Bicycles
Basic Bicycle Maintenance at SPOKES (April)
Spring is coming! Save money, fix things up, and learn the basics of how to tune up and maintain your bike after a long winter. This is designed as an introduction to the subject, so participants are not expected to have a background in bikes before coming to class. Just bring your self, your bike (if you want), and enthusiasm to take things into your own hands and renew the cycle!
SPOKES Bike Walk Connect is a new, innovative community bike and walking center with a goal of getting more people biking and walking for transportation and exercise. Its mission is to engage low-income and under-represented communities in biking and walking while building community connections in Minneapolis. More information and events can be found at www.spokesconnect.org or facebook.com/spokesconnect.
Class times: Tuesdays in April, 6-8:30pm.
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Basic Bicycle Maintenance at SPOKES
Spring is coming! Save money, fix things up, and learn the basics of how to tune up and maintain your bike after a long winter. This is designed as an introduction to the subject, so participants are not expected to have a background in bikes before coming to class. Just bring your self, your bike (if you want), and enthusiasm to renew the cycle and take things into your own hands!
SPOKES Bike Walk Connect is a new, innovative community bike and walking center with a goal of getting more people biking and walking for transportation and exercise. Its mission is to engage low-income and under-represented communities in biking and walking while building community connections in Minneapolis. More information and events can be found at www.spokesconnect.org or facebook.com/spokesconnect.
Class times: Tuesdays in March, 6-8:30pm.
Location
Basic Bicycle Maintenance at Cycles for Change (Sundays) (May)
This class is designed as a complete introduction to the basics of maintaining your bicycle yourself. Learning to fix your own bike can save you money, ensure access to reliable transportation, and be a rewarding personal experience to understand how your vehicle functions. Participants are not expected to know anything beforehand – the only thing you need to bring is your lovely selves, your bike if you want, and a creative desire to learn!
In addition to providing technical explanations and building mechanical knowledge and confidence, this class will attempt to provide a basic overview of the role of community bike shops throughout the country and world, as we work to build sustainable transportation movements locally and globally.
* note the time change!
Sundays, May 12, 19, 26, 2-4:30pm
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Complete Overhaul Series at Cycles for Change (April)
This intermediate class will build upon the skills taught in the Basic Bike Maintenance class and expand through overhauling an entire bicycle. It's recommended that students have taken the Basic class or have a similar beginning familiarity with bicycle repair. Participants will be guided step by step to repair all bike systems, with technical explanations and hands-on practice. In full, folks attending this class will learn how to perform a complete tune-up/overhaul of a bicycle. Participants will work with the same bike through the class, in order to see the complexities and intricacies of one specific bicycle. Note: All class participants will fix up SHOP BIKES during this class. Bikes fixed up will be donated to one of Cycles for Change's many community programs!
Thursdays April 4, 11, 18, 25, and May 2, 6-8:30pm
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Commuting by Bicycle 101 at Cycles for Change
Whether it’s less than a mile or 15 miles to the store, school, or work - commuting by bike is fun and rewarding. Riding your bicycle for transportation is extremely empowering, good for your health, and saves you money. This course will give you skills and confidence to start riding your bike in traffic and around town.
This class will recap the winter riding skills and maintenance class and also help you gear up for spring! We’ll talk about how bikes should behave on the road and specific tips for winter riding, such as clothing, accessories, and planning your route. The second session will focus on basic maintenance tips.
* You do not need to bring your bike; this will be a discussion and demonstration class, as well as practicing repairs on shop bikes.
Thursdays, March 21 & 28 from 6:00-8:00pm
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Wheel Building at Cycles for Change
This class is designed as a complete introduction to the basics of wheel building. We will start the first class with lacing rims. The second class will entail bringing the wheel up to tension and truing it radially and laterally. It is okay if you don't understand what this means - we will start at the beginning. No prior knowledge is necessary, however, it will be useful to understand the basics of truing.
We will be following Gerd Shraner's method feel free to peruse his book http://www.icelord.net/bike/ArtOfWheelbuilding.pdf
If you would like to build a wheel to your own specifications to keep, we are able to order parts for you at a discount through our retail shop. Please contact Micah (@cyclesforchange.org) a week in advance of the class to talk about options and make an order.
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Women and Trans Only - Complete Overhaul Series at Cycles for Change
* This class is part of the Women and Transgender Night at Cycles for Change, which offers a safe and welcoming space for self-identified women, trans, and non-gender-conforming people in the dude dominated world of bikes. No matter what your level of experience, we welcome you to come learn and teach and share (and just hang out). We have a regular open shop time every Tuesday from 5-8pm for you to use our space and tools. Female mechanics will be here to help you with any questions. *
This intermediate class will build upon the skills taught in the Basic Bike Maintenance class and expand through overhauling an entire bicycle. The class is open to people with all levels of experience. Participants will be guided step by step to repair all bike systems, with technical explanations and hands-on practice. In full, folks attending this class will learn how to perform a complete tune-up/overhaul of a bicycle. Participants will work with the same bike through the class, in order to see the complexities and intricacies of one specific bicycle. Note: All class participants will fix up SHOP BIKES during this class. Bikes fixed up will be donated to one of Cycles for Change's many community programs!
Classes are on Tuesdays from 6-8:30pm. Each class will build on the knowledge from previous classes, but feel free to just drop in to one:
February 5 Introduction, flat fixing
February 12 Brakes
February 19 Shifting
February 26 Hub Bearings and Wheel True
March 5 Bottom Bracket Bearings
March 12 Headset Bearings
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Basic Bicycle Maintenance at Cycles for Change (February)
This class is designed as a complete introduction to the basics of maintaining your bicycle yourself. Learning to fix your own bike can save you money, ensure access to reliable transportation, and be a rewarding personal experience to understand how your vehicle functions. Participants are not expected to know anything beforehand – the only thing you need to bring is your lovely selves, your bike if you want, and a creative desire to learn!
In addition to providing technical explanations and building mechanical knowledge and confidence, this class will attempt to provide a basic overview of the role of community bike shops throughout the country and world, as we work to build sustainable transportation movements locally and globally.
Thursdays, February 7, 14, 21, 28, 6-8:30pm
Location
Basic Bicycle Maintenance at Cycles for Change (January)
This class is designed as a complete introduction to the basics of maintaining your bicycle yourself. Learning to fix your own bike can save you money, ensure access to reliable transportation, and be a rewarding personal experience to understand how your vehicle functions. Participants aren’t expected to know anything beforehand – the only thing you need to bring is your lovely selves, your bike if you want, and a creative desire to learn!
In addition to providing technical explanations and building mechanical knowledge and confidence, this class will attempt to provide a basic overview of the role of community bike shops throughout the country and world, as we work to build sustainable transportation movements locally and globally.
Thursdays, January 10, 17, 24, 31 - 6:00-8:30pm
Location
Basic Bicycle Maintenance at Cycles for Change (December)
This class is designed as a complete introduction to the basics of maintaining your bicycle yourself. Learning to fix your own bike can save you money, ensure access to reliable transportation, and be a rewarding personal experience to understand how your vehicle functions. Participants aren’t expected to know anything beforehand – the only thing you need to bring is your lovely selves, your bike if you want, and a creative desire to learn!
In addition to providing technical explanations and building mechanical knowledge and confidence, this class will attempt to provide a basic overview of the role of community bike shops throughout the country and world, as we work to build sustainable transportation movements locally and globally.
Thursdays December 6, 13, 20
* note this series is normally taught in four classes, because of the holiday the December session will be condensed to three classes.
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