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Routine Maintenance

Living in Maine, we have some real thermal challenges in the winter months. There are more than a few of us who own fatbikes and push through the season with toe-warmers, overboots, goggles and bar mitts, but taking teenagers out into the arctic conditions without proper clothing and studded tires is a non-starter.

So we asked ourselves: what can we do to maintain the energy we have built around cycling during the months when it's tough to get out there? We think we may have come up with an answer.

Our friends at The Chewonki Foundation, our amazing partner in many place-based, environmental learning initiatives,  reached out to us after we received the Riding For Focus grant from The Specialized Foundation. They were excited about the program and asked if there was a way they could get involved with it. I had met a teacher from Sacramento while at the RFF training in August who offered expert advice and resources for building a school-based bike repair program. Using his list of recommended tools and supplies, I asked Chewonki if they would like to help us build a repair shop. You can see the result of their response below.

The first of five stations we will have at Bath Middle School.
Our P.E. teacher's husband, an avid cyclist himself, volunteered to come in and build the workbenches. We will be able to do all of the maintenance work on our fleet of Specialized bikes with the tools we have, and also help kids work on their own bikes. Our vision is to offer classes in bicycle repair during the mornings when we would otherwise be riding. Most likely, we will offer these bike repair lessons from November to April. One slight wrinkle in our plan is finding qualified instructors...

 I do work on my bikes at home, but I am more of a hobbyist. I'd say I'm successful in my repair adventures around 70% of the time. The other 30% of the time I go back to my local bike shop with a bunch of parts in a plastic bag and a sheepish look on my face.

 Conveniently, my friend and fellow cycling advocate, Kris Haralson, teamed up with Lee Huston, the owner of our retail partner shop, Center Street Cycles to offer a basic bike repair class through the Brunswick Parks and Recreation Department. Lee and Kris invited me to attend, and it has been so helpful to watch experts teach about bicycle repair.
Lee demonstrating a tune-up on an oldie, but a goodie.
Pulling a brand new Specialized Pitch from its shipping box.

 Lee and Kris have taught us about the multiple bearing systems on bikes, how to change cables, how to remove and install chains, how to tighten crank arm bolts and headsets, and even how to true wheels. I am embarrassed to admit that I had no idea that you could use the pitch of a plucked spoke to compare its tension to that of its neighbors. Next week we will be working in teams to assemble brand new bikes out of the box.
Look at that misaligned chain -- don't ride in this gear combination!
I'm hoping to use this experience along with some feedback from the class's participants to map out a basic curriculum for us at Bath Middle School. I also plan to reach out to the many, many community members who are pretty good at bike repair themselves. Now that we have the tools and the space, I'm excited to offer another way to empower kids to make cycling a part of their lives. 

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