This is really the only thing that's holding us back right now since we can't file as a non-profit organization until we have one. This is our brief mission: We are a small group of avid cyclists who, through our love for the bike, decided to found Battlesteed Custom Bike Works. Battlesteed's mission is to create a larger, more knowledgeable and self-reliant community in Denver through teaching affordable bicycle mechanics classes in a comfortable, unpretentious learning environment. These are other intentions of the shop: -To hold monthly art shows to support the growing art community of Denver and advertise our services to new potential students. -To sublet space/benches to people (mainly people who are teaching classes and are involved with the shop) for their personal tools... we even have a friend interested in using his space for a screen printing press which he will teach classes in as well. Any ideas?! Thanks, Jen Nordhem Denver

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Following up with Bike Donors
by Rich Points 24 Apr '08

24 Apr '08

Collectives, At Community Cycles when someone donates a bike we have them fill out a tax deductible donation receipt. This is a carbon copy form where the donor gets one copy and we get the other. We then take that info an input into our database. We've done this for about 9 months now and have quite a few Bike_Donor contacts. So far we haven't contacted these donors but I've been thinking of doing a direct mail campaign to these people. My question is, have other collectives done this kind of direct mail? Or more broadly how are you following up with people who donate bikes and parts to you? Peace -- Rich Points Community Cycles Director http://CommunityCycles.org Rich(a)CommunityCycles.org 720-565-6019

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Re: [TheThinkTank] illustrated instruction booklet
by dragonfly＠mac.hush.com 17 Apr '08

17 Apr '08

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Hello, Everyone Back in the 1980's when I was a little kid, my big sister was part of a group called Cycle Watch, which was one of the early local cyclists groups in Toronto. Cycle Watch made a beautiful little booklet for cyclists. It had a yellow cover of a light card stock and accordion folded paper inside. It was small enough to fit inside a wallet, but it was a little fat. Sort of the thickness of a package of rolling papers (I'm getting all Canadian on you now.) Instead of information about flats, it had a picture of a bike with all the parts labelled with their names, and spaces for you to write in information about your bike, such as the make, the size, the serial number, the City bike licence if you had one, etc. The next little pages were a description of what information you needed to gather if you were in an accident-- the name and details of the driver who hit you (Kate had to explain the concept of insurance to me), and space for contact info. for witnesses, plus the name and badge number of the police officers, etc.. (They used small type.) It was a little booklet of information about how to record all the things that would help you win a traffic case if you were hit (the picture ofthe bike with the names of the parts was to help you describe your bike or the damage to it), plus all the info you'd need to have if your bike was stolen. It was great. Part of what made it compelling to me was that it was kid- sized. My sister gave me a whole bunch of these booklets to hand out at school (As my mother had encouraged me to afix a "Midwives do it Better" button to my knapsack, you can imagine how cool the cool kids found me, right?); to my amazement, everyone wanted them. I've often thought of recreating them, and I've wondered if they would still be popluar-- if you are working on a little booklet, something like that might go over well. A bi-lingual version would be a good design problem-- how to include all the info while preserving readability and a small size. For me, those little yellow booklets were my introduction to cycling as something that created a community, and also an early, simple way of participating in do-it-yourself politics. Thanks for reminding me of something happy, and good luck with your project. Sasha On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:09:23 -0400 "Urban Bike Project Wilmington, DE" <urbanbikeproject(a)gmail.com> wrote: >http://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/index.php?title=Spanish_Resourc >e_Materials > >The first link is a good place to start, maybe you could print it >front/back >and fold it. > >Brian > >On Thu, Apr 17, 2008 at 2:02 PM, Sharlyn Grace ><sharlyngrace(a)gmail.com> >wrote: > >> Hello all, >> >> We're thinking of putting together an illustrated little booklet >> (bi-lingual) that people could carry around as a resource-- >mostly right now >> we're thinking how to fix flats, tips like putting a dollar >inside a tire >> with a hole, etc. Does anyone know if something like this >exists? Or do >> you have good ideas about what would be useful information to >include? We >> want it to be really small, but also helpful. We have so many >people come >> in and fix a flat and never think about it again, so they're >helpless when >> the next one comes around, so this is an attempt to make the >info >> non-technical and available all the time. >> >> Thanks!, >> Sharlyn >> >> The Recyclery >> Evanston, IL >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Thethinktank mailing list >> Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> >> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- >bikecollectives.org >> >> > > >-- >Urban Bike Project of Wilmington >1908 N. Market Street (entrance is in the parking lot behind the >building) >Wilmington, DE 19801 > >Hours: >Thursday 6:30-9:00 >Saturday 1:00-4:00 > >Visit us online at http://urbanbikeproject.org -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Note: This signature can be verified at https://www.hushtools.com/verify Charset: UTF8 Version: Hush 3.0 wkYEARECAAYFAkgHo/EACgkQ5O7ahKJmrRlBcwCgspKA561xLxabj6eHRCyfKkM+CbsA oIBvdZ3xIIfVsQAw0uijdsSRII/R =EeZ3 -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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illustrated instruction booklet
by Sharlyn Grace 17 Apr '08

17 Apr '08

Hello all, We're thinking of putting together an illustrated little booklet (bi-lingual) that people could carry around as a resource--mostly right now we're thinking how to fix flats, tips like putting a dollar inside a tire with a hole, etc. Does anyone know if something like this exists? Or do you have good ideas about what would be useful information to include? We want it to be really small, but also helpful. We have so many people come in and fix a flat and never think about it again, so they're helpless when the next one comes around, so this is an attempt to make the info non-technical and available all the time. Thanks!, Sharlyn The Recyclery Evanston, IL

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Being seen at night: Lighting and reflective materials
by BovineOaks＠aol.com 16 Apr '08

