str8flexed

Just wondering. I saw someone else post about "bike church" who was in Philly, so I thoguht maybe some of you guys have been there. I go there 1-2 times a week now to tinker w/ my bike. Great place to work on your bike and learn (for free!).

bigbikerbrian

theres a bike church in santa cruz too. at least, there used to be. fun place.

skelly

Heard of it. What exactly is it?

genericbikedude

I used to work there. During the day, it is a kids program called Neighborhood Bike Works. Its a youth development organization, teaching kids to fix bikes, bike safety, taking them on rides, and trying to sneak commie ideology into them between bottom bracket lessons (I joke). The kids get points for behaving and helping out around the shop, and when they get enough points, they "earn" their bike that they've been fixing up. I used to run the satelite shop at 60th & Vine.

Bike Church borrows space from NBW when the kids aren't present. They get lots of donations of old bikes from people (give them yours!!). Thing is, the kids all want BMX's and MTB's, so nbw has tons of old cruisers and roadbikes lying around for people to fix up and buy. Hence bike church. Theres also a display case with some selected good parts, mostly oldies-but-goodies. Of course, it is also an open shop, and you can use their tools.

The bike church (T-TH-SU from 6:30-9PM) is very fixed friendly, and I encourage all Philly people to go there when you want to fix your bike or scrounge for some old parts. They have buckets and buckets of axles of various pitches, old derailler to strip for parts, every kind of nut and random cable guide etc etc etc. Go there, use the place, and give a big donation. They won't ask. Give anyway.

</shoutout>

skelly

Sounds great!

genericbikedude

I should add:

www.neighborhoodbikeworks.org

str8flexed

Yeah, I love the place. I trued my wheels there, replaced my stripped rear axle (found an old one that worked!), replaced brake housing, and basically did everything I needed to do on my bike to convert it to a single speed (and in the future, suicide fixie! haha). But most of all they provided me with all the knowledge, support, and inspiration to get into biking.

msneeri2@hotmai

do they have a headset cup press there?

genericbikedude

Last I checked, yes.

531phile 

I remember a bicycle coalition in Providence, RI that use to be in a basement of Trinity church. I understand that something happened with the building and they had to move out. too bad. I learned a lot about bicycles from Chris who currently runs Circle A Cycles in Providence.

Anyone from Providence. Let me know what's going on.

Rikardi151

YAY for bike church!! I live in philly, and have been there quite a bit in the past month or so building up a fixie from an old road frame. I got the whole project done for under $140, and I NEVER would've been able to do it without all their help, advice, and TOOLS! Their children's program is also amazing, and Im going to be volunteering for it come spring.

str8flexed: What is your name/ride? I have probably seen you there.

str8flexed

My name's Adam (asian guy). I ride a grey Schwinn Continental. The more I work on it, the more I like it.

Rikardi151

Yeah, I know you, Im the big guy with the goatee, and that Nishiki I stripped to steel. Way to advertise for the church... more people in philly need to go there and support those guys. I was reading your other thread about your plans to suicide that wheel. Did you make a decision? I just sold the wheelset I had for twice as much as I bought the parts for and ordered a brand new wheelset from bensycle.com. The fixies out of commission till they get here on Tues.

str8flexed

Haha oh hey, I thought that might have been you, since you're one of the few people I see there pretty regularly in the past several weeks. Well, I'm 80% sure I'm going to fix that wheel, you know collect some parts over Christmas break and come back Sunday and work on it. It's either that or buy a 15t/16t BMX freewheel and keep it a SS, but since everybody's been raving about fixies I thought I'd give it a try. Almost everyone on this forum (who has tried the loctite method) has said it worked flawlessly, but I'm not too sure what the facilitators at bike church would say (they may express strong disapproval). Either way, Jan. 8 I'll probably be there redishing the rear wheel

Rikardi151

Have you ever ridden a fixed gear? That might be the first step in determining what you should do. I mean, most people here can vouch for its addictiveness, but maybe not coasting is not for you. Then, if you decide you like enough, spend 75 bucks insteada 20 and get a cheap rear wheel with a proper track hub. Otherwise, just buy a freewheel. If you dont have access to one, I could let you take mine for a spin on Tues if you'll still be around.

str8flexed

Nope, never ridden a fixed gear. I will probably be around Tues--if you're around too, sure, I'd love to ride yours a little. Are you talking about another one you have? Or do you have your nikishi mostly built up already?

Rikardi151

WEll, last week I actually had it done! I rode it home and for like 4 hours the following afternoon. THen, the second day, I got a flat and got super pissed, as I had tubulars, meaning I had to get a whole new tire @ about 30 bucks. I knew this was going to be a problem since I cant afford 30 bucks/flat instead of 3 bucks for a new tube, but I didn't think flats would be that much of an issue. ANYWAY, in my bad mood, I posted and sold the wheelset on craigslist in less than 5 minutes and used the proceeds to buy a new clincher set. So the nishiki is just sitting here with no wheels till the new ones arrive on Tuesday. Im taking it down there that night to look for a brake and swap out the pedals... you can take it out it then.

el twe

Still there. I volunterr on mondays.

OrangeJTM46

Hey whats up Rikardi. I was there a few weeks ago when you finished building the Nishiki. I had the black fixed Trek. How'd the build end up? What kind of wheels did you get?

sxe fbm rider

I'll have to check that out. I'm applying at strikes so I'll beright there often if i get the job.

str8flexed

The Philly guys are uniting. Haha!

Rikardi151

Hey! Well, I didnt get outta there till like 11:15 or so. Josh stayed and helped me finish. It was a real b!tch finding a bottom bracket that worked out. I had to install and remove like 4 different ones. But in the end, things worked out well. THe 2 days I rode it it was smooth as hell, especially for the money I paid. I just got some cheap wheels from benscycle with suzue hubs and Alex rims. here I got some clips and pedals too. Everything should be here by tues or wed, so my project will be completely
done by christmas! (That is 'till I start upgrading stuff)

str8flexed

Hey Rikardi151, just curious, what's your gear ratio?

My ss is about 2.78 right now.

Rikardi151

Ive got a fairly ridiculous 3.06

xthugmurderx

who's got the tubulars? is that the guy that i helped repack his hubs? i dunno, just curious if that guy (forgot his name) actually finished that bike yet...thems was sweet wheels.

-the red beard

and whoever wants to do the suicide hub, i'll be back in town on wednesday, so if you want to do it on thursday and haven't alreade done it, i can help you out with that...but don't use loctite...get jb weld. trust me.