At Velocity Coop we offer basic and advanced classes to the public. The Basic class is basically learning to adjust everything on your own bike, the Advanced class gets into rebuilding hubs, bottom brackets, installing headsets, etc. Coop volunteers have the option to take or audit the class.
We also have " Stripper Night". Several times a year some of our donated bikes that either can't be repaired or aren't worth repairing really start piling up. We get some beer,pizza and invite volunteers in for an evening of stripping these bikes for parts. Not only is this a great bonding experience it also give new members a chance to learn how to use almost every tool in the shop - removing wheels, headsets, forks, cranks, even pulling freehub bodies and axles off bent wheels. They learn how bikes are put together even if it is sort of in reverse, what tools do what and what all the parts are called. Not a bad way to start learning and if they do something wrong its no big deal.
On Tue, Oct 1, 2013 at 4:24 PM, jacqueline dougherty jd@sopobikes.orgwrote:
Hey Dan, Jacqui here from Sopo Bike Co-op. We have also been struggling with this issue in our shop, as Ryne mentioned. It is a great idea to connect with each other and figure it out! I am also the only part-time employee of the shop, which is also all volunteer led.
I am working on an in-shop guide for volunteers that I will share once it is scanned in. We are offering free volunteer trainings about once a month right now, but it would be ideal for us to have this bi-weekly or more. I suggest providing free classes to volunteers and then offering advanced/specialized courses for a suggested donation, where perhaps volunteers can work on their own projects.
We have 2 professional mechanics who are volunteering their time to work with volunteers. We offer a basic "tool review" for newly orientated volunteers and then a rotating subject depending on volunteer requests. We have offered: wheel basics, cranks and bottom brackets, and tool reviews so far.
Feel free to contact me by email or phone if you wanna talk about any specifics p- 386 216 0346 e- jd@sopobikes.org
-jd
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