16 Apr '08

I wrote this for another bike group, I thought you might find some of the information useful. I have been a light tester for year. 25 years as a photographer with a tra ined eye to respond to changes in light and study lighting contrast. Constantly studying ever changing lighting conditions has helped me see bike lighting effectiveness in relationship to other traffic. I do not believe anything workes to make me seen by cars, I test it to prove it works all of the time, some of the time or is just Psychological protection. I have also studied how the eye reacts to different levels of light. I have carefully evaluated the eyes reaction time to change when eyes are blinded by bright car head lamps, to how long it takes to see much lower intensity LED blinky lights. I have studied how the spacing of lights creates the illusion of space or can hide the true shape and size of an object. Trying to keep things short I have found the following the be most effective. 6 and 12 volt bright helmet lamps 6 volt generator, 6 and 12 volt rechargeable battery lamps mounted to the bars or above the front wheel. Blinky's out on the ends of the bars and lower on the fork. Multiple red led strobes spread out across the rider and the rear of a bike or trailer. Reflective side walls on tires. Rear facing reflective material on bike, rider, bag, trailer, Reflective material on Left wrist for arm signals. Front facing reflective material If you want to read the reasoning continue on, if not, stop here. I have been trained to act like traffic. I do not know any electric or petroleum powered traffic that uses low watt LED blinky lights as the primary source of light to be noticed by other traffic. If low watt LED's were a sufficient light source, all car manufactures would use them to cut costs. I am traffic, I need to have similarly powerfully lights to be seen effectively by other traffic on the road. Cars do hit other cars with bright lights, having bright lights on a bike will not stop impacts, It will increase visibility of cyclist and reduce incidents. I wish it could end incidents between vehicles, that is a human behavior issue. Reflective material In your lane of traffic you should see red 10 watt light ahead of you and white 50 watt lights behind you. Reflective material works best when there is very little light behind it. Reflective material reflects less light than it receives. As a rider you are for the most part directly in front of the motor vehicles 50 watt head lamps. Your material will reflect 30% to 70% of this light, which is much more light than the 10 watt red lamps ahead of the rider. This makes rear facing reflective material greatly effective at all times. Front facing reflective materials are very effective when you are alone on the road ways. You are not positioned directly ahead of oncoming car headlamps, you are off to their side and out of the strongest part of their headlight beam. On coming traffic can easily distinguish you from the darker background. When you ride on the right side of the road you are not straight in front of oncoming head lamps where the light is focused and the brightest, you are on the far side or the edge of their lamps beam. You may only receive 10 watt of the 50 watts of light coming from their lamps and you are reflecting even less of that light. To reduce the effectiveness of reflective material even more the traffic behind you is backlighting you with 50 watt lamps this makes the few watts of light coming from the vest almost invisible. All of this is bull unless you can test it. I have tested it and you can too. Have a friend put all your reflective stuff on. Get a bright hand held spot light or a car, aiming the light down the side of the road the cyclist is not on. Have the cyclist stand still at 100 yards away 50 yards away and 25 yards away. Look at how bright the reflective material is when the cyclist has a car behind and beside them, and when there is no car around them. Have the friend switch to the same side of the road you are on with their back facing you. Look at how much more light comes off the reflective material from your hand held spot light or from your car. Watch how the reflective light changes as a car in your same lane approaches the cyclist and after they pass the cyclist and the tail lights are on the other side of them. You can also evaluate how much the reflective light changes as oncoming cars in the opposite lane pass by the cyclist. I have done this test and I was surprised and horrified by the results. I thought reflective materials worked all the time and were great. Now I know they are a part of a complete package to be seen by other traffic. I agree with Jim and others "It's always a good idea to have lots of reflectors. You can never have too many." I have reflectors or reflective tape on my trailers, bike, clothing, helmet, tires, if I could get reflective teeth I would. I love having a reflective strip, cuff, glove on my left arm for night time turn signals. I sometimes put a reflective ankle strap around my wrist for signaling. Rear lights I had a few experiences that taught me about how we perceive the size of an object by the spacing of lights. Cars with one head lamp look like a motorcycle. Trucks on dark roads out in the country appear to be farther away if the tail lights are inside the rear step instead of on the outside corners of the trailer. I was in a blinding snow storm at night looking ahead for tail lights. When I saw the lights I thought I was 150 feet away from the truck. I switched lanes only to fine I was right next to the truck instead of 150 feet away. The two tail lights were between the stair instead of on the out side corners of the trailer that threw my perception of distance off. Same thing with bike lights. A single light from a bike has to go through a windshield of a car before it reaches the driver. If you look at a red blinky that is far away you will find that the normal road dust and fine scratches on the windshield change the appearance of the lights. Red lamps farther away will look larger, and light closer will look smaller. This is the reverse of what it should be. Two blinky light separated give traffic more consistent way to judge the distance they are from you. I like a blinky on the cyclist back and one on the bike. Examples: One on the helmet or back pack or courier bag or collar of clothing. The other mounted on the seat post, rack, handlebar ends, high on a trailer. The idea is to have one light low and one high to give you shape. The more lights the easier it is to show your shape to other traffic and help other traffic judge distance and closing speed. Blinky and reflective material work great on the back of your bike. Reflective tires Something I was surprised by: Reflective sidewalls on tires. My thoughts were what help are reflective sidewalls? If the side of a bike is in front of a car it is a little late. All I can say is that I was wrong. I found that the sidewalls did reflect from the front and rear. As we keep balance we turn the tire a little to the left and right all the time. This turning back and forth allows the reflective surfaces to gather and shoot back light like a blinky. The tires strobe and catch attention in a large way. I recommend Reflective Tires whole heartily now. Up to now I have not talked about expensive lights. Blinkys, reflectors, reflective tires are not super expensive to do well. I am traffic and need to act like the rest of traffic to be seen in ALL conditions. Bright Head Lamps I am surrounded by traffic with 50 Watt head beams. I am surrounded by people whose iris closes down when they are facing bright head lamps. This smaller hole in the eye lets less light in and makes it harder to see dimmer low wattage lights. In simple language if you have a car behind you or one has just passed you, it is likely that any oncoming traffic will not be able to see a low watt blinky or flashlight because there iris takes a while to recover and become large enough to see dimmer lights. This is why it is important to have a similar amount of light coming off your bike as is coming of the rest of traffic. Some newer LED lights put out the same amount of light as a 30 watt incandescent bulb. I have seen them priced at $50 to $70. If you know your history then you know that lights this bright were triple that amount of money three years ago. I have one light system that cost $360 and a helmet light that was $180. Modern lights are much more affordable. I like a 30 watt light on the bike and one on the head. One to light the ground effectively and one to look over at traffic coming in from the side. I like to make sure I am seen, get the attention of a driver and see their face. I like a mindful driver and I make sure I am not invisible to them.When I can see their face I know they can see my light. On the road at night I am SOL the sun god, not black invisible Ninja. I act like traffic because I am traffic. Christopher Wallace **************Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car listings at AOL Autos. (http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851)

