Month: October 2016

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Saying goodbye, new hours, upcoming workshops!

seth_voa

As the days get shorter and long, hot summer days slip into cool, crisp fall days, change is in the air at FCCBikeworks.

Fond farewell

First, we say goodbye to one of the longest-standing members of FCCBikeworks, Seth Short, who will be moving to Seattle soon to take on a Program Coordinator position at Bike Works. Seth began as a volunteer and has served as our Shop Coordinator/Mechanic from September 2015 to present. We spoke with him about his (then) new position at FCCB and what makes him tick in an earlier post which you can read here. During his time as Shop Coordinator, Seth has worked tirelessly to organize shop inventory and standardize practices, served on our Board of Directors, conducted numerous workshops, and put in many miles carting around the mobile fix-it station. He will be missed by all, but we wish him the best of luck in his new endeavor and know that Bike Works is lucky to get him!

Please join us at the shop this Sunday beginning at 4 p.m. for a potluck grill-out to send Seth off in style. Bring a dish if you can, or just bring yourself and your good wishes!

Hours change

Please note that open shop hours are changing, effective November 1. We will be open Sundays, 1-4 PM and Wednesdays, 6:30-7:30 PM. Monday shop nights will be discontinued until spring. This is partly due to Seth’s departure, as well as thinning traffic through the shop in previous years as the temperatures drop.

Upcoming workshops

As activities slow down for the year, we do still have two remaining workshops in our series. Please join us Saturday, October 29 from 11 AM – 2 PM for the fourth in our series, exploring internal gear hubs (3-speed hubs). Mechanic Andy Dyson will break down Sturmey Archer and Shimano 3-speed gears and show participants how to repair and maintain them. Suggested donation is $10.

Our fifth and final workshop in the series is one on wheel building. This class is limited and requires pre-registration and a $35 fee. Mechanic Nate Pinney will conduct this hands-on workshop covering building a wheel from rim to spokes to hub.

 

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You never know what you’ll find at FCCB!

dahon-folding-bike
Dahon folding bike
Here’s an interesting bike that was donated to FCCB last year, a Dahon Stowaway Folding Bike from the 1990’s. Dahon started in 1983, and is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of folding bicycles, By 1995 they were producing 400,000 folders a year! While it rides like a full size bike, it can break down to the size of a small suitcase when not in use. Folding bikes are great for riders with limited storage space; you could ride it to work and stash it in the broom closet, or store it under your bed in a small apartment.
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Folded Dahon bike
Last year two of these beauties were donated to FCCB by a couple that took them on a trip to Europe and used them to get from the train station to the city center when they arrived in a new city. A long time patron of the shop who is now on our Board of Directors ended up with of the one pictured here; did YOU get the other one? Drop us line and tell us how you use it! Email us or let us know on Facebook!
John and Seth setting up bikes at the flea off
bikeadmin

October Flea Off Market in the books

John and Seth setting up bikes at the flea off
John and Seth set up on a chilly morning

This past weekend was a great one for Falls City Community BikeWorks. On Saturday, we attended the Flea Off Market and were able to find new homes for five bikes. The weather was perfect for a community event (mid 70s and a steady breeze FTW!) and we enjoyed talking about the shop to many passersby.

Our busy schedule doesn’t stop there though. On top of normal shop hours Monday, Wednesday and Sunday, we will also be holding the third of our Saturday Workshop Series on Saturday, October 15 at 11 a.m. This week, we will take a closer look at those pesky gears and shifters. Mechanic Andy Dyson will show you how they work, proper shifting techniques and how to adjust your derailleur quickly so you can get back on the road. Please let us know you are coming by registering on Facebook. There is a $10 suggested donation for this workshop.

Upcoming Workshops:
Workshop 3: Wheels and Bearing systems – Oct. 22
Workshop 4: 3- Speed Hubs – Oct. 29
Workshop 5: *Wheelbuilding – Nov. 5th ( $35 fee for wheel components necessary to build a wheel to be donated to the shop after clinic)

 

We will also be taking part in the Tom Owen Cyclouvia in the Highlands this Sunday, October 16. We will be selling bikes and talking about the shop in front of HopCat (the corner of Bardstown and Grinstead). Want to help out? Volunteering at events earns you stand credit. Sign up to volunteer by clicking here.

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Brakes…because stopping seems like a good place to start!

Apparently, every mechanic has a favorite thing or two to work on.

Nad is all about brakes and bearings.

On a rainy Saturday morning, Nad was on hand to help a few folks practice & perfect their brake maintenance skills.

He’ll be back for bearings on 10/22, rain or shine!

Our Fall Workshop Series is rolling! 

Bring a friend and maybe a bike, and let’s get into it!

See schedule and info below, watch Facebook for event invites..  

 

Gears and shifters
Saturday October 15, 11am-2pm (might start later because of the Tweed Ride..check Facebook!!)
Instructor – Andy Dyson
Description: Changing gears is perhaps one of the most misunderstood parts of bicycle riding.  We’ll walk you through how gear/shifter/derailleur systems work, proper shifting technique, and how you can make adjustments to make gear-shifting smoother and faster.  We’ll do a complete shifter/gear system setup from start to beginning – it’s a quick process and you can repeat it at home to keep your bike shifting crisply.  We’ll also cover common problems with shifter/gear systems, like worn cables, worn gear teeth, worn chains, etc.
Suggested donation of $10.

Wheels and Bearing systems
Saturday October 22, 11am-2pm
Instructor – Dan Wagner (Nad)
Description: Learn about the different parts that comprise a bicycle wheel and how/why they work – rims, spokes, nipples, hubs, axles, bearings and more. Learn how to inspect and true bicycle wheels, rebuild bearings/axles in wheel hubs.  Bearings are also found in the bottom bracket and headset – we’ll cover how to inspect, clean, and service those assemblies as well.  Wear old clothes – you will be working with greasy bicycle parts!
Suggested donation of $10.

3-Speed Hubs 
Saturday October 29, 11am-2pm
Instructor – Andy Dyson
Description: Real Sturmey Archer and Shimano 3-Speed Hubs will be opened up and their mysteries will be uncovered and explored!
Suggested donation of $10.

Wheelbuilding
Saturday November 5, 11am-2pm
Instructor – Nate Pinney
Handbuilt bicycle wheels can be stronger and lighter than machine-built wheels, and wheelbuilders can ride satisfied knowing that they laced every spoke and twisted every last nipple! (that’s part of a bike wheel, no kidding) Participants will learn how to select rims and hubs and calculate proper spoke lengths when building wheels from scratch. We’ll learn about concepts like dish, torque transfer, spoke tension, and lacing patterns. Then each participant will lace and true one complete bicycle wheel that FCCB can use on donated bikes that have missing or broken wheels. Instructor Nate Pinney can also offer advice on how to choose components and select spokes for your own bombproof (or lighter-than-air) dream-wheels.
Required: pre-registration (up to 7 seats only) and pre-payment of $35 fee to cover materials order