August Newsletter
Dear Friends,
Summer’s not over yet, and we have a lot of great events and programs coming up at Recycle-A-Bike! Here’s a quick update on what’s new:
Open Shop
Open Shop runs Saturdays 9am-2pm and Tuesdays 5pm-8pm weekly. Bring your bike to fix. Donate old bikes to the shop. Buy a bike. Volunteers needed these nights. More details on website…
Providence Peddlers
Providence Peddlers 2nd and 4th Saturday each month. Meet this August 13th and August 27th for a group ride down the rails-to-trails bike paths. Rides start from Open Shop at 1:30pm. The first ride will go down the East Bay Bike path, catch up at India Point Park bike tunnel at 1:45pm if needed. Take off from the park at 2pm! 4pm BBQ at Colt State Park. Second ride – details to come! Questions? don1369@live.com
Bike Valet
Bike Valet helps us voice our message “YES! We ride to our destinations.” We’re at the Lippitt Park Market every Saturday 9am-12:30pm and this month at Foo Fest 8/13. Volunteers needed at both events. Parkers at Foo will get free admission, a beer ticket if you’re of age, and possibly a pass to the performance space. valet@recycleabike.org
Mechanics Marathon
Mechanics Marathon is a 6 class 2-week long intense bike building demo class with a master mechanic. Monday, Wednesday and Friday 8/13-8/27. Learn the foundations of bike mechanics and get a fast start to DIY bike building and repair. The class is a $200 flat fee (or 40 pts). Learn to disassemble a bike for cleaning and lubrication, familiarize with shop tools and procedures, move into wheel maintenance, brakes and gear repair, rotational systems, and overall bike body troubleshooting. Watch a junk bike become transformed into a street-ready vehicle. Sign up quick! jenna@recycleabike.org or 401-525-1822
- Mon 8/15 6pm-8pm Class
- Wed 8/17 6pm-8pm Class
- Fri 8/19 6pm-8pm Class
- Mon 8/22 6pm-8pm Class
- Wed 8/24 6pm-8pm Class
- Fri 8/26 6pm-8pm Class
- Sat. 8/27 Open Shop 1:30pm ride with Providence Peddlers
It is highly recommended that students attend Open Shop Tuesdays 5pm-8pm and Saturdays 9am-2pm to get your hands greasy practicing what you learned in class. Bring a sketchbook.
Bike Drive at REI
Bike Drive at REI in Cranston on Sept 3rd and 4th from 1-6pm. For each bike donated participants will receive a coupon for 20% off a purchase at REI (certain restrictions apply). Join the collection. jenna@recycleabike.org
Bike Sales
Do something positive with your dollar and invest in environmentally friendly transportation: an upcycled frame! Stop by Open Shop or make an appointment to try a bike: shop@recycleabike.org. We’ll be coming to College Hill for a big bike sale in partnership with 2ndLife Sept 10th and Sept 24th from 10am-4pm.
Wrenching-Wednesdays
Wrenching-Wednesdays are a great way to learn in depth mechanics Sept 7th – Oct 12th (*see schedule below). If you don’t have the desire/commitment for Earn-A-Bike, you are always welcome to participate in the Wrenching Wednesdays classes. Sign up $200/6 weeks. jenna@recycleabike.org
Earn-A-Bike
Earn-A-Bike is a 6-week course designed to give individuals the opportunity to EARN a bicycle. During this class you will build 2 bikes keeping 1 for yourself and donating 1 bike to RAB. This course does not cost $, but it does require commitment of a minimum of 35 hours of hard work and the completion of two repaired bikes in the 6-week period! If you don’t complete a bike for Recycle-A-Bike, then you haven’t earned yourself a bike! It’s a 2 day per week course comprised of Wrenching Wednesdays plus Open Shop Thursdays – a total of 12 sessions.
Wednesdays are structured demonstrations and guided learning with an instructor. Thursday’s Open Shop is a DIY (do it yourself) learning model in the shop where you work on fixing your selected bikes independently, applying what you’ve learned to hands on experience. Max 10 students! jenna@recycleabike.org
- Thurs. 9/1 at 6-8pm – Informational Meeting for Earn-A-Bike (sign up, choose 2 bikes)
- *Wed. 9/7 6-8pm - 1st Wrenching Wednesday Class (clean and lube bikes)
- Thurs. 9/8 6-8pm – EAB Open Shop (work on your bikes)
- *Wed. 9/14 6-8pm – 2nd W.W. Class (bottom bracket and headset)
- Thurs. 9/15 6-8pm – EAB Open Shop
- *Wed. 9/21 6-8pm – 3rd W.W. Class (tires, tubes, flats)
- Thurs. 9/22 6-8pm – Open Shop
- *Wed. 9/28 6-8pm – 4th W.W. Class (hubs, wheel truing)
- Thurs. 9/29 6-8pm – Open Shop
- *Wed. 10/5 6-8pm – 5th W.W. Class (brakes)
- Thurs. 10/6 6-8pm – Open Shop
- *Wed. 10/12 6-8pm – 6th W.W. Class (gears)
- Thurs. 10/13 6-8pm – Open Shop “WRAP IT UP, YO!”
Happy Wheeling from the nice folks at RAB!