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Cheap locks/stolen bikes
by dragonfly＠mac.hush.com 16 Apr '08

16 Apr '08

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Hello, Everyone Sometimes people in Detroit try to earn one or more bikes to help get bikes for other family members or friends without the time to do EAB themselves. (Not all older siblings are evil bike thieves.) Single mums sometimes need help earning bikes for themselves and a couple of kids, some of whom are too small to be responsible for EAB hours. Kids sometimes earn bikes for their mums as a present after earning their own. People who live far away or who do shift work or who work a million little jobs to keep afloat sometimes have a friend who will earn a bike for them. The locks made of chain from the hardware store (often covered with bits old fire hose to make it harder to cut) and a padlock are popular and apparently effective here. Coming from Toronto, where bike theft is a real problem, I was amazed to see Detroiters leaving their bikes on the ground outside-- unlocked!-- to go into stores. Many of the thefts we have involve people trustingly leaving their bikes completely unlocked. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would never have believed the tales of the naive, trusting denizens of Detroit's Cass Corridor... Sasha On Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:56:14 -0400 veganboyjosh(a)gmail.com wrote: >We got the city of Boulder to subsidize locks, lights, racks, and >a small >tool/set for each of our Youth EAB students. The locks are the 4 >tumbler >number kind that you can "program" with your own combination, so >the kids >won't forget. One issue we had early on was someone opened her >lock to lock >up her bike, and bumped one of the tumblers, and couldn't get it >to lock. >she didn't know what to do, so she left it unlocked. Then it got >taken. (We >now walk the kids through the process of locking and unlocking and >locking >again their locks. It's almost as important to me to explain that >the locks >won'tclose if the combination is wrong, just as it won't open... > >Anyway, we've also encountered the older sibling/evil evil bike >thief >takes/breaks an EAB'ers bike...we're still working on a solution. > >My thought is that anyone should be able to earn as many bikes as >they want, >with one caveat. With each bike that they earn, the hours they >need to put >in go up. For example, in the normal program, students go through >12-16 >hours of work before they earn a (first) bike of their own. With >my >proposal, if someone wants to come in and earn a second bike, it >would take >20-24 hours, or some appropriate amount. The goal would be for >them to have >the option to do it, but make it silly enough (wanna earn 5 bikes? >work 200 >hours...etc) that it's not worth it. I realize there are some >other >issues--what if someone comes in and wants to earn 5 bikes, no >matter how >many hours it takes?--but i don't like the idea of limiting people >to one >bike... >This way, while students have more invested in the second, third, >etc, bikes >they've earned, which hopefully encourages them to take better >care of their >bike/security, it also offers them the opportunity to get another >bike >should the first one get stolen, run over by mom/dad, etc. > > > > >On Wed, Apr 16, 2008 at 1:37 PM, rachael spiewak ><rachael(a)sopobikes.org> >wrote: > >> We've been running into this with the younger folks at the bike >shop, and >> we have to be firm about our earn one bike and one bike only >policy. >> They're allowed to trade in their bike for a different one only >if the one >> they're turning in is in good condition, and we regularly have >chats about >> why our policy is what it is. We also chat about how not to get >your bike >> stolen. It's hard when older siblings are the ones taking the >bikes away >> from the kids who come up to the shop and otherwise abide by >what we have to >> offer, so we do our best to be understanding. The most we can >do is create >> a system of accountability that makes sense for us, stick to our >rules for >> the good of the entire shop community, and be understanding >about >> extenuating circumstances. >> >> When we can find deals on locks, we buy a few and distribute >them to folks >> who express the need for one. That seems to work for some >people. The >> younger folks tend to lose keys, so combo locks work best for >them. I try >> to keep a list of their lock combinations and spare keys to help >them out >> when things get lost or forgotten. >> >> If folks don't trade cash for bikes, are they doing anything to >create a >> sense of investment or ownership in the bikes? >> >> -r >> >> >> >> On Wed, Apr 16, 2008 at 3:24 PM, <plan_9(a)riseup.net> wrote: >> >> > We at the FM Community Bicycle Workshop have had a good,(read: >busy, >> > chaotic, overwhelming) first spring openand have run into a >few >> > unexpected situations regarding stolen bikes. We have a one >bike a >> > year limit policy and have had individuals get bikes from us, >then >> > come back the next week saying theirs was stolen and they want >to get >> > another one. Some of these were pretty decent, modern bikes >(trek >> > 4300, Giant Cyprus, Diamondback BMX) and we don't want to >suspect the >> > worst, that these bikes were pawned or sold for profit rather >than >> > ridden, but we also don't want to open ourselves up to >exploitation >> > either. We have put in place a policy that if you bring us a >copy of >> > your police report you are eligible for earning another bike, >assuming >> > that folks wouldn't file a false police report. We don't live >in an >> > area that has high bike theft rates, except for "bike hopping" >where >> > people just grab a bike that isn't being used and leave it >wherever >> > they end up. Basically, crime of opportunity rather than >intent. The >> > bigger issue here is that we are getting folks bikes who can't >> > normally afford one, but not giving them the means to secure >it. We >> > are interested in getting locks to give out to people who get >bikes >> > from us through our referral system but are debating which is >the best >> > solution. One idea would be to buy cheap cable locks in bulk. >Another >> > idea we have had is a much more DIY approach: Get a roll of >beefy >> > hardware store chain and a padlock and call it good. Has >anyone run >> > into this? Thoughts? >> > -Andy FMCBW >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > Thethinktank mailing list >> > Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> > >> > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- >bikecollectives.org >> > >> >> >> >> -- >> Sopo Bicycle Cooperative >> 404-425-9989 >> www.sopobikes.org >> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * >> Hours of operation: >> Tues/Thurs 7 pm - 10 pm >> Sat/Sun 2 pm - 5 pm >> _______________________________________________ >> Thethinktank mailing list >> Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> >> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- >bikecollectives.org >> >> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Note: This signature can be verified at https://www.hushtools.com/verify Charset: UTF8 Version: Hush 3.0 wkYEARECAAYFAkgGYUwACgkQ5O7ahKJmrRldeACggmrH2IqkO6dLjTP3KUKKrPuA8TsA n0//+iabyCayeMXgvbfshjkFI6jw =PMkr -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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moving bikes by bike
by Bob Giordano 15 Apr '08

