- TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

Test for (volunteer) mechanics?
by Paul Nagel 04 Jun '13

04 Jun '13

To start off, we've been seeing that nearly everyone (literally 49 out of 50 or even 99 out of 100) that comes to our workshops for do-it-together repair knows very little about bike maintenance (don't know a barrel adjuster from a limit screw). The process of learning is fundamental to these workshops, as it may be for most of the groups on this list. The notion of having a workspace where someone is vaguely supervising while people have at their bikes would not work for us at all. We pretty much need to be one on one with our visitors, we were 3 visitors to one volunteer the other day and it was far from optimal. In this light, it is important that our volunteer mechanics be at least decent mechanics as well as good teachers. We respect the importance of "hands off", but know that people come to our workshops not so much for the tools, but rather for the assistance of someone who knows what they are doing. So, I'm wondering if anyone uses a pretty simple written test (30 - 50 questions) in the process of bringing in new volunteer mechanics. We do not currently, though we do have new volunteers self-evaluate their level of knowledge on a one-page volunteer information form. I'm thinking a test could help quickly and objectively evaluate a person's skill level and help identify opportunities for growth. Any advice regarding problems and pitfalls would be appreciated. Of course any sample tests would be fantastic. This could be the same as an Earn-A-Bike test. Thank you, Paul Nagel The Bicycle Tree P.O. Box 11293 Santa Ana, CA 92711 http://www.thebicycletree.org info(a)thebicycletree.org

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Experience with Surly Cargo Trailers (Bill or Ted Trailer)?
by christopher＠holisticcycles.com 03 Jun '13

03 Jun '13

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Experience with Surly Cargo Trailers (Bill or Ted Trailer)?
by christopher＠holisticcycles.com 31 May '13

31 May '13

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Need Bike Valet Racks? Has anyone here thought of doing Bike Valet?? Contact SPOKES....
by Brian Drayton 30 May '13

30 May '13

Valet Bike Parking is like a coat check for your bike. Your organizaton can provide safe, free , event parking for many of the outdoor festivals in your area.. It is a fun way to be involved in the festivities of your cities events while promoting bicycling as an everyday means of transportation for everyone, and lowering the carbon foot print of each event , the city, and the planet. It is also an opportunity to work with your community spreading cycle frienly service and encouraging cycle culture . > *"For Brian Drayton, bike parking is not just a convenience; it's a > necessity, a mission, a movement in the making. Richmond Spokes, the > organization he founded in early 2009, provides valet bicycle parking at > about 25 small- to medium-size events throughout the Bay Area each year. > But more impressive than that is his sheer ambition. > "I want people to understand we can use bikes for everything, everyday," > Drayton said. "There should be as many bike-parking facilities as there are > gas stations in the world."* From: East Bay Express http://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/a-bike-rack-on-every-corner/Content?o… * * ****SPOKES can also prepare a Bike Valet SUrvival kit with instrucions best practices forms documents and strategies for marketing , deploying and monitizing your Bike Valet movement * *NEW!!! * Spokes New Portable (Moved by Bikes)Racks are durable and compact and available to other community bike orgs through SPOKES. *2013 SPOKES GETS NEW RACKS (Available Now)* * * * [image: 2013]<https://sites.google.com/a/richmondspokes.org/about/programs-1/programs/val…> * *After three years of our basic steel conduit racks , SPOKES has found the rack that rocks for bike Valet. **By this spring SPOKES will have replaced all our old racks with the Moved by bikes portable racks.* * * *SPOKES is also going to be Subsidizing these racks for other community bike organizations and bike coops to encourage the National Bike Movement in each SPOKES city. * * * * * *To make an order inquiry fill out the form at the bottom of this page or click this link<https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dERkRGcxcGxNREh2ejFEem…> * * * * https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dERkRGcxcGxNREh2ejFEem… * *Price List * *Racks are: <https://sites.google.com/a/richmondspokes.org/about/programs-1/programs/val…> * - *$190 Each MSRP for companies and individuals* - *$100-$160 for qualifying community members and community bike organizations & cycling clubs** * * *Please fill out Rack Purchase inquiry below and let us know about your organization. * * * * * * * * * For inquiries email: racks(a)richmondspokes.org or call the Shop at 510-545-2243 <https://sites.google.com/a/richmondspokes.org/about/programs-1/programs/val…> * The community Bike Collective is dedicated to providing technical support and financial assistance to any community serving organization showing the will capacity and audience for Free Bike Valet services within their community. For more information about CBC and how we areplanning to use collective purchasing capitol to create deeper econimic prosperity in the community bike culture. Please join us: *here:https://sites.google.com/a/richmondspokes.org/about/programs-1/cbc* *CBC reserves the right to review applications and make delegations of subsidies and discounts under the strict criteria based on the factors set by our advisory and board of directors to make such delegations of the for mentioned subsidies to organizations contributing to our national Bike Valet Movement. * Bike Rack Order Form Open *Bike Rack Order Form*<https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?authuser=1&hl=en&key=0AoF6wNHB…> Brian Drayton Oakland SPOKES Community Bike Lounge 465 9th Street Oakland, Ca. 94607 510-545-2243 Brian(a)oaklandspokes.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Oakland SPOKES loves it's Popup Home!!! Support us with your words in extending our Popup Lease and moving toward a long term /Permanant lease allowing us capitalize our community comittment. Please lend us yout testimonial of support by filling out this petition of support. (responders recieve a 15% Discount card via email) http://tinyurl.com/oaklandspokes ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ <https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=JFMWCU…>

