tacofreedom

Sorry if this has already been discussed.

I am considering starting a cycling club at school next semester. The principle goal would be to get people together to go out on rides (road, mountain, fixed, etc..). I would also like the club to provide a certain about of support for students with bikes by having a communal repair area with a stand and set of tools. My school does provide clubs with money to purchase equipment.

I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions for helpful items for a campus cycling club?

So far I was thinking:
-bike stand
-bike pump
-bike tools (if anyone can recommend a set or important individual pieces that would be great!)

Thanks for the help!

itsthewoo

Topeak Joe Blow for the pump.

Park Tools makes a good bike stand.

Park Tools also makes pretty good tools.

StephenH

First, I'd check with the school and see if the idea will fly with them. It may not. In particular, if you organize a "club" ride, does that then become a school activity, require school personnel along, subject them to liability, etc? It may not be any problem, but then again it may, and you need to find that out first.

Next, you need people. Pretty much everything else you do depends on who you get. If you have 2 people, not much of a club and you're done. Or if you get 2 BMX'ers, 2 road guys, 2 mountain bike guys, etc., you don't have much to work with.

For tools, wait and see who you have in your club. If nobody knows how to use a tool, or if the only person that knows how or is interested in learning, already has one, there's no use in buying it. So you may not need as many tools as you think.

A bike stand is useful on some bikes, kind of pointless on others, so once again, works best to see what you have.

Where do the tools stay when you're not using them, by the way?

tacofreedom

Okay park tool and joe blow. Thanks I'll put those on the list.

hmm. I see your point about liability and numbers. My school is pretty same so that could be an issue.

I haven't worked out where the bike tools will stay when nobody is using them. I want the tools to be easily accessible, but at the same time I am worried about theft...

itsthewoo

The local bike co-op currently uses someone's garage for all the stuff. They just give out keys to specific people so that the shop can be opened when needed.

They're trying to get a space on campus though. I'm not sure how that's working out.