15 Apr '08

freewheelin' friends, We are having our annual Festival of Cycles this weekend and we are reviving an old tradition: moving all the bikes to the festival by bike/people power. At the peak, we moved 600 bikes on 3 giant haywagons across town to the festival site, with people pushing and pulling- quite fun. We no longer have access to the hay wagons and we are thinking of using lots of boat trailers hooked to bikes, with people walking and biking along side. We have about 400 bikes to move this way- any ideas or thoughts before we began the search for 10 trailers? thanks, -Bob G., Free Cycles Missoula

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who's got resources en español?
by rachael spiewak 10 Apr '08

10 Apr '08

We just got the news that a community bike shop is in the works in a suburb of Atlanta that's largely populated by Spanish speaking recent arrivals. Thought I'd ask the kind folks on this list for a round up of resources en español to send over to the shop organizers. We've already got the BICAS manual (has some Spanish translations), which is my favorite repair manual in general. Is there a way to filter the Wiki to search only for things in a particular language? Or can there be a section for multilingual resources? Thanks! -rachael -- Sopo Bicycle Cooperative 404-425-9989 www.sopobikes.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Hours of operation: Tues/Thurs 7 pm - 10 pm Sat/Sun 2 pm - 5 pm

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BICAS is hiring
by kyle mckinley 10 Apr '08

10 Apr '08

All- Anyone wanna join us for the warmest weather this side of the Sahara? Please tell your friends and coworkers, especially if they are/ might soon be in Tucson. BICAS, a collectively run non-profit BICYCLE recycling and education center is seeking a part time Staff Collective Member, $8.50/hr. Job Description: assist customers, help with classes, build bikes, coordinate volunteers, etc. Personable and comfortable greeting customers, strong mechanical skills encouraged, bilingual a plus, interest or experience in teaching classes or grant writing/organizational work a plus. Diversity of age, gender, and ethnicity encouraged. Accepting resume˙s until April 25th. Contact bicasunderground(a)yahoo.com or 44 W. 6th St (drop in or mail) for resumes, #628-7950 or e-mail for questions. www.bicas.org. thanks,kyle -- If an Easyrider rides easy, then a bicirider rides bicis

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Re: [TheThinkTank] hijacked espanol "thread". or "junk bikes for the world"
by veganboyjosh＠gmail.com 09 Apr '08

09 Apr '08

continuing on the theme of not hijacking the thread; my girlfriend just got back from new orleans, where she went to the book collective and got me the new chainbreaker<http://www.microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/books/2077/>book. it's along these lines, and many people on the list are already familiar with chainbreaker zine. the book is awesome. lots of goodies, and she even put the 4 issues of chainbreaker zine in the back of the book, as the originals were destroyed in hurricane katrina. if you don't have the book, personally, it's an awesome read. good sense of humor, and she's got a list of community bike shops in the back, which is surprisingly up to date, what with it having a 2008 copyright date. well worth the 12 bucks, and an awesome present for someone you like/love. On Wed, Apr 9, 2008 at 9:14 PM, Urban Bike Project Wilmington, DE < urbanbikeproject(a)gmail.com> wrote: > <snip> is there an opportunity to publish a repair manual available to the > general > public? something like "fix any bike or die trying". included would > be such topics as "home-made drop bolts" , "build your dream bike out > of trash on the street" and "my cat could fix this with a hammer, > screwdriver and adjustable wrench (though he should probably use the > proper tools)".</snip>

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Re: [TheThinkTank] parts wanted/available on the wiki?
by dragonfly＠mac.hush.com 09 Apr '08

