Author: Ian

2019 – Public Hours and Upcoming Events

2019 Volunteer Opportunities

Spring has springed, and there is much to do.

Common Cycle is a wholly volunteer-run organization. If you’re into working on bikes, learning to work on bikes or helping to sustain an inclusive space where members of the public drop in to learn about repair and maintenance, we’d love to have you get involved.

We welcome volunteers at all skill levels and have opportunities to be active no matter your skill or comfort level.

Sign-up sheets for upcoming volunteer opportunities, including regular hours and seasonal events, are listed below.

Sundays, 11 AM-3 PM Weekly Public Hours @ 416
Thursdays, 7-9 PM Weekly Public Hours (Unsupported) / Volunteer Work Session @ 416
[no signup needed – just drop by!]
Friday, 5/3, 4:30-6:30 PM Bike Month Kickoff Repair Event @ Bløm Meadworks
Saturday, 5/4, 9 AM-12 PM CC @ 2019 A2 STEAM Event, MCity [signup coming soon]
Tuesday, 5/14, 6-8 PM Bike Month Public Workshop @ Zingerman’s
Friday, 5/17, 7-9 AM Bike-to-Work Day Commuter Node @ Hanover Square Park
Sunday, 5/19, 12-4 PM CC @ Huron River Day 2019, Gallup Park
Friday, 6/14, 6-9 PM Mayor’s Green Fair, Downtown A2

[Call for Applications] Spring 2019 Maintenance Course

Hiya, folks!

Common Cycle’s bi-annual maintenance courses are intended to help train future volunteers and community members by providing hands-on experience and general knowledge about fixing bicycles and assisting people who come to our bicycle co-op.

Common Cycle’s Spring 2019 Maintenance Course will be held on Wednesdays from 6:30-8:30 pm, beginning March 20th and run for 6 consecutive weeks, concluding on April 24th. Classes will be held at the Common Cycle Co-op, located at 416 W Huron St Suite #11, Ann Arbor, MI 48103. We cover a range of repair and maintenance from basic (e.g. tube change, brake adjustment) to advanced (e.g. hub overhaul, wheel truing).

Dates (Wednesdays):
March 20th
March 27th
April 3rd
April 10th
April 17th
April 24th

The course is capped at 15 students so that everyone will have some time and space to do hands-on work. No advance knowledge of bike repair is required, just an interest in learning more. Students may bring in their own bikes which we will diagnose as needed and use for demonstration.

Although this is a low/no-cost course, we ask you to respect the large amount of volunteer work that goes into facilitating and teaching the course.

    • If you are enrolled, we expect you to attend the majority of sessions or make clear in your application if you will not able to attend some sessions.
    • If selected, we expect participants to volunteer during at least two Common Cycle events over the subsequent 12 months.

Application link: https://goo.gl/forms/u55sOaEOq3rrCnTS2

Applications close Friday, March 8th by 5:00 pm. Please send us a note at info@commoncycle.org with any questions.

Ride well!

Winter 2018-19 Hours & WTF Sessions

Weekly Winter Hours

Unless otherwise noted here or on the CC Facebeak page, weekly public hours on Sunday will continue through the chillier season.

Sundays, 11 AM-3PM, 416 W Huron St

[Winter, 2019] Women | Femme | Trans Sessions

[Updated 2/24 – March/April sessions rescheduled to Tuesday]

Four sessions of our WTF program have been scheduled for the next few months. A primary goal of these sessions is to provide a supportive space and to build community among people of underrepresented genders who are interested in working on/riding bikes. Of course, we welcome trans women, non-binary, and gender non-conforming folks to attend. Please feel free to drop in (no RSVP needed), or email us at info@commoncycle.org with questions.

Dates:
Wednesday, January 30thRescheduled to Wednesday, February 6 due to weather
Wednesday, February 27th
Tuesday, March 26th
Tuesday, April 23rd
Wednesday, May 29th

Time: 6:30-8:30 PM

Location: The CC co-op/workspace at 416 W Huron St.

Ad-Hoc Bonus Hours: Tues, 1/15 + Fri, 1/18, 6:30-8:30 PM

WiM_Logo

Since time immemorial, riders of bicycle come together on the third Sunday of January to participate in cycling on the so-called worst day of the year.

Wheels in Motion’s 14th annual Worst Day of the Year ride is taking place this Sunday, 1/20 and in reverent observance, we’re hosting additional public hours this week on Tuesday the 15th and Friday the 18th from 6:30-8:30 PM. All are welcome to drop by to get their bike in shape for whatever conditions Sunday might bring (or whatever other riding one may have coming up).

Registration for the 2019 Worst Day of the Year Ride – Sunday, 1/20
Event is free, but headcounts are always helpful
https://www.wheelsinmotion.us/articles/worst-day-main-page-pg208.htm

WorstDay_BikeRack

Winter 2018-19 Announcements

Weekly Winter Hours

Unless otherwise noted here or on the CC Facebeak page, weekly public hours on Sunday will continue through the chillier season.

