- TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

Riding More with Less
by Sam Tracy 12 Jun '24

12 Jun '24

Hello ThinkTank, Greetings! Hope you're well. I wanted to let people know about my new book *Riding More with Less*, published 1/23/24 by PM Press. It focuses on resourceful approaches towards fixing the bikes people actually ride, giving space to topics including how to break rust, knowing when it's safe to reuse parts, and more broadly to the many older technologies still in common use. Best of all, the book also features technical insights and commentary from volunteers and mechanics at 34 community bike shops across 4 countries. Great to encounter so many insightful people, through this project -- I learnt a lot, and as I hope you'll agree their voices add quite a bit. Background: I began working as a mechanic in bike shops in 1994, and this is my fourth bike repair manual. It's the second one that I've done with PM Press. More info can be found at the publisher's website here: https://pmpress.org/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1543 Question: I'll be visiting family in the Boston/Cambridge area the second and third weeks of July, and I'm hoping to set up some book events. Would anyone know people at community shops out there whom I might ask about this? Thanks, Sam Tracy

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Employing 14-15 year olds in VA bike shops
by Emily Gage 10 Jun '24

10 Jun '24

Hi All, Here at Phoenix Bikes in Arlington, VA, we run paid internship programs in our bike shop for high school students. One internship program focuses on “business” skills including the sale of used bikes and mechanics work on bikes; the other internship is focused on having interns teach mechanics skills to other students. We’ve only been employing 16+ students for both. But for the teaching internship, we have more 9th and 10th graders interested than older high schoolers, so we want to revisit whether we can employ younger students. Virginia's teen employment site is super specific about which jobs and employment locations are allowed for 14-15 year olds, whereas rules around job duties for 16+ year olds are much more relaxed. If you are a Virginia-based shop that has employed students younger than 16, what duties did you allow the younger students to do and what labor laws/guidance were you following? Just would love to know if others have gone down this path and made it work. Thanks, Emily Sent from my iPhone

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Encuesta sobre llamado a Asamblea virtual Bici!Bici! / Call for Bike!Bike! online Assembly
by Angie Libertad 08 Jun '24

08 Jun '24

Querida Comunidad de Bici!Bici!, En los últimos meses, nos han estado preguntando cuándo será la próxima Bici!Bici! Nos vimos por última vez en el 2018 en Tijuana y desde entonces no hemos podido reunirnos en persona y decidir colectivamente sobre la próxima Bici!Bici! Por esta razón, el comité organizador de Bici! Bici! En Todas Partes! quiere tu opinión sobre tener una asamblea virtual sobre el próximo encuentro de Bici! Bici! y también queremos conocer sus ideas de lo que les gustaría ver en la próxima reunión de Bici! Bici! En Todas Partes! Les pedimos que llenen esta encuesta antes del 13 de junio para que podamos conocer las necesidades de las comunidad ciclistas para nuestra planificación de B!B!E! BbLiga de la encuesta: https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSd9eM1esnn5gz.../viewform Si quieres unirte al comité directivo, siempre necesitamos más ayuda allí, por favor envíanos un correo electrónico a bikebikeeverywhere(a)gmail.com para unirte como voluntaria/o en el comité organizador. ---- Dear Bike!Bike! community, Over the past months, everyone has been asking when the next bike bike is happening. We last saw each other at Bike!Bike! 2018 in Tijuana before the pandemic and we have not had an in-person opportunity to come together and decide collectively on the next Bike! Bike!. For this reason, the Bike! Bike! Everywhere! steering committee wants your feedback on holding an online assembly about the next in person Bike! Bike! and to learn about your ideas of what you´d like to see at the next Bike! Bike! Everywhere! gathering. We ask that you kindly fill out this poll by the 13th of June so we can learn about your bike community's needs to plan the next BBE. Link to poll: https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSe7XFmZepQvyY.../viewform If you'd like to join the steering committee we always need more help there, please send us an email at bikebikeeverywhere(a)gmail.com to join as a volunteer on the organizing committee.

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What do y'all do with old cycling computers?
by Triss Cimò 08 May '24

08 May '24

Hi, all, Our shop's been slowly amassing too many donated old cyclometers (like the old wired ones with spoke-mounted magnets, lots of Cateyes and some Shimanos and other brands). I'm seeing that when they're complete in a box and have all the parts they sometimes sell on eBay, but generally our clientele is not interested in this now obsolete tech. We don't currently have an electronics recycling partner, but I'm worried that looking for a way to recycle these is our only option. Does anyone in this group have wisdom to share on this topic before we go down that route? What have your other shops done with yours? Thanks in advance! -- Triss Cimò* (they/them)* *Crew at The <http://www.thebicycletree.org/>* * Bicycle Tree <http://www.thebicycletree.org/>, Santa Ana, California*

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Biking videos and info for kids
by Marc Ford 08 May '24

08 May '24

Hi folks, Some neighbors are getting together a bike-bus to bike to the local elementary school (up to age 10). The school is cool with it and has asked that there be some kind of unspecified "safety thing". This is all coming together without much notice so all the local organizations that could help are busy. So these neighbors are looking for something to share with the school or parents. I found a couple videos. They are OK but a little preachy. Anyone have anything you've made or like for this? The expectation is that parents are riding with kids, on one lane neighborhood streets. Thanks! Marc

