SLCBC Earn-a-Bike Curriculum

2011-03-03T17:46:43Z

Boodabikes: /* Welcome to the Shop */

Since we partner with after / summer school programs we don't have control over certain things. As a result, teaching plans are adapted depending on class size, class length, and number of classes. While it is important to have a plan, it is equally important to be adaptable when things come up. We don't live in a perfect world, but we don't fight it either.

== Teaching Methods ==

With every method below, have kids pair up into teams. They rely on each other more (instead of the teacher) and you will need less tools and space for bikes if you have 6 teams instead of 12 individual kids with bikes.

=== Free for All ===

This sounds bad, but if you have enough volunteers / paid staff it can be a great way for kids to just jump in and learn. The big dilemma is the student teacher ratio, since each kid is going at their own pace -- some will get done too fast, too slow, and all of them will have constant and redundant questions.

=== Peer Teachers ===

Turn each kid into an expert on different tasks, like repacking 3-piece bottom brackets, 1-piece bottom brackets, running brake cables, etc.,... so each time that someone needs help you have kids teaching each other. There is no better way to learn than teaching. The pit fall is that most kids will need to be reminded that they need to "show" their peer how to do it but not "do it for them". Another pit fall is remembering which kid knows which task, and hoping they all show up every time.

=== Structured ===

Before each class, fully demonstrate the task or show it in video format like [http://www.bicycletutor.com/ Bicycle Tutor]. Break the teams free and while each kid might not remember everything, every kid will have a piece of the puzzle -- sit back and watch them start collaborating.

== Day 1 ==

=== Welcome to the Shop ===

The first time should be full of questions, not lecturing, help guide them to ask the questions you want.

Q: What is this place?
A: This is a community bike shop, not a retail bike shop, which means you can come and use these tools, find parts, and volunteer.

Q: When can we pick out our bikes? (This question will repeat)
A: After you have demonstrated your ability to [[Checking Tubes|Fix a Flat]] Tire, repack a [[Bottom Bracket]], repack a headset, and repack a hub you can pick out bikes, we will also be fitting a helmet to you.

Q: Got Pegs? (This question will repeat)
A: We may have a few, if there isn't enough to go around and people fight over them -- no one gets them.

Q: Where are the bathrooms?
A: They are in the back of the shop. So that we don't run out and you have to go home with dirty hands, please do not waste paper towels or hand soap.

Q: Do you have water?
A: There is a cooler to the right of the refrigerator, please write your name on a paper cup and use it the entire time you are here. If you have any water left over you can dump it in the garden in front and then throw away the cup.

Q: What spins on a bicycle?
A: Front Hub, Rear Hub, Headset, Bottom Bracket. You will be taking them all apart.

Q: Does everyone know what makes them spin?
A: Ball Bearings, ''most'' things that spin use ball bearings. BBs are an acronym for Ball Bearings, but the ones we use in the shop are too heavy for a BB Gun.

Q: Where are the tools?
A: There are 6 benches and each of them has their own stand and their own tool sets painted different colors. Before you wash your hands, make sure you put all your tools back. If you have extra parts, let us know and we will give you a zip-lock bag and a sharpie to put your name on and to put your small parts in. For larger parts like wheels and cranks use the zip-ties provided on the benches.

=== Parts of the Bicycle ===

=== Flat Tire Repair ===

== Day 2 ==

Bicycle Tutor: [http://bicycletutor.com/overhaul-wheel-bearings/ How To Overhaul Wheel Bearings]

=== Repacking the Front Hub ===

=== Repacking the Rear Hub ===

== Day 3 ==

Bicycle Tutor: [http://bicycletutor.com/overhaul-threaded-headset/ How To Overhaul a Threaded Headset]

=== Repacking the Headset ===

== Day 4 ==

# Bicycle Tutor: [http://bicycletutor.com/replace-cotterless-cranks/ How To Replace Crank Arms]
# Bicycle Tutor: [http://bicycletutor.com/bottom-bracket/ How To Overhaul A Bottom Bracket]

=== Repacking a 3-piece Bottom Bracket ===

=== Repacking a 1-piece Bottom Bracket ===

== Day 5 ==

=== Pick a bike ===

== Day 6+ ==

They have learned everything, so now they can pick out their bikes and work in teams to finish them.

=== Bike Fit ===

=== Helmet Fit ===

=== Using Locks ===

[[Category:Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective]]
[[Category:Teaching Resources]]

Shop Layout

2011-03-03T17:23:06Z

Boodabikes: /* Bicycle repair stands */

How you '''layout''' your shop space is largely indicative of what your space actually is so these are more just rules of thumb. In areas with colder winter seasons, you will find that your space shifts from summer functional space to winter storage space as the priority.

== Purchasing vs. Building ==

From an organizational standpoint, '''purchasing used''' racks, shelving, benches and the like is better in the '''long term'''. While '''building''' those things can be beneficial in the
'''short term''' because it is immediate and can cost less initially. In the event you expand and need to upgrade, the thing you bought a long time ago is an asset you can now sell. If you built it the likelyhood that someone will want to buy some old 2x4s or customer welding is unlikely.