09 Apr '08

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Hi, Everyone. A mini-Craig's List for bike shops sounds like a genius idea. Sasha On Wed, 09 Apr 2008 10:33:20 -0400 Jonathan Morrison <jonathan(a)slcbikecollective.org> wrote: >The current job posting on bikecollectives.org is actually an >under utilized >classifieds component, we would just need to add some more >categories. > >On Mon, Mar 31, 2008 at 7:58 PM, <veganboyjosh(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >> I know a lot of the traffic we see in Community Cycles is pretty >specific >> to Boulder. We can't keep cruiser type bikes in stock, while >other shops >> can't give them away. >> >> Would it be possible for there to be a place on the wiki or some >other >> spot on the bcn.org site where shops could list things they're >looking >> for, that other shops might be looking to get rid of? Granted, >we're all in >> need of floor pumps and chain tools, but perhaps there's some >class of >> parts of bike types that one shop gets that another shop needs. >It would be >> nice to see that in one place. >> >> I've got a road trip to IKEA in SLC soon, and I'd love to check >out the >> bike shop while I'm there. It occurred to me that the van will >be empty on >> the way there, so I could potentially load it up with stuff they >might need >> that we have excess of...since we're driving anyway. >> >> I don't know that a website feature like this would take much >> maintenance...I'm thinking it could serve three functions; >1>Those >> parts/bikes that your shop is always needing, but cannot keep in >> stock--cruiser bikes for us--, 2>parts and bikes that you have >an excess of, >> and/or wish to pass on...3>specific things you need that another >shop might >> have, instead of going through QPB or the like. We had a bike >come in that >> had a smashed derailleur, and needed a specific hanger, which >QPB didn't >> even sell...granted, this type of thing would be a long shot, >but how many >> of you would rather order a part like that from one another than >from the >> big bike distros a lot of us use? >> >> I guess I'm imagining a sort of mini-craigslist, for bike co-ops >to post >> on. >> >> Thoughts? Feedback? >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Thethinktank mailing list >> Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> >> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- >bikecollectives.org >> >> > > >-- >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. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Note: This signature can be verified at https://www.hushtools.com/verify Charset: UTF8 Version: Hush 3.0 wkYEARECAAYFAkf83uMACgkQ5O7ahKJmrRmvSACfSW/wJUyFkU2irOaT/bulrSwddPIA n1xC4/1QUAvZUQGHnGSkU++rl19X =71xf -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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parts wanted/available on the wiki?
by veganboyjosh＠gmail.com 09 Apr '08

09 Apr '08

I know a lot of the traffic we see in Community Cycles is pretty specific to Boulder. We can't keep cruiser type bikes in stock, while other shops can't give them away. Would it be possible for there to be a place on the wiki or some other spot on the bcn.org site where shops could list things they're looking for, that other shops might be looking to get rid of? Granted, we're all in need of floor pumps and chain tools, but perhaps there's some class of parts of bike types that one shop gets that another shop needs. It would be nice to see that in one place. I've got a road trip to IKEA in SLC soon, and I'd love to check out the bike shop while I'm there. It occurred to me that the van will be empty on the way there, so I could potentially load it up with stuff they might need that we have excess of...since we're driving anyway. I don't know that a website feature like this would take much maintenance...I'm thinking it could serve three functions; 1>Those parts/bikes that your shop is always needing, but cannot keep in stock--cruiser bikes for us--, 2>parts and bikes that you have an excess of, and/or wish to pass on...3>specific things you need that another shop might have, instead of going through QPB or the like. We had a bike come in that had a smashed derailleur, and needed a specific hanger, which QPB didn't even sell...granted, this type of thing would be a long shot, but how many of you would rather order a part like that from one another than from the big bike distros a lot of us use? I guess I'm imagining a sort of mini-craigslist, for bike co-ops to post on. Thoughts? Feedback?

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Is your bike coop located in a low income neighborhood?
by Cris Shirley 08 Apr '08

08 Apr '08

Hello, I'm currently writing a research paper on the relationship between bicycle collectives and their low income neighborhood communities. Right now, I am looking for members of collectives which are located in low income neighborhoods, poor parts of towns/cities, or ones that specifically finds themselves working with and handling many low income individuals. I will be conducting interviews with these individuals over the phone and will then incorporate into the paper in the form of case study analysis. I'd like to find several people form each of the bike collectives that fit the stated precondition, so please pass this on to other's in your collective that may be interested. Please respond promptly with: Your Name: Collective's name: The location of collective: Phone number: Best Times to Talk: Thanks! Christopher Shirley Undergrad at Yale University

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On Shop tools
by Sherief 08 Apr '08

08 Apr '08

Hello all, This is Sherief from the Austin Yellowbike, and I was hoping to pool the thinktank's experience with shop tools prone to breakage and the like. We're currently having huge issues keeping up with Chain Tools and Presta Valve pumps especially... it feels like not a week goes by without at least one of each of these tools breaking. W/r/t the chain tools, we recently switched from the nicer Park tools to the cheapest we could get out of the catalog, but with the way those break there's effectively no net savings and even when they are functioning the new cheap ones are no good. We try to make sure people know how to use the tools before they do, etc. But my question(s) today is: Do people have any similar experience out there with broken/breakable tools-- specifically good ways to prevent these breakages? Does anyone have any recommendations for good chain tools /PV pumps that can withstand a bit of overeager volunteering? Best, Sherief

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Re: [TheThinkTank] (no subject)
by dragonfly＠mac.hush.com 06 Apr '08