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Phoenix Bikes Hiring for Executive Director
by Emily Gage 04 May '24

04 May '24

Hi Everyone, I've announced I'll be stepping down from my position as Phoenix Bikes' Executive Director at the end of August. I've absolutely loved this role over the past five and a half years and would love to see us find an exceptional person to lead Phoenix Bikes into the future! Phoenix Bikes is an Arlington, Virginia nonprofit that uniquely combines youth educational programs with a full-service bike shop. We pursue a dynamic mission: harnessing the power of bikes to help youth build passion, purpose, and a place in the community. Our incredible supporters—including individual donors, foundations and corporate sponsors, and bike shop customers—make it possible for us to offer our youth programs entirely free of cost and to offer repairs and sales at affordable prices, so that we can serve the underserved in our community. You can learn more about Phoenix Bikes and our work at www.phoenixbikes.org. The Executive Director has overall responsibility for ensuring that programs—both our youth training programs and our community bike shop—are running successfully, executing successful fundraising, managing the financial health and the sustainability of the organization, developing staff, and managing operations. This full-time position manages an annual operating budget of about $700,000 and an outstanding team of five full-time staff and 7-12 part-time staff, supported by over 100 volunteers. Please see our Indeed posting for further details: Phoenix Bikes Executive Director <https://www.indeed.com/job/executive-director-317821f41b17d690?_gl=1*1vkacq…>. *Applications close May 14.* Best, Emily _________________ [image: Phoenix Bikes] <https://www.phoenixbikes.org/> *Emily Gage* Executive Director, Phoenix Bikes www.phoenixbikes.org | emily(a)phoenixbikes.org [image: icon] 909 S. Dinwiddie St. Arlington, VA 22204 <https://maps.google.com/?q=909%20S.%20Dinwiddie%20St.%20Arlington,%20VA%202…> [image: icon] (703) 346-0035

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Now Hiring: Lincoln (Nebraska) Bike Kitchen Executive Director
by Director Lincoln Bike Kitchen 02 May '24

02 May '24

Please spread the word about this job posting. We are looking for a full-time executive director with nonprofit skills who loves bikes! The full posting is available at:https://www.lincolnbikekitchen.org/careers I am also happy to answer any questions about the position as I have been at Lincoln Bike Kitchen for the last 4 months. It truly is a great group of volunteers to work with. Ingrid -- Ingrid Kirst Interim Executive Director Lincoln Bike Kitchen<http://lincolnbikekitchen.org/>

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We're Hiring a Mechanics Instructor!
by Emily Gage 22 Apr '24

22 Apr '24

Hi Friends, Our team at Phoenix Bikes <https://www.phoenixbikes.org/> in Arlington, Virginia is growing, and we're adding a part-time Mechanics Instructor/Youth Instructor position. We're seeking candidates who excel at relationship building with youth, are experienced bike mechanics, and thrive in fast-paced environments. This team member would mostly work weekday afternoons and Saturdays, teaching 6th-12th grade youth how to fix bikes! For more information or to apply, please visit the job posting on Indeed here: Phoenix Bikes Mechanics Instructor <https://www.indeed.com/job/mechanics-instructor-8f5fb4d9dccbcdb6>. *Who We Are* Phoenix Bikes is an Arlington, Virginia nonprofit that uniquely combines youth educational programs with a full-service bike shop. We pursue a dynamic mission: harnessing the power of bikes to help youth build passion, purpose, and a place in the community . Warmly, Emily _________________ [image: Phoenix Bikes] <https://www.phoenixbikes.org/> *Emily Gage* Executive Director, Phoenix Bikes www.phoenixbikes.org | emily(a)phoenixbikes.org [image: icon] 909 S. Dinwiddie St. Arlington, VA 22204 <https://maps.google.com/?q=909%20S.%20Dinwiddie%20St.%20Arlington,%20VA%202…> [image: icon] (703) 346-0035

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ebikes
by Todd Spinner 22 Apr '24

22 Apr '24

Our coop, The BIke Project of Urbana-Champaign in Illinois, currently bans electronic or ebikes. There is some pressure to change this policy. What kinds of policies do other coops have in regards to ebikes? Regards, -- Todd Spinner The Bike Project

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Help Old Spokes Home find a new Executive Director
by Jon Copans 18 Apr '24

18 Apr '24

Hi there, Old Spokes Home is a community-supported non-profit bike shop in Burlington Vermont. I am writing to ask for help in spreading the word about the search for a new Executive Director. You can learn more about the organization here <http://www.oldspokeshome.com> And the link to the job posting is here - http://bit.ly/exec-dir-old-spokes-home. Applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis, and the deadline to apply is April 30. Thanks, Jon Copans -- (Outgoiing) Executive Director Old Spokes Home <https://www.oldspokeshome.com/> jon(a)oldspokeshome.com <http://www.oldspokeshome.com>

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