=Possible elements in a workshop=

== Welcome Kiosk ==

Write down all the questions that people ask when they come to your shop and you will start to see trends in questions. While it is always best to have a volunteer or staff be a [[greeter]] it can help to have those frequently asked questions with responses posted somewhere. At the [[Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective]] they were given an old [[Media:SLCBC_Kiosk_Image.jpg|Kiosk]] from a bank and a college student project made the sign.
<gallery>
Image:SLCBC_Kiosk.jpg|Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective Welcome Kiosk
</gallery>

== Volunteer Workstations ==

These are basic stations consisting of the most common tools and a work stand. The more of them you can fit, the better.

The [[Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective]] offers the following tips:
* Ugly bright colors sometimes covering the entire tool match each workbench. We put the "girly" pink colors in the back of the shop so the younger boys would stay closer to supervision -- it works.
* Outlines of the tools on the pegboard. (See [[Tool storage]] for other ideas)
* Hooks are zip-tied in place.
* [[Truing Stand]]s were moved to face the side of the bench, creating more room and allowing someone two people to use the bench at once (one truing to the side, one wrenching).
* Benches were made using 2 ft. increments to make maximum use of 8' boards and 4' x 8' sheets of plywood.
* Bench tops are plywood with a thin (and replaceable) layer of ......
* Molding was put in the corner connecting the peg board from the bench top to prevent little parts from gettings stuck.
* We usually have a couple random tin-cans for people to put parts in. We also keep sand paper and tire levers in there -- Pink Pedros tire levers don't get stolen as often.

<gallery>
Image:SLC_Bike_Collective_Workbench.jpg|1 of 7 identical (except for paint colors) work benches at the SLC Bike Collective
Image:SLC_Bike_Collective_Workbench2.jpg|Wheels with room to spare.
</gallery>

===Bicycle repair stands===

These are used by professional bike shops to hold bikes off the floor. Functions are to position bike so that it can be worked on at a convenient height by a variety of mechanics. Position the bike in a continuously variable orientation so that all parts of the bike are equally accessible. Position the bike so that the wheels can be rotated. Repair stands are not essential for your class, but they make some jobs enormously easier.

;Advantages

* Bikes can be set up at optimum height for each mechanic
* Bikes can be positioned upside down, etc, with ease
* Wheels and other components can be spun easily
* Creates a professional atmosphere: people feel as if something is taking place that is qualitatively different to when they fix a bike by turning it upside down on the sidewalk.
* Can be used to define exactly where a bike is to be worked on in a shop and to limit the number of bikes in the shop—i.e. three stands = three bikes, etc

;Disadvantages

* Quite expensive
* Can be dangerous—clamps can spring out breaking jaws and fingers, bikes can fall. Also gives people the opportunity to spin wheels as fast as they can, creating dangerous situation
* People start to think that you can’t work on a bike if you don’t have one
* If not correctly used the repair stand can seriously and permanently damage a bike, especially an expensive one with a frame that is light weight.

== Master Mechanic Workstation ==

There is usually only one of these. Here you will have a complete set of tools including those that are expensive and easily damaged. Some shops will raise this off the ground to give the master mechanic a bird's eye view of the shop. It also helps to clearly define who is in charge.

== Cash Register ==

If you are dealing with money at the shop, you will want one. Depending on how your staffing works this should be located next to the Master Mechanics Workstation.

[http://quickbooks.intuit.com/product/accounting-software/retail-pos-solutions/point-of-sale-software.jsp Intuit Quickbooks Point of Sale] works well, especially if you use [[Quickbooks]] to keep track of your financial books. [http://techsoup.org/ TechSoup] usually has pretty incredible deals for non-profits on those items.

== Bike Storage ==

You will have to deal with four types of bikes:

* Untouched Bikes: just donated
* Project Bikes: in progress (may include [[Earn-a-Bike]])
* Finished and/or Consignment Bikes: done
* Customer Bikes: the one they rolled in on

Having a logical seperate between these is important. This can be done by different colored tags, or different locations in the shop. Possible ways to store these bikes are:

* Bicycle display racks (aka [[Bicycle Display Fixtures]])
* Bike Hooks

== Part Storage ==

This can get crazy. Most likely you will end up with large bins of parts. You should provide a place nearby where customers / volunteers can rummage through the bins and not cause an inconvient mess.

See [[Part Storage]] for good ideas to keep parts organized.

== Tool storage ==

When storing tools, it's important to make them accessible, but also to find a way to keep them organized.

For ideas on this, see [[Tool storage]]

== Lounge Area ==

What place is complete without a lounge area?

== Classroom Area ==

If you are going to be teaching non-mechanics related bicycle classes, such as BikEd, you will need a seperate space for this.

== Bathrooms ==

Industrial (easy to clean) sinks are a must.

A shower is also a bonus.

== [[Shop Recycling | Metal Recycling]] ==

If you don't have the ability (truck) or the volunteers to recycle the metal. An easy solution is placing an old dumpster labeled 'Free Scrap Metal' in both english and spanish outside of your shop. There are people that go around l

[[Category:Shop organization]]

Bike Collectives Wiki - User contributions [en]

SLCBC Earn-a-Bike Curriculum

Shop Layout