We've offered two women's bike mechanic classes at Community Bikes and in both cases we had more than twice as many people interested as we could accommodate. So this summer we'll be doing a whole series of mechanic classes in the women only format.
Here's what you need to know:
1. Please sign up in advance for any classes you'd like to take by sending an e-mail to Sherry_N_Adams[at]yahoo[dot]com. You are not signed up until you've gotten a confirmation e-mail back from me.
2. Please consider volunteering to help. If you are a woman with bike mechanic skills we could really use your help during the hands-on portion of the class. For each class I also need one volunteer who needn't have mechanic skills who is willing to come early to greet students and help them get their bikes on work stands. Please let me know if you are interested in coming to help out.
3. These classes are a women only time at the shop. The rest of the time we are open to all, if you are not a woman and you are interested in other opportunities at Community Bikes please contact me, I'd be glad to tell you about our other classes and open shop times when you'd be welcome.
4. The classes are free. We teach these as a community service, please 'pay' for these classes by donating your time and skills to the community. Also, Community Bikes always welcomes donations.
5. These are hands on classes. You are encouraged to bring your bike, though it is not required. Each class begins with an introduction to the basics of the topic, and the rest of the class is spent with students working on bikes. I try to have a 1:3 ratio of helpers to students.
6. I've been teaching classes at Community Bikes for 3 years and I have a lot of fun doing it. Please come with patience for me (I don't know everything!), for your self, and other students. Thank you to Janelle Black for volunteering to teach the brakes class and one of the intro classes. My hope is that some of you will take these classes as a starting point to develop your mechanic skills and perhaps will be helping to teach these classes in the future.
7. The classes:
bike care basics
We'll introduce the basics that every bike owner should know. Tire pressure, lubing a chain, what tools to carry with you, and how to fix a flat.
brakes
A basic introduction to common braking systems. We won't cover coaster brakes or hydraulic brakes. We'll talk about the parts of the braking system, common causes of problems with brakes and how to fix them. Focus is on rim brakes, but depending on helpers present may also be able to cover disc brakes.
shifters/derailers
A basic introduction to shifting. How it works, common problems and how to fix those problems.
intro to bearings and wheel truing
I'll introduce you to the basics of these two topics. What and where your bearings are, how to know if they need adjustment, how to make basic adjustments. When a wheel needs truing, the basics of truing a wheel. This class can only provide a cursory introduction to these topics.
For details on class times please contact me at the e-mail address above.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
