- TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

NYS Meeting of Commuity Bike Shops
by breathingplanet . 05 Feb '15

05 Feb '15

Troy Bike Rescue and newly created Electric City Bike Rescue are hosting an Upstate New York Bike Summit! Community Bike Shops (a.k.a. Bike Rescues) from the Tri-cities area of Albany, Schenectady, and Troy will be present as well as Bike Rescues from Utica, Ithaca, Rochester, and Buffalo. This will be the first gathering for some of these organizations and a reunion for some of the Bike Rescues that participated in TBR's Bike!Bike! event a couple years ago. Topics will range from Best … [View More]

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Earn-A-Bike Program Registration Form Templates
by Najari Smith 05 Feb '15

05 Feb '15

Hi All, Me and my team have started an youth Earn-A-Bike Program but we need some registration forms for parents to fill out. Any other accompanying forms and words of wisdom are very welcome. Thanks for you help! Najari -- Najari Smith 510.255.0625 Executive Director Rich City RIDES <http://richcityrides.org/> P.O. Box 2968 *RICHMOND*, CA 94801 Our mission is to create opportunities for the most vulnerable members of society to use cycling to improve health, economic stability and … [View More]

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World Bike Forum
by Tegan Moss 29 Jan '15

29 Jan '15

Hi All, In four weeks I will be at the World Bike Forum in Medellin Colombia presenting on a panel about "Bike Organizing". Are my co-presenters on this list serve? Who else is headed down? I would love to meet up with some other community bikes shop folks while visiting Colombia! Please feel free to reach me directly at tegan(a)communitybikeshop.org or 705-775-7227 if you are headed that way and would like to connect. Cheers, Tegan -- -- B!KE: The Peterborough Community Bike Shop 336 … [View More]

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Troy Bike Rescue
by Josh Bisker 28 Jan '15

28 Jan '15

Who are my Troy Bike Rescue folks? Email me off-thread please. Actual important thing. Josh ____________________________________ The ThinkTank mailing List <a href="http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o…">Unsubscribe from this list</a>

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Portable Bike Co-op
by Justin Smith 24 Jan '15

24 Jan '15

We like the idea of having some sort of trailer, wagon or otherwise that we can take throughout the city to different neighborhoods, events and otherwise to help make bike repairs. We'd love your suggestions for what type of trailer to use, how to organize, actual plans and costs, your sources of funding, and all other advice and input you care to share. Thanks! -- Justin Smith Bike Erie www.bikeerie.org [1] (814) 580-9108 Follow us on Facebook [2] & Twitter [3]! Links: ----… [View More]

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Fwd: The Community Spoke! is looking for new leadership or to donate our resources
by The Community Spoke! 22 Jan '15

22 Jan '15

Hey Everyone, It's been over a year since our last event and it is with mixed emotions that we announce that the core group that makes up The Community Spoke! is moving on to new things. We're looking for a new group to take and reinvent the Spoke and provide a much needed service to the Boston area. We have a full workshop of tools, supplies and parts and a reserve of cash dedicated to the project that we would like to pass on. This is essentially a "bike co-op in a box." Ideally, we'll … [View More]

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Bike Tracking Tags
by David Eyer Davis 22 Jan '15