Sundays, 11 AM-3PM, 416 W Huron St

Thanksgiving Closure

The co-op will be closed the week of 11/18; regularly-scheduled weekly events will resume as follows:

Thursday Volunteer Nights: Thursday, November 29
Public Hours on Sunday: Sunday, December 2

2018 End-of-Year Celebration

It’s been quite a year for Common Cycle and all friends, users, well-wishers and detractors are welcome to come relax at the co-op for a few hours as we wrap up the year and prep for 2019. A light meal and non-alcoholic drinks will be provided.

Wednesday, December 12, 2018, 6:30-8:30 PM

More details + RSVP via EventBrite:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/common-cycle-winter-community-celebration-tickets-52054306833

[Call for Applications] Fall 2018 Maintenance Course

Hello! We are now accepting applications for our Fall 2018 Maintenance Course. Please read through the info below and direct any questions to info@commoncycle.org.

Common Cycle’s biannual maintenance courses are intended to help train future volunteers and community members by providing hands-on experience and general knowledge about fixing bicycles and assisting people who come to our open repair hours.

Common Cycle’s Fall 2018 Maintenance Course will begin Tuesday, October 9th and run on 6 consecutive Tuesdays from 6:30-8:30 in Ann Arbor, concluding on November 13th. Classes will be held at Common Cycle’s new workspace at 416 W. Huron, Ann Arbor, 48103. We cover a range of repair and maintenance from basic (e.g. tube change, brake adjustment) to advanced (e.g. hub overhaul, wheel truing). Full schedule below:

October 9th
October 16th
October 23rd
October 30th
November 6th
November 13th

The course is capped at 15 students so that everyone will have some time and space to do hands-on work. No advance knowledge of bike repair is required, just an interest in learning more. Students may bring in their own bikes which we will diagnose as needed and use for demonstration.

Although this is a low/no-cost course, we ask you to respect the large amount of volunteer work that goes into facilitating and teaching the course. For this reason:

  • If you are enrolled, we expect you to attend the majority of sessions (4+) or make clear in your application that you will not able to attend some sessions.
  • If selected, we expect participants to volunteer at at least two Common Cycle events over the subsequent 12 months.

Apply here: https://goo.gl/forms/MTHzigBqeoe5dYF13

Applications close Friday, September 28th at 5:00 p.m. Please respond to info@commoncycle.org with questions.

Ride well!

Grand Opening @ 416 W Huron – Sunday, 7/29, 3-6 PM

Join us for the grand opening of Ann Arbor’s bike co-op on Sunday, July 29th!

Event Details

Sunday, July 29, 3-6 PM [ceremonial opening at 3:30 PM]
416 W Huron, Suite #11, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
Please RSVP via Eventbrite:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/common-cycle-co-op-grand-opening-registration-47537521005

All are invited to drop in between 3 and 6 PM, poke around the space, rearrange various carefully shelved items and explore new and upcoming programming options and volunteer opportunities.

There will be a ceremonial “chain-breaking” at 3:30pm to celebrate opening to the public, as well as some informal remarks.

The new space allows us to expand our programs and events, provide additional public hours, and better serve the Ann Arbor community by providing increased access to tools, supplies and expertise. We’re looking forward to what takes shape in the next year.

The launch of the new space is supported by the League of Michigan Bicyclists, Washtenaw Bicycling and Walking Coalition, and Common Cycle’s many generous donors.

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities

Common Cycle is a wholly volunteer-run organization. If you’re into working on bikes, learning to work on bikes or helping to sustain an inclusive space where members of the public drop in to learn about repair and maintenance, we’d love to have you get involved.

We welcome volunteers at all skill levels and have opportunities to be active no matter your skill or comfort level.

Sign-up sheets for upcoming volunteer opportunities, including regular hours and one-time events, are listed below.

Open Hours @ 416 W Huron:        Sundays, 11 AM-3 PM

Ann Arbor’s Bicycle Co-Op – 416 W Huron, Suite #11

Although there is much (so much) work left to be done, we think the time is right to start hosting Sunday hours at our new space!

We’ll have a proper grand opening and chain-breaking ceremony to début the new digs once the place is fully outfitted, so stay tuned for that. Until then, we’ll be hosting dual operations–we’ll host the Mobile Repair Stand at the Sunday Artisan Market as well as have folks ready to help you with all your bike needs at 416 W Huron, both from 11-3. Come say hi and take a peek at the Co-Op space!

416 W Huron - Co-Op Location

Secondly, as Sunday, 5/27 is Flower Day in Kerrytown, we’ll be set up on the concrete “island” on the eastern edge of the Farmers Market Property (between the Farmers Market and 5th Ave).

Hope to see you Sunday, in some form.