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Climate Action
by Vernon Huffman 29 May '13

29 May '13

Please share your thoughts about the role of cyclists in transitioning from a fossil fuel economy. Bike4Peace has organized many cross continental rides to demonstrate the viability of efficient human powered transportation. We're eager to consider ways we can mobilize cyclists to augment the political movement to address climate change. Thanks -Vernon ----------------------------------------------------------+ | __o CONTINENTAL CRITICAL MASS | _`\;,_ come ride with me | (*)/ (*) My Blog | Bike4Peace Across the USA -----------------------------------------------------------+ - Vernon Huffman creator of Change

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Thethinktank Digest, Vol 81, Issue 22
by Carolyn Szczepanski 29 May '13

29 May '13

Hey folks- The League is *just getting started* in developing our equity initiative and pulled together a mini-report on "The New Majority: Pedaling Toward Equity." Would love to hear folks' feedback. Here's the link to the report: http://www.bikeleague.org/news/equity_report.pdf *CAROLYN SZCZEPANSKI*, *Director of Communications, Women Bike* CAROLYN(a)BIKELEAGUE.ORG | 202-621-5452 *THE LEAGUE OF AMERICAN BICYCLISTS* WWW.BIKELEAGUE.ORG <http://www.bikeleague.org> TWITTER <https://twitter.com/BikeLeague> | FACEBOOK<http://www.facebook.com/leagueamericanbicyclists> | YOUTUBE <http://www.youtube.com/user/bikeleaguevideo> *May is National Bike Month; Learn more here!<http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/bikemonth/> * On Wed, May 29, 2013 at 2:43 PM, < thethinktank-request(a)lists.bikecollectives.org> wrote: > Send Thethinktank mailing list submissions to > thethinktank(a)lists.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)lists.bikecollectives.org > > You can reach the person managing the list at > thethinktank-owner(a)lists.bikecollectives.org > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Thethinktank digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Need Bike Valet Racks? Has anyone here thought of doing Bike > Valet?? Contact SPOKES.... (Brian Drayton) > 2. Re: Need Bike Valet Racks? Has anyone here thought of doing > Bike Valet?? Contact SPOKES.... (Reno Bikes) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Wed, 29 May 2013 11:12:58 -0700 > From: Brian Drayton <brian(a)oaklandspokes.org> > To: The Think Tank <thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org> > Subject: [TheThinkTank] Need Bike Valet Racks? Has anyone here thought > of doing Bike Valet?? Contact SPOKES.... > Message-ID: > <CAL9cosbaVgUT1T3= > yeJJm6Lhce5PcmVOKFo+WrWWBomJa-haAA(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Valet Bike Parking is like a coat check for your bike. Your organizaton > can provide safe, free , event parking for many of the outdoor festivals > in your area.. > > > It is a fun way to be involved in the festivities of your cities events > while promoting bicycling as an everyday means of transportation for > everyone, and lowering the carbon foot print of each event , the city, and > the planet. It is also an opportunity to work with your community > spreading cycle frienly service and encouraging cycle culture . > > > > *"For Brian Drayton, bike parking is not just a convenience; it's a > > necessity, a mission, a movement in the making. Richmond Spokes, the > > organization he founded in early 2009, provides valet bicycle parking at > > about 25 small- to medium-size events throughout the Bay Area each year. > > But more impressive than that is his sheer ambition. > > "I want people to understand we can use bikes for everything, everyday," > > Drayton said. "There should be as many bike-parking facilities as there > are > > gas stations in the world."* > > > From: East Bay Express > > http://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/a-bike-rack-on-every-corner/Content?o… > > * > * > ****SPOKES can also prepare a Bike Valet SUrvival kit with instrucions > best practices forms documents and strategies for marketing , > deploying and monitizing your Bike Valet movement * > > > *NEW!!! * Spokes New Portable (Moved by Bikes)Racks are durable and compact > and available to other community bike orgs through SPOKES. > > *2013 SPOKES GETS NEW RACKS (Available Now)* > * > * > * > [image: 2013]< > https://sites.google.com/a/richmondspokes.org/about/programs-1/programs/val… > > > > * > *After three years of our basic steel conduit racks , SPOKES has found the > rack that rocks for bike Valet. **By this spring SPOKES will have > replaced all our old racks with the Moved by bikes portable racks.* > * > * > *SPOKES is also going to be Subsidizing these racks for other community > bike organizations and bike coops to encourage the National Bike Movement > in each SPOKES city. * > * > * > * > * > *To make an order inquiry fill out the form at the bottom of this page or > click this link< > https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dERkRGcxcGxNREh2ejFEem… > > > * > * > * > * > > https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dERkRGcxcGxNREh2ejFEem… > * > > *Price List * > *Racks are: > < > https://sites.google.com/a/richmondspokes.org/about/programs-1/programs/val… > > > * > > - *$190 Each MSRP for companies and individuals* > - *$100-$160 for qualifying community members and community bike > organizations & cycling clubs** > > * > * > *Please fill out Rack Purchase inquiry below and let us know about your > organization. * > * > * > * > * > * > * > * > * > For inquiries email: racks(a)richmondspokes.org or call the Shop at > 510-545-2243 > > > < > https://sites.google.com/a/richmondspokes.org/about/programs-1/programs/val… > > > * The community Bike Collective is dedicated to providing technical > support and financial assistance to any community serving organization > showing the will capacity and audience for Free Bike Valet services within > their community. > > For more information about CBC and how we areplanning to use collective > purchasing capitol to create deeper econimic prosperity in the community > bike culture. Please join us: > *here:https://sites.google.com/a/richmondspokes.org/about/programs-1/cbc* > > *CBC reserves the right to review applications and make delegations of > subsidies and discounts under the strict criteria based on the factors set > by our advisory and board of directors to make such delegations of the for > mentioned subsidies to organizations contributing to our national Bike > Valet Movement. * > > Bike Rack Order Form > > Open *Bike Rack Order > Form*< > https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?authuser=1&hl=en&key=0AoF6wNHB… > > > > Brian Drayton > Oakland SPOKES Community Bike Lounge > 465 9th Street > Oakland, Ca. 94607 > 510-545-2243 > Brian(a)oaklandspokes.org > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Oakland SPOKES loves it's Popup Home!!! Support us with your words in > extending our Popup Lease and moving toward a long term /Permanant lease > allowing us capitalize our community comittment. > > Please lend us yout testimonial of support by filling out this petition of > support. (responders recieve a 15% Discount card via email) > > http://tinyurl.com/oaklandspokes > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > < > https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=JFMWCU… > > >

