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.orgBikes At Work:
www.bikesatwork.com
Good luck!
-Paul Nagel
The Bicycle Tree
P.O. Box 881
Orange, CA 92856
http://www.thebicycletree.orginfo@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.
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