amor fati

I'm coming to visit family in Sunnyvale in a few days and I've got a frame and some parts lined up to use but I'm going to need some tools for bb and headset installation. Are there any co-ops where I could borrow tools in the area? I work part time at a shop so I feel a little silly paying some one to do it for me.

ricebowl

This one's in San Francisco, might be a little far https://www.bikekitchen.org/

alxndr

Around Berkeley and Oakland:

Street Level Cycles, part of Waterside Workshops, along the Bay Trail / Aquatic Park / Bolivar Drive, https://www.watersideworkshops.org/wb/pages/bikes.php

Spokeland, a recent addition near the border of Oakland and Berkeley, 64th at San Pablo, https://www.facebook.com/spokeland

I believe there's one in east Oakland, don't know anything about it though.

UmneyDurak

Missing link in Berkeley.

amor fati

Thanks for the help. Nothing in the south bay?

richardmasoner

If you work at a shop, just go to Walt's in Sunnyvale or any other shop, be a Bro and ask to borrow or rent the tools you need. With a co-op you'd have to pay to join anyway before you can use the tools.

commo_soulja

You need to qualify your statement. How do you "be a Bro"? Bribe with beer?

DeadheadSF

There is also this: https://bikechurch.santacruzhub.org/

It's in Santa Cruz roughly at the corner of Pacific and Laurel (one block south - I forget the street). There is nothing like this in the south bay that I know of, but if you're up for a not-so-long drive (about half an hour if traffic is decent), this will get you what you're after. Plus, when you're done, you can nip around the corner to the Asti for a beer (give my regards to Kathy or Linda - the bartenders)

Be careful driving Hwy 17 - keep it slow!

milliron

Secret bike shop bro handshake.

richardmasoner

That's one way, yep.

richardmasoner

+1 on Santa Cruz Bike Church. And it's only a block from the Santa Cruz Metro bus terminal.

If you don't have wheels, catch the Highway 17 bus downtown San Jose. $5 for the bus ride over the hill, $10 for a day pass good on all Santa Cruz Metro and VTA buses. Bike racks on the buses (but they're frequently full, so plan ahead).

junkyardking

There is no official bike co-op in the South Bay, but some cool shops. Bicycle Express in downtown San Jose is really cool about loaning tools to use just in front of the shop. Assemble what you can at home, and then go over there when you're ready to throw in your BB.

frantik

I also recommend Bicycle Express on 4th and William in downtown SJ.. they will let you borrow their tools and are cool folks. Try to go in in the morning or very early afternoon on the weekdays. they get crazy busy later in the day and on the weekends

cjbf

Those two sound awesome. Is there anything little further south in the Hayward/Fremont/Castro Valley/San Leandro area? Looks like CentriPEDAL Bikes in Fremont has workshops every other month. Anywhere else? Thanks.

pdoege

San Jose has goodkarmabikes.org - Good Karma Bikes
Mountain View has https://bikesiliconvalley.org

Takara

Cycles of Change is a bicycle education nonprofit that runs a shop called The Bikery on 23rd Avenue a half block off International Boulevard in Oakland. The Bikery often makes time for people who want to borrow tools and workspace to work on their bikes. Contact information is at www.cyclesofchange.org.