Author: Ian

Winter, 2020-21 Updates

We’ve missed everyone during the 2020 season and hope that folks are finding opportunities to get out and ride this this winter.

While in-person repairs continue to be limited, we’d like to list a number of resources available to keep your bike running and you riding all winter long. In addition to various self-serve pumps and toolsets around A2/Ypsi, we’re excited to be able to offer remote support sessions through the coming months.

1:1 Remote Support

If you’d like remote support help with any issues or build questions, feel free to email us at info@commoncycle.org and one of our volunteers will get back to you right away.

Even if you’re not need of advice or guidance, CC volunteers can be available to shout motivational slogans at you via video while you chip petrified grime from your frame or oil a seized chain.
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Emergency Repairs

If you’re in need of emergency repairs, please don’t hesitate to reach out (also via info@commoncycle.org), and we’ll identify a safe way to lend a hand.
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Self-Service Tools / Resources

For those with some know-how or the inclination to learn, there are a number of self-service resources around town:

    • Public bicycle pumps + repair stations
      A map of pumps and Fix-It stations in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti is available here. (Also listed in the sidebar of the CC homepage.)
    • Zingerman’s Band-Aid Station, 422 Detroit St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
      A box of basic tools and supplies at Zingerman’s maintained by Common Cycle; located in the bicycle parking alcove next to the deli. (Feel free to ask the Zingerman’s staff, who’ll direct you to it, if needed).
    • Bløm Meadworks Toolset, 100 S 4th Ave Ste 110, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
      Our friends at Bløm Meadworks maintain a complete toolset and repair stand available for use on their patio (business hours only).
    • Bike Build Livestream-Sundays at 2-ish streamed live on the Facebook
      A friendly plug for the ongoing bike-build series hosted by CC volunteer/board member Nate. Just 1-2 sessions remain, but please let us know on the social media whether we should go with round wheels or square wheels. #rollrectilinear

We hope these resources can help keep folks rolling this winter; looking forward.

[Announcement] Public Hours Suspended

Updated 7/6/2020

Toward continuing to minimize person-to-person interactions due to the current public health situation, our public hours will continue to be on hold for the time being; the following hours / events are cancelled:

      • All public hours and events until further notice (tentatively, through late-July, 2020).

In accordance with state orders, we’ll revisit toward the end of July.
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Emergency Help / Repair: If anyone finds themselves in need of emergency repair / support to keep rolling for work, appointments, etc., please shoot us a note at info@commoncycle.org and we can figure out how to help.

1:1 Video-Support: If you’re doing some repairs at home and need advice, feel free to email us at info@commoncycle.org and one of our volunteers can arrange an appointment for a video-chat with you.

Note: If this is useful to folks, we may consider hosting virtual open hours on some regular schedule, wherein folks can drop into a group video chat with CC volunteers (for advice, live coaching or we can just shout motivational slogans over the internet if you’re ambivalent about doing some needed repairs 🙂 )

Take care,
The Common Cycle Team

[Call for Applications] Spring 2020 Maintenance Course

Applications are now open for our bi-annual maintenance course.

Common Cycle’s 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.

We cover a range of repair and maintenance from basic (e.g. tube change, brake adjustment) to advanced (e.g. hub overhaul, wheel truing).

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 enrolled, we expect you to attend the majority of sessions (4+) or make clear in your application if you will not able to attend some sessions.

If selected, we ask that participants volunteer or apprentice at at least two Common Cycle events over the subsequent 12 months (these can be while you’re enrolled in the class as a way to complement your work in class).

Application link: https://forms.gle/ogVwVNQEzvsHU7ft6

Applications close Friday, March 6 at 11:59 PM. Any questions are very welcome – just shoot us a note at info@commoncycle.org.

Ride well!

2020 – Public Hours and Volunteer Opportunities

 

[Updated 1/31/2020]

Common Cycle 2020

Common Cycle is a 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 Sunday Public Hours @ 416
Tuesdays, 2-5 PM Volunteer-Supported Public Hours
[no signup needed – just drop by!]
Thursdays, 7-9 PM Public Hours (Independent) /
Donation Bicycle Work Session @ 416
[no signup needed – just drop by!]

One Year Celebration & Parts Sale – Sunday, 7/28, 4-7 PM

Join us for a celebration of our first year in our co-op space! We’ll also have some parts we’ve accumulated for sale to the public.

To help us with a headcount, please reserve a free ticket(s) via EventBrite:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/common-cycles-one-year-celebration-and-parts-sale-tickets-64483197981

The new space has allowed us to expand our programming and events, provide additional public hours, and better serve the Ann Arbor community by providing increased access to tools and expertise.

Mingle with other Common Cycle users, volunteers, and patrons over light refreshments, and learn about our newly expanded bicycle distribution program.

All are invited to attend!

Bikes_Parked

2019 – Public Hours and Volunteer Opportunities

Vol_Opportunities_2019

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 Sunday Public Hours @ 416
Tuesdays, 7-9 PM Update, 8/28: Tuesday public hours are finished for the 2019 season.

Thanks for everyone’s involvement in making a second day of public hours a big, dang ol’ success.
Thursdays, 5-9 PM Public Hours (Independent) / Donation Bicycle Work Session @ 416
[no signup needed – just drop by!]

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