22 Jan '15

Hi Bayley, It's a good question. Long story short, don't put beginners in key decision making roles. Killing a bike is highly subjective: we kill most department store full suspension 24" bikes, for example, even if they're largely ridable but have 1-2 key needs, but would save even the grossest road bike from total destruction because they're so sought after. Try and have a core volunteer or staff member make the calls, then the beginner volunteer do the task at hand. Our mechanics use the … [View More]first section of this checklist to determine whether or not to kill a bike: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mvJGn6drZsb5L_kXiEFJUpHHAbmWGwZQzJqo7Yk… On top of that, we get so many adult-sized department store bikes that if the bike has 2 of the following issues, it dies: seized cables/broken housing, broken shifters, unsalvagable rear wheel, play in rear swingarm, missing components. We train people up similarly to you: start 'em with killing bikes, move on to patching tubes/fixing flats, then tuning kids bikes (without gyros/gears) kids bikes with gears/gyros, 24" bikes, finally 26" huffys, then everything else. Cheers, Davey On Wed, Jan 21, 2015 at 4:29 PM, Bayley Vanderpoel < bayley.vanderpoel(a)velocitycoop.org> wrote: > Davey, > Do you have a method of sorting the bikes after they're triaged, such as > sorting them by particular issue? > > I ask because our organization gets a lot of beginners. We decided to > train them by triaging all the bikes we get, then having them focus on > particular components each time they come in. > > The first day a volunteer might replace 8 bad tires on bikes, the next > time they might true a dozen wheels, then the next time they adjust a dozen > brakes. > > I'm struggling to wrap my head around a method which allows volunteers to > quickly find bikes with the component that needs work. I'd like bikes to be > fixed in a sequence but can't figure out the best way to sort. Anyways I'm > interested in hearing your thoughts. Thanks! > > Bayley > Velocity Bicycle Cooperative > Alexandria VA > > On Wednesday, January 21, 2015, David Eyer Davis < > davey(a)bicyclecollective.org> wrote: > >> Hi Johnny, All, >> Thanks Jonathan for the big picture perspective. It's helped a lot in >> Salt Lake, we delivered 2427 refurbished bikes to our community last year >> from that location alone, out of 2837 donated. >> >> Specifically, we've been using the Walking Bird inventory control tag >> <http://walkingbird.com/> to good effect, but haven't been attaching it >> to the bike upon donation. Our kids bikes and kill bikes (around 1200 bikes >> last year) duck that system, once a bike is donated it is triaged, sorted >> to be killed by volunteers, tuned by more skilled volunteers, or fixed by >> paid mechanics. Only the bikes fixed by paid mechanics get a walking bird >> tag. At this point you can integrate the system into your POS, since each >> walking bird tag has a unique number. We use the tags to track the bike's >> progress from mechanic to sales floor to client/customer, keeping the tag >> on file after the bike has left the shop. So if a huffy comes in, gets two >> hours spent on it, new tires and tubes and a brake cable, then is given >> away a week later, the director of operations sees that bike coming and >> going. We haven't integrated the system into our POS yet, rather we just >> keep the tags, the director of operations goes through them to reconcile >> consumables inventory and log mechanic efficiency, and keeps the paper on >> file in case there's an issue with the bike down the road. We will >> integrate with our POS as soon as we spend the time stepping it up to a >> functional computer based, rather than partial paper, inventory. I'll >> report back then. >> >> I believe they're available through QBP, possibly J&B. >> >> Thanks, >> Davey >> -- >> >> David Eyer Davis >> Executive Director >> Bicycle Collective >> c: 801-230-6308 >> www.bicyclecollective.org >> >> The mission of the 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 Collective provides refurbished >> bicycles and educational programs to the community, focusing on children >> and lower income households. >> >> On Wed, Jan 21, 2015 at 10:54 AM, Jonathan Morrison < >> jonathan.morrison(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> >>> In my personal experience there is nothing new about what community bike >>> shops do. All those "ah-ha!" moments are usually when someone has >>> (un)intentionally applied an existing concept from another >>> application/industry to their community bike shop. So save yourself the >>> trouble and time of reinventing the wheel by actively trying to identify >>> those concepts in the first place. >>> >>> Our current Executive Director (Davey Davis) hit it on nose when he >>> claimed that *"this isn't a shop, it is a factory"* at least in terms >>> of operations management ( >>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operations_management). >>> >>> While I spent years in that shop, I failed to see it. Davey is a >>> genius. But the fact is, broken bicycles are the raw material that we >>> refine (in mass quantity) into a consumable product that is >>> sold/re-donated. The more successful Community Bike Shops (that help the >>> most people) are the ones that make that refurbishing process as efficient >>> as possible. >>> >>> Efficiency happens when you increase the number of bicycles that go >>> through the shop, while decreasing waste and the time it takes to for the >>> average bike to go in and out the shop's door. *A sign that you have >>> an efficiency problem are excess storage. *Especially if they are >>> stored for more than one "busy season". Given that some shops are in >>> seasonal weather, obviously things might stack up in the winter. >>> Accordingly, each shop will have a different averages and goals. >>> >>> So, what the hell am I rambling on about? >>> >>> *If you don't track the bikes (dates, times and stages), it is hard to >>> know how to improve.* >>> >>> If you are looking for a quick / fun / easy / socratic / fictional tale >>> to get inspired on how operations management might help your shop achieve >>> its mission, consider reading the, "The Goal." >>> >>> >>> http://www.homeworkforyou.com/static/uploadedfiles/User_569117112014E_M_Gol… >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> Sincerely, >>> >>> Jonathan Morrison >>> c: 801-688-0183 >>> >>> On Wed, Jan 21, 2015 at 7:45 AM, Nathan Wilkes <nwilkes2(a)gmail.com> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> I was thinking a simple numbered ID. >>>> >>>> Nathan >>>> >>>> On Tue, Jan 20, 2015 at 3:42 PM, Jonathan Morrison < >>>> jonathan.morrison(a)gmail.com> wrote: >>>> >>>>> What kind of solution are you looking into? >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Sincerely, >>>>> >>>>> Jonathan Morrison >>>>> c: 801-688-0183 >>>>> >>>>> On Mon, Jan 19, 2015 at 3:33 PM, jonny b <jonny(a)goodlifebikes.ca> >>>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Hi Friends, >>>>>> >>>>>> Do any shops have examples of tags that they use to track who >>>>>> donated bikes, who's worked on the bikes, bike's state of repair, etc? >>>>>> We're working on creating something simple and effective to facilitate >>>>>> donor recognition as well as getting bikes effectively prepared and sorted >>>>>> for our youth programs. >>>>>> >>>>>> Thanks! >>>>>> Jonny >>>>>> >>>>>> John Barrett >>>>>> The Good Life Community Bicycle Shop / Two Wheel View / Barrett's >>>>>> Organic Berries >>>>>> www.goodlifebikes.ca / www.twowheelview.org / >>>>>> www.facebook.com/localorganicbarrettsberries >>>>>> jonny(a)goodlifebikes.ca >>>>>> 403.619.2648 >>>>>> >>>>>> ____________________________________ >>>>>> >>>>>> The ThinkTank mailing List >>>>>> <a href=" >>>>>> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o…">Unsubscribe >>>>>> from this list</a> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>> >> >> >> >> >> -- David Eyer Davis Executive Director Bicycle Collective c: 801-230-6308 www.bicyclecollective.org The mission of the 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 Collective provides refurbished bicycles and educational programs to the community, focusing on children and lower income households. ____________________________________ The ThinkTank mailing List <a href="http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o…">Unsubscribe from this list</a> [View Less]