06 Apr '08

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Hello, Everyone. Detroit's own Bec Young, the wonder woman of Back Alley Bikes, has a new print ready and up for viewing on the JUSTSEEDS website. It's called "Deeper Than Mechanics Dare". All this stuff about shop tools and budgeting is pretty great. Thank you for all the helpful information. As soon as this kid is born and I've figured out the immediate lay of the land for the next bit of my life, I'd like to see about starting a community bike shop here in Windsor, Ontario, just across the river from Detroit. Windsor has a city bike plan that seems to consist of printing car bumper stickers that say "Share the Road", and Detroit does not have a city bike plan. I've submitted a session proposal to this year's Allied Media Conference in Detroit for a session that would allow anyone who was interested to help work to create a Detroit-Windsor/ Windsor-Detroit regional bike plan. I don't know if they will accept that proposal yet, especially as I'll have to help organize it and then let it go-- I'll be home in Toronto with my absolutely brand new little kid when the conference takes place, and someone else would have to run the session. This whole attempt to create a grassroots (and actually designed by people who use their bikes as their primary means of transportation)regional bike plan here, right at Ground Zero of the car culture, should be interesting. Not many places have the opportunity to figure out how to make an international border crossing point bike friendly-- never mind city counsel-- try figuring out how to approach Homeland Security! We're dealing with sprawl, the auto industry, crazy economic and racial divides, and a whole host of other issues, including the gender problems, which I've written about before. I'm writing about this here, because at some point we're going to have a wiki up, and helpful suggestions and insights from accross the continent would be welcomed. Anyone who wants to write to me off list about creating bike plans, please, please do so. We need allies from everywhere to help heal Detroit and Windsor. It may seem dumb, but I think if we can get something good happening here, we could change the whole culture. (Incidentally, having bikebike! in Detroit and Windsor would be an awesome thing to consider for some futire year.) The first modern oil wells in the world were set up in this region-- in Petrolia and Oil Springs, Ontario. The modern industrial world was born on assembly lines right here. This region's industrial might was key to the Allied victory in WWII. The culture created here and rolling off the assembly lines daily is helping to kill the planet, which is a sad, sad thing, because back in the day, the decent wages and union organizing of this region was a serious force for progressive social change. We have all benefited from Detroit and Windsor. Crossing the river here was once the way from slavery into freedom. This is also the part of the world that hides Tecumseh's bones. People pass buildings named "Renaud" without knowing that that is the French word for Fox, and an allusion to the rich and complex Native American history of the region. These cities are broken, and often ugly, and unpleasant things happen here; they are also full of half-forgotten signs of the complex dynamics of the competing empires that have been fighting over the riches of the Great Lakes region for centuries. And of course, there's Motown, and Aretha Franklin and all those other people you've probably bopped around to. Every year, the Monarch butterflies come up from Mexico, and the cities are full of them. We're on a major bird migration route, too. The ecological importance of the Great Lakes cannot be overstated. If you'd be interested in learning more about this area and helping us create a bike plan that addresses the needs of people in cities in two countries, a plan that includes a strategy for trying to make a border point bike friendly, please get in touch. I'm sorry my posts are always so long, and I'm sorry to the people who have written to me off list to whom I haven't yet responded-- I'm busy and pregnant and my life's a little out of control. I'm still thinking of you-- I hope someone will reply to the post about transgendered space, too. I haven't yet, and I'm sorry to leave something as important as that just hanging out there. Thank you for writing that. Happy spring, everyone. Sasha On Thu, 03 Apr 2008 23:05:10 -0400 rachael spiewak <rachael(a)sopobikes.org> wrote: >I've read that minimum membership for any nonprofit should be $30 >(too bad I >can't substantiate that right now.. I think maybe I picked that up >from the >Thunderhead Alliance). Check on the free info on >http://foundationcenter.org. > >Here's the art show <http://www.sopobikes.org/events/artshow> >we've got >going on right now. We started organizing it in October and we've >put a >couple hundred bucks into it. I'll let you know if we make money >on it. >Other events we've got in the works are a bicycle flea market >(sellers pay >for a space in our parking lot, buyers shop for free, and we'll >encourage >the sellers to donate their leftovers to us) and a photography >print show >(lots of artists take pics in the shop.. we're very attractive >bike >mechanics) coupled with food demos in the artspace you can see in >the pics >on the art show website. > >-rachael > >On Thu, Apr 3, 2008 at 7:11 PM, Jennifer Nordhem ><jen(a)milehighmess.com> >wrote: > >> Yeah, we won't be selling a whole lot of bicycles. >> Our mission is primarily to teach and assist people >> with their current bikes. We will have a wholesale >> account with which we can sell them parts. I'm sure >> we will end up with a bike or two here and there, some >> used parts, etc. that we will sell, but that's not our >> goal. >> >> We are going to have a membership program which we're >> playing with right now, figuring out how to price >> things, etc. Does anyone have suggestions on that? >> Mark from Re-cycles pointed out the fault in their >> system, any other advise? >> >> In addition to profits from classes and membership we >> will be holding a monthly art show to advertise our >> services to new potential students and have a little >> fun. >> >> Jen >> Battlesteed >> --- rachael spiewak <rachael(a)sopobikes.org> wrote: >> >> > We