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Bike Purchases with Sweat Equity
by Vernon Huffman 28 May '13

28 May '13

We ran into some potential trouble for paying volunteers with bicycles, which could be a violation of labor laws, so we developed a volunteer incentive program. Paraphrasing, it says if you completely overhaul two bicycles, you can keep the one of lesser value. It allows a Shop Manager to accept equivalent volunteer work in lieu of overhauling a bike. If somebody needs a bike and is willing to make an effort, we make sure she gets it, but we don't give them away. Everybody has some talent to offer. Our slogan is "give a little more than you get." ________________________________ From: "thethinktank-request(a)lists.bikecollectives.org" 1. (Edward Kirkwood) An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://lists.bikecollectives.org/pipermail/thethinktank-bikecollectives.org…>

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Bike Purchases with Sweat Equity
by troy neiman 27 May '13

27 May '13

At BICAS, AZ we have a strict policy to do the work before you get the bike. Nor do we hold bikes while sweat equity (we call work-trade program) is being done. It would be great if everyone would come back and do the work but I am actually surprised that even 50% of the people did. You are already providing a really great service for people and its very fair to ask people to do the work first. Troy Neiman ----- Original Message ----- From: Edward Kirkwood Sent: 05/22/13 06:29 AM To: thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org Subject: [TheThinkTank] Bike Purchases with Sweat Equity At Broke Spoke Community Bike Shop in Lexington, KY, our bike purchase policy is: People without the financial means can purchase a bike that is priced < $100 totally on credit that day with the verbal agreement that they return to shop and volunteer enough to pay their debt off. Our sweat equity policy pays folks $8 / hour in shop credit. After a review of our sweat equity accounts that we keep for each customer, we discovered that over 50% of the folks who purchased a 100% sweat equity bike never came back after that initial visit/bike purchase. Our mission is to provide better acccess to better bicycles used for transportation and to enable folks to perform their own maintenance. While our current policy is providing bikes to people, we are questioning whether we are giving folks a handout rather than a hand-up. We would like to hear how some of you handle sweat equity bike purchases. More specifically adult purchases as we do not have a huge kid market. Allen Kirkwood Broke Spoke