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Bike Tracking Tags
by Paul Nagel 21 Jan '15

21 Jan '15

Jonny, Attached is the tag that we use. It was modified from the tag found in the appendices of Recycle-a-Bicycle's Tools for Life: https://www.transalt.org/sites/default/files/resources/toolsforlife/26netwo… I've also attached a tag we use for wheels and other items. We might seek to change the bike tag a bit so the tag slides inside a plastic sleeve, because even printing on more expensive cardstock, the tags can rip off the ties. - Paul The Bicycle Tree shop: (714) 760-4681811 N. Main St.… [View More]

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Bike Tracking Tags
by Jonathan Morrison 21 Jan '15

21 Jan '15

In my personal experience there is nothing new about what community bike shops do. All those "ah-ha!" moments are usually when someone has (un)intentionally applied an existing concept from another application/industry to their community bike shop. So save yourself the trouble and time of reinventing the wheel by actively trying to identify those concepts in the first place. Our current Executive Director (Davey Davis) hit it on nose when he claimed that *"this isn't a shop, it is a factory"*… [View More] at least in terms of operations management (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operations_management). While I spent years in that shop, I failed to see it. Davey is a genius. But the fact is, broken bicycles are the raw material that we refine (in mass quantity) into a consumable product that is sold/re-donated. The more successful Community Bike Shops (that help the most people) are the ones that make that refurbishing process as efficient as possible. Efficiency happens when you increase the number of bicycles that go through the shop, while decreasing waste and the time it takes to for the average bike to go in and out the shop's door. *A sign that you have an efficiency problem are excess storage. *Especially if they are stored for more than one "busy season". Given that some shops are in seasonal weather, obviously things might stack up in the winter. Accordingly, each shop will have a different averages and goals. So, what the hell am I rambling on about? *If you don't track the bikes (dates, times and stages), it is hard to know how to improve.* If you are looking for a quick / fun / easy / socratic / fictional tale to get inspired on how operations management might help your shop achieve its mission, consider reading the, "The Goal." http://www.homeworkforyou.com/static/uploadedfiles/User_569117112014E_M_Gol… Sincerely, Jonathan Morrison c: 801-688-0183 On Wed, Jan 21, 2015 at 7:45 AM, Nathan Wilkes <nwilkes2(a)gmail.com> wrote: > I was thinking a simple numbered ID. > > Nathan > > On Tue, Jan 20, 2015 at 3:42 PM, Jonathan Morrison < > jonathan.morrison(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >> What kind of solution are you looking into? >> >> >> Sincerely, >> >> Jonathan Morrison >> c: 801-688-0183 >> >> On Mon, Jan 19, 2015 at 3:33 PM, jonny b <jonny(a)goodlifebikes.ca> wrote: >> >>> Hi Friends, >>> >>> Do any shops have examples of tags that they use to track who donated >>> bikes, who's worked on the bikes, bike's state of repair, etc? We're >>> working on creating something simple and effective to facilitate donor >>> recognition as well as getting bikes effectively prepared and sorted for >>> our youth programs. >>> >>> Thanks! >>> Jonny >>> >>> John Barrett >>> The Good Life Community Bicycle Shop / Two Wheel View / Barrett's >>> Organic Berries >>> www.goodlifebikes.ca / www.twowheelview.org / >>> www.facebook.com/localorganicbarrettsberries >>> jonny(a)goodlifebikes.ca >>> 403.619.2648 >>> >>> ____________________________________ >>> >>> The ThinkTank mailing List >>> <a href=" >>> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o…">Unsubscribe >>> from this list</a> >>> >>> >>> >> > ____________________________________ The ThinkTank mailing List <a href="http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o…">Unsubscribe from this list</a> [View Less]

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Bike Tracking Tags
by Justin Smith 20 Jan '15

20 Jan '15

We're interested as well. --- Justin Smith Bike Erie www.bikeerie.org [5] (814) 580-9108 Follow us on Facebook [6] & Twitter [7]! On 01/19/2015 3:33 pm, jonny b wrote: > Hi Friends, > > Do any shops have examples of tags that they use to track who donated bikes, who's worked on the bikes, bike's state of repair, etc? We're working on creating something simple and effective to facilitate donor recognition as well as getting bikes effectively prepared and sorted for … [View More]

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