don't sell refurbished bikes, but a good chunk of >> > our shop generated >> > funds comes from people donating $25 per frame/bike >> > they pick up from us, >> > and they tend to give more for parts even though we >> > consider parts as being >> > included with the bike. We /could/ sell whole bikes >> > for more, but that >> > seems to run up against our general shop philosophy >> > of most things being >> > mostly equal. We don't have membership fees either, >> > which is another great >> > income generator if it works for your >> > shop/organization. >> > >> > -rachael >> > >> > >> > >> > On Thu, Apr 3, 2008 at 12:22 PM, Mark Rehder >> > <mark(a)re-cycles.ca> wrote: >> > >> > > Same for us. Bike sales dominate our income >> > stream, with parts sales >> > > in 2nd place, and income from do-it-yourselfers >> > behind that. >> > > >> > > Mark Rehder - Director >> > > http://re-cycles.ca >> > > >> > > >> > > On 3-Apr-08, at 11:32 AM, Rich Points wrote: >> > > >> > > > I think it's safe to say that most of the >> > collectives out there >> > > > make most of their money from refurbished bike >> > sales. Last year >> > > > bike sales accounted for about 65% of our total >> > income at Community >> > > > Cycles. Refurbished bike sales are our >> > strongest fund raising tool. >> > > > >> > > > Rich >> > > > http://CommunityCycles.org >> > > > >> > > > Jennifer Nordhem wrote: >> > > >> >> > > >> Jay, We are already in the process of becoming >> > a 501(c)3. We're at >> > > >> the Articles of Incorporation and By Laws >> > writing stage. I know >> > > >> the questions I asked were lengthy, I'm just a >> > little overwhelmed, >> > > >> which I'm sure you can understand. Jen --- Jay >> > Varner >> > > >> <jay(a)sopobikes.org> wrote: >> > > >>> >> > > >>> Hi Jennifer, I'm glad you've found the wiki >> > and website useful. >> > > >>> To answer some of your questions - most (if >> > not all) the shops in >> > > >>> the community that operate on grants and >> > donations are non-profit >> > > >>> (501(c)3) organizations. I'm not sure what >> > model you are going >> > > >>> for. The answers to your questions can be a >> > bit complex. To help >> > > >>> us help you, I'd suggest giving this a read >> > and figuring out >> > > >>> where your project fits: >> > > >> http://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/index.php? >> > > >> title=Bike_Collective_Starter_Kit >> > > >>> >> > > >>> On Tue, Apr 1, 2008 at 9:00 PM, Jennifer >> > Nordhem >> > > >>> <jen(a)milehighmess.com> wrote: >> > > >>>> >> > > >>>> Hello everyone, my name is Jennifer Nordhem >> > of the soon to be >> > > >>>> Battlesteed Custom Bike Works in >> > > >>> Denver. >> > > >>>> >> > > >>>> We're currently looking for places to rent >> > for >> > > >>> our new >> > > >>>> >> > > >>>> shop. I noticed some people say they don't, >> > > >>> which >> > > >>>> >> > > >>>> would just be a miracle that I don't foresee >> > > >>> coming >> > > >>>> >> > > >>>> true. Here are the questions I have: How much >> > do you pay for >> > > >>>> rent? About how much money do you receive >> > monthly from grants, >> > > >>>> donations, membership fees, sales, etc? How >> > much do you spend >> > > >>>> monthly on tools, etc? I want to get a grasp >> > on what kind of >> > > >>> income/outflow >> > > >>>> >> > > >>>> to expect so I can budget how much we can >> > afford spending on >> > > >>>> rent. Thanks everyone! The website and wiki >> > have been extremely >> > > >>>> helpful so far, I'm really happy to see >> > > >>> such >> > > >>>> >> > > >>>> a supportive community. Jen >> > > >>>> >> > _______________________________________________ >> > Thethinktank >> > > >>>> mailing list Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> > > >> >> > >> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- >> > > >> bikecollectives.org >> > > >>> >> > > >>> >> > _______________________________________________ >> > Thethinktank >> > > >>> mailing list Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> > > >> >> > >> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- >> > > >> bikecollectives.org >> > > >> _______________________________________________ >> > Thethinktank >> > > >> mailing list Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> > http:// >> > > >> >> > lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- >> > > >> bikecollectives.org >> > > > >> > > > -- Rich Points Community Cycles Director >> > http://CommunityCycles.org >> > > > Rich(a)CommunityCycles.org 720-565-6019 >> > > > _______________________________________________ >> > > > Thethinktank mailing list >> > > > Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> > > > >> > >> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- >> > > > bikecollectives.org >> > > >> > > _______________________________________________ >> > > Thethinktank mailing list >> > > Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> > > >> > > >> > >> >> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- >bikecollectives.org >> > > >> > >> > >> > >> > -- >> > Sopo Bicycle Cooperative >> > 404-425-9989 >> > www.sopobikes.org >> > * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * >> > Hours of operation: >> > Tues/Thurs 7 pm - 10 pm >> > Sat/Sun 2 pm - 5 pm >> > > _______________________________________________ >> > Thethinktank mailing list >> > Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> > >> >> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- >bikecollectives.org >> > >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Thethinktank mailing list >> Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> >> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- >bikecollectives.org >> > > > >-- >Sopo Bicycle Cooperative >404-425-9989 >www.sopobikes.org >* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * >Hours of operation: >Tues/Thurs 7 pm - 10 pm >Sat/Sun 2 pm - 5 pm -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Note: This signature can be verified at https://www.hushtools.com/verify Charset: UTF8 Version: Hush 3.0 wkYEARECAAYFAkf5VSAACgkQ5O7ahKJmrRnaMgCfeGfCmxUFoL29fFvMdZ0JUxQV2T8A oI+BUXvwWsTySW2MS/5iZ8hDHKxz =iPZg -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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Support Community Bike Shop at Whole Foods 4/8
by Community Bicycle Shop Omaha 04 Apr '08