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1304 Bikes Needs Your Help!
by 1304bikes 22 May '13

22 May '13

You are receiving this email because at some point in the past you contacted 1304 Bikes, whether it was to donate a bike, inquire about getting a bike, or to help out in any way. We are writing you now to ask for your help in re-opening our doors after 4 years of being closed. We have found a new space in downtown Raleigh, but we need to raise enough money for our first years rent plus some start-up costs. This will give us the time needed to focus on re-establishing our previously successful programs and to create a sustainable fundraising model that will carry us into the future. We have 10 days left in our campaign and still have a ways to go, but if everyone who reads this email gave just $15 we would get there! So please consider donating. We are running a fixed campaign, so if we don't reach our goal, we get nothing and you will get a full refund. You can read below for more information or head to our funding site to see pictures, check out the perks we're offering, and make a donation. Thank you all for your support, past and present, and our apologies if you have already received this or donated (thank you!) *Donation Page:* http://igg.me/at/1304bikes/x/2593075 *More detailed info on 1304bikes and our fundraising campaign:* As Raleigh’s only non-profit bicycle program, past or present, 1304 bikes filled a unique niche in the bicycle community. Established in 2005, it was the only place where Raleigh residents, regardless of income, could earn a bicycle, find spare parts, use community tools, and receive repair instruction. Our parts and tools were provided to residents at no cost, and participants in the Earn-a-Bike program could obtain a free bicycle by volunteering to help at the shop for 1-8 hours. Our other programs included Open Shop where access to tools and used parts are freely accessible to the bicycle community and Kid-a-bike where donated kids bikes are refurbished and distributed at no cost to children. Over the years, the popularity of 1304 bikes grew and the organization became widely loved by the cycling community. 1304 bikes served a wide-spread and diverse cross section of the Raleigh population, including youth, college students, the homeless and cyclists of all walks. The number of shop users and Earn-a-Bike participants grew with each year we remained open, and we were on track in 2009 to have over 300 people complete the Earn-a-Bike program. Our busiest summer months would typically see 25-30 successful Earn-a-Bikers as well as up to 50 shop users during open hours. Our new space will allow us to continue the growth we had, as well as to reach new people and expand the programs and services that we offer. 1304 bikes also provided a valuable outlet for residents wishing to see their old bicycles reused and recycled instead of going to the landfill. We try to minimize as much waste as we can, re-purposing parts and bikes we cannot use into work stands, bike art, jewelry, etc. What we cannot use, we recycle including steel, aluminum, and tires. Unfortunately in 2009, 1304 bikes was forced to cease operations due to improper zoning of the building we operated in. In the last 4 years, little traction was made in finding a new shop space, especially one that was centrally located and affordable for a nonprofit with a meager income. At last though, we have finally found a new space in downtown Raleigh that we are excited about! It is on N. West St. and we will be renting 1,500 square feet of warehouse type space with the potential to expand as we grow. But with little funds in our account and no fundraising mechanisms in place due to our 4 year layoff, we are going to need some help. We are asking for the community’s support helping us to raise our first year's rent up front as well as some start-up money for tools, signage, workbenches, etc. We are running a fixed funding campaign, which means we will only get funded if we reach our goal. We feel that for 1304 bikes to thrive, we need to act now and spend the next several months focusing on reestablishing our previously successful shop programs and rebuilding a member base rather than worrying about fundraising. If we meet our funding goal, it will give us the breathing room we need to get 1304 up and running again; otherwise we will step back from 1304 bikes and hopefully find other ways to be a positive part of the Raleigh community. We initially got involved in this project because we loved riding and fixing bikes as well as the sense of community that came with those things. Please help us get back to sharing what we love and rebuilding that community by donating. -- 1304bikes www.1304bikes.com https://www.facebook.com/1304Bikes

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Bike Purchases with Sweat Equity
by Edward Kirkwood 22 May '13

22 May '13

At Broke Spoke Community Bike Shop in Lexington, KY, our bike purchase policy is: People without the financial means can purchase a bike that is priced < $100 totally on credit that day with the verbal agreement that they return to shop and volunteer enough to pay their debt off. Our sweat equity policy pays folks $8 / hour in shop credit. After a review of our sweat equity accounts that we keep for each customer, we discovered that over 50% of the folks who purchased a 100% sweat equity bike never came back after that initial visit/bike purchase. Our mission is to provide better acccess to better bicycles used for transportation and to enable folks to perform their own maintenance. While our current policy is providing bikes to people, we are questioning whether we are giving folks a handout rather than a hand-up. We would like to hear how some of you handle sweat equity bike purchases. More specifically adult purchases as we do not have a huge kid market. Allen Kirkwood Broke Spoke

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