At the Durham Bike Co-op we built a prototype mobile clinic out of plywood and 2x4s, where the tool/parts cabinet fits underneath the table in transport. All of this was designed to fit in an Aesom bike trailer. We used it maybe 3 or 4 times and decided to scrap the design in favor of a more portable model, that uses the trailer on its side as a table base, and will incorporate a tool cabinet made of lighter plastic, like built out of an old hardshell suitcase. Or alternatively, an already purchased toolbox like used by contractors and construction.
Our goal is for the trailer to not weigh more than 80-90 lb, loaded. We ran into problems with the previous design, trailering it up the hills around Durham. Even with a touring bike, I struggled in the small chainring, because that thing might have weighed in excess of 130 lb.
It still needs to come to reality before our big Earth Day event coming up May 1.
Best, Leslie
On Fri, Apr 8, 2011 at 10:42 AM, R Points poster@richpoints.com wrote:
At Community Cycles our program is called Rolling Bike Clinics. The mobile shop is human powered and carried on bike trailers pulled by volunteers to the neighborhoods we work in. Last year we did 14 within as 4 mile radius of the shop. http://communitycycles.org/programs/rolling-bike-clinics.html
Here is our supplies list, budget and volunteer requirements
https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0As-z5dKg47bqcHBSbk9jNkxYTkNCV0R5cVp...
This video has a segment of an RBC in action.
http://communitycycles.org/media/275-life-of-community-cycles.html?catid=46%...
Ride On! Rich
On 4/8/2011 4:01 AM, Eric Montgomery wrote:
I converted a three wheeled push childs scooter to a mobile bike recovery/repair trailer It converts from a carrier to a repair stand, wheel holder is also truing stand, I am able to climb any hills tri-chain ring backed with a nine speed 34-11.
On Thu, Apr 7, 2011 at 8:20 PM, veganboyjosh@gmail.com wrote:
i had an idea for the toolsets used for mobile bike clinics that we never had a chance to implement. perhaps one of you will.
there's always the issue of how to make sure you've got all the tools for the clinic (both at prep time at the shop/storage area and after the clinic is done, and it's time to roll up and out of there.
a list of tools, even/especially one with photos and names of tools, is a little daunting for a new volunteer, less than fluent-in-bike-mechanic-lingo youth, or someone who doesn't speak the same language as you.
what if the tools were all etched with numbers? you figure out your ultimate tool list first. figure out how many 15mm's you need, how many 6mm hexes, etc. then, line up all the tools and start at 1 and number them sequentially.
when it's time to prep or tear down, you know that the kit has 72 tools. anyone who can read numbers can help gather tools. even if they don't know numbers, they can help gather tools in one area, and someone else can count the tools as they go into the box/trailer.
On Thu, Apr 7, 2011 at 6:15 PM, The Bicycle Tree < info@thebicycletree.org> wrote:
Below is my response to a similar query a few months ago. To that response I will add:
If we need to use one trailer (if there's only one person available to haul), we eliminate one of the tables and one or both canopies.
- tool list: pretty much everything, we fill up three large tool boxes,
two with three drawers and top shelf each, we keep the tool boxes on a plastic folding table.
- cargo bike vs. trailer vs. both - I like trailers because they're
stable and cheaper, if there's a mechanical problem you can switch bikes. Trailers are not as attractive as the cargo bike in the LAB article, though, or this one: http://www.preenbulle.ch/26/v%C3%A9lomobile (dowload the actives_mobiles.pdf)
- consumable parts list (tires, tubes, lube, et al) - all we bring are
tubes, cables, housing, some rim tape, brake pads, small parts drawers, chains, ball bearings... we aren't really able to carry wheels or tires. Actually, we could probably get some tires on there.
- what advocacy stuff to include (banners, stickers, brochures, and how
to carry them) - we have a plastic waterproof file box that we carry our email list signup sheets, flyers, brochures, donation jar, stickers, spoke cards, buncha stuff... a lot of this goes out on a table.
- booth, tent, other - two 12x12 ezups and two folding tables (plastic
ones are lighter than particle board)
- other issues I'm short-sighted on... getting people to haul the
trailers or bikes can be a bit tricky sometimes, because they have to be there earliest and stay latest.
We're mobile, looking to establish ourselves in a building, but mobile for now. We use two medium Bikes At Work trailers to haul everything - three big tool boxes (two with drawers), two canopies, two folding tables, truing stand, three folding repair stands, two 18-gallon tubs (holding small parts drawers, cables, housing, tubes, etc.), two collapsible chairs, 2-gallon container for lubes and cleaners, two pumps, banner, lil' trash can, file box for flyers, brochures, paperwork, etc.
Advantages: -You can keep stuff on the trailers so you don't need to unload/reload at home base. -Bikes are fun and make you look cool -No rent, no gas -Easier to store and manage than a truck trailer - I think you need special registration for those.
Challenges: -Subject to weather (not a big problem in Southern California) -You need commitment from two riders to get there and back. We have done events doing bike checks/minor repairs with more limited stuff using one trailer. One long trailer probably too much weight for one rider (unless they are herculean and equipped with disc brakes), given the density of everything. -Takes about 45 min to 1 hour for set up and break down -Very limited parts on hand -We've only done 10 mi round trip (on primarily flat ground), I'd say 20-30 mi round trip is probably pushing it for everyone but the really strong riders, hills can be a bit difficult. We did river trail underpasses just fine, though control may be a little iffy at these higher speeds should an obstacle present itself. -Bungeeing everything in place requires a little tetris (the first time) and time. You need a lot of bungees - I think we use at least 15.
Other advice: -Make sure the bikes have good brakes.
Bikes At Work specific: -If the load balance is heavy toward the front (which may be required by how things must be arranged) and you rest the towbar on the ground it bends a bit so it wont fit on the trailer hitch and needs to be filed down (this problem mitigated in a half-assed way by sliding an old bottle cage on the towbar so that contacts the ground). -Trailer hitch band clamps come loose over time. -The wheels are held on by what looks like a paper clip on steroids, doesn't particularly inspire my confidence with potential sideways forces but its worked fine and the makers are experienced using the trailers so I guess don't worry about it.
One photo of our trailers is on our website at www.thebicycletree.org Bikes At Work: www.bikesatwork.com
Good luck!
-Paul Nagel
The Bicycle Tree
P.O. Box 881 Orange, CA 92856
info@thebicycletree.org
Date: Fri, 16 Jul 2010 10:09:16 -0600 From: jonathan@slcbikecollective.org To: thethinktank@bikecollectives.org Subject: [TheThinkTank] Mobile shops
Does anyone have a proven working (not conceptual) mobile shop operation? We are going to be partnering with a local college, and while we have done this in the past, I was looking for some creative ideas on others have made it work.
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
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.
The Bicycle Tree
P.O. Box 881 Orange, CA 92856
info@thebicycletree.org
From: samh@samh.net Date: Wed, 6 Apr 2011 14:34:08 -0600 To: thethinktank@bikecollectives.org
Subject: [TheThinkTank] Mobile Bicycle Repair
I am interested in discussing mobile bicycle repair with other cooperatives who currently own or operate them. The Bozeman Bike Kitchen will begin fund-raising toward this goal starting in two weeks and I'm very interested in seeing or hearing about the mobile rigs other cooperatives have set-up.
- tool list
- cargo bike vs. trailer vs. both
- consumable parts list (tires, tubes, lube, et al)
- what advocacy stuff to include (banners, stickers, brochures, and how
to carry them)
- booth, tent, other
- other issues I'm short-sighted on...
Thanks, Sam
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