04 Apr '08

Hello, friends – Whole Foods is generously donating 5% of their sales on Tuesday, April 8, to the Community Bicycle Shop of Omaha. Please stop by any time on Tuesday from 8 am to 8 pm for some grocery shopping, and a portion of your purchase will go toward our operating costs. Omaha's Whole Foods is located at 10020 Regency Circle, just south of Dodge. Thank you so much for your support! The Community Bicycle Shop of Omaha

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New shop: Help me budget!
by Jennifer Nordhem 03 Apr '08

03 Apr '08

Hello everyone, my name is Jennifer Nordhem of the soon to be Battlesteed Custom Bike Works in Denver. We're currently looking for places to rent for our new shop. I noticed some people say they don't, which would just be a miracle that I don't foresee coming true. Here are the questions I have: How much do you pay for rent? About how much money do you receive monthly from grants, donations, membership fees, sales, etc? How much do you spend monthly on tools, etc? I want to get a grasp on what kind of income/outflow to expect so I can budget how much we can afford spending on rent. Thanks everyone! The website and wiki have been extremely helpful so far, I'm really happy to see such a supportive community. Jen

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info about Freehub from SF Bike Kitchen
by andrewsawtelle＠riseup.net 03 Apr '08

03 Apr '08

hey hey bike bike people people: A couple weeks back, people were asking about PoS (point of sale/service) systems for tracking parts, members, visits, all sorts of things. Here's what I got from Mario at the SF Bike Kitchen about Freehub, an online system they use for tracking members and visits. They plan to make it available soon after some other shops test it out. Email Mario at mario.bruzzone(a)gmail.com if you want to be part of the test. They want to have a big presentation of the results at the next Bike!Bike! which is September 25-28. andrew recycle-a-bike, providence ri http://www.recycleabike.org ----------------------- Hello from San Francisco! As I mentioned once or twice on the Think Tank list, the Bike Kitchen in San Francisco has been working on an open-source database program named Freehub to track our members and their visits to the shop. We've been using Freehub for about a year now, and are ready to have other shops start testing it to figure out how well it meets their needs (as opposed to just our own). We expect to have a beta version ready for widespread use in 4 to 6 weeks. We're looking for 3-4 shops to commit to using Freehub for 3 months. You're receiving this email because you've either expressed interest in Freehub directly at some point or because you recently sent an email saying that you were looking for such a program, or something similar. Here's the abstract: Freehub is a web-based system used by the San Francisco Bike Kitchen to track membership and visits to our community bike shop. We are working on a new version that will be available for free to other community bike shops through simple online registration. Freehub is: * A database of your members and the services they have access to * A patron sign in system for use at the front desk of the shop * A reporting tool for looking at shop use, membership status, earn-a-bike... Freehub is not: * A broadcast emailer - Freehub will not send emails to your members or patrons * An accounting tool - we do not track money in Freehub * An inventory tool - we do not track tools or parts in Freehub * An point of sale system - we do not track shop sales in Freehub In Freehub, your data belongs to you. Other shops can not see it, we will not use it for any purposes and you can export it in entirety at any time. * To use Freehub, you will need a computer and web access in your shop. We will provide hosting, donated to us by a fairly high-end provider called EngineYard, which specializes in Ruby on Rails (what Freehub is built upon). We'll create a url for you at the freehub.bikekitchen.org, probably something like freehub.bikekitchen.org/sfbk (to use our shop as an example). If you have questions or would like to be part of our testing, let me know. Our goal is to have a significant presentation at Bike!Bike! this year, which is a scant 6 months away! (Sept. 25-28th!) Cheers, Mario Bruzzone Bike Kitchen San Francisco

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solvents in the shop
by Michael Wolfe 02 Apr '08

02 Apr '08

Speaking of liver damage, etc.. Wondering if any shops out there have had issues solvent tanks in their shop? The fumes give me a headache but others don't seem to mind it. Mostly I worry about the health effects on the full time people in the shop. Short of installing a hood or ventalation system, what options are there to locate that stuff outside? On 4/2/08, Tom Emm <tom48236(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > > Acetone, also known as propanone, dimethyl ketone, 2-propanone, > propanone2-one,and ketro-propane is a colorless mobile flammable liquid.itis the simplest example of the ketones. > acetone can dissolve many plastics including those used in Nalgene bottles > made of polystyrene, poly carbonate,and some types of polypropolene. > Toxicology:acetone is an irritant and inhalation may cause hepatoxic > effects(causing liver damage). the vapors should be avoided. always use > goggles when handling acetone. > from Wikipedia. > > ------------------------------ > You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of Blockbuster > Total Access<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=47523/*http://tc.deals.yahoo.com/tc/blockbuster/…>, > No Cost. > > > _______________________________________________ > Thethinktank mailing list > Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… > >

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permission slips for kids to participate in your shop
by rachael spiewak 02 Apr '08

02 Apr '08

Do you have one? Can you share it on the wiki? Thanks! Rachael -- Sopo Bicycle Cooperative 404-425-9989 www.sopobikes.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Hours of operation: Tues/Thurs 7 pm - 10 pm Sat/Sun 2 pm - 5 pm

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Re: [TheThinkTank] solvents in the shop
by Bob Giordano 02 Apr '08

02 Apr '08

Indoor air quality is tops on our list for a healthy shop atmosphere. We do not store anything that gives off harmful fumes. Tooth brushes and simple green (highly diluted) in a small wooden bowl is our parts cleaning station. We are even moving away from simple green (i've learned it is harmful to some)- to a citrus based cleaner. I guess tri flow is the only thing with fumes in the shop. Often we ask people to use it outside. I'd like to find a non-petroleum lube. -Bob Giordano, Free Cycles Missoula Michael Wolfe wrote: > Speaking of liver damage, etc.. Wondering if any shops out there have had > issues solvent tanks in their shop? The fumes give me a headache but others > don't seem to mind it. Mostly I worry about the health effects on the full > time people in the shop. Short of installing a hood or ventalation system, > what options are there to locate that stuff outside?

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no blood for oil
by Tom Emm 02 Apr '08

02 Apr '08

Acetone, also known as propanone, dimethyl ketone, 2-propanone, propanone2-one,and ketro-propane is a colorless mobile flammable liquid.it is the simplest example of the ketones. acetone can dissolve many plastics including those used in Nalgene bottles made of polystyrene, poly carbonate,and some types of polypropolene. Toxicology:acetone is an irritant and inhalation may cause hepatoxic effects(causing liver damage). the vapors should be avoided. always use goggles when handling acetone. from Wikipedia. --------------------------------- You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost.

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