Any bike "support groups" in or near San Jose, CA? I seriously want to learn.
 

Experimenting on my own hasn't been yielding me good enough results, so I'm wondering if there is a person or a group of people in my city that would be willing to show me the ropes when it comes to bike building from the ground up. Everything from tuning, painting to building; I would like to learn it all. I'm a professional dance teacher and photographer, so I can trade skill for skill if you want. :thumb:

Have you checked with local shops to see if any offer clinics or repair classes? Not easy to find as the shop needs a good amount of excess space and it can be costly unless they charge participants. Also there's this from Google:

http://bikesiliconvalley.org/blog/20...se-bike-clinic - Group working on creating a location for shared workspace and education. Not sure what they will do for funding unless they try to start a shop - which is going to be a challenge. You might at least meet some individuals who can share their knowledge.

Do make sure that you always supplement any in-person help with lots of learning on your own from reading and videos, and most importantly thought and observation. It's easy to pick up incorrect info from others who do not have a breadth of experience, and no matter how much "canned" learning you do your greatest potential tool is you. No matter how tightly a dance move is choreographed one has to make minor accomodations from what they know of their body and abilities, and nobody can tell you all the mistakes a student may make when learning or how to correct them.

Hey, what kind of dance do you teach? My wife would like some salsa, tango, cha-cha lessons.

I've found this site to be very helpful: Park Tool - repair help.

1. You can hang out at Bicycle Express in San Jose, CA, located between 3rd and 4th Streets on William St. a few blocks south of San Jose State. Chuck, Eric and Jose loan out tools on a daily basis, and provide a box of small tools accessible at the counter. When things have slowed down, they'll provide tips, and sometimes come outside and provide a few pointers when someone has a question. There is often a customer out there who knows a thing or two who help out as well...

Be aware though that on Bike Party Friday starting about 4:00pm - it'll be jammed packed - cause everyone on the face of the planet will doing last minute tube, chain, pedal, crank and bottom bracket replacement.

2. You can arrange an appointment with me - possibly several - to do a few simple wheel related things.

- Lace a wheel
- Do rough true, tension and dish just to get on the road so to speak.
- Re-pack a hub - replace a freehub - remove a freewheel.

I won't bother with all the ERD, calculation stuff, unless you are really interested.

Phone number and email are at my website: http://www.mrrabbit.net/wheelsbyfleming.php


3. Dale Saso, longtime master framebuilder, someone who I know quite well resides only a mile from me in my neighborhood. He is always happy to meet someone who is motivated, willing to learn, take things seriously but with a humorous side was well - the art and craft of frame building.

He's a very busy guy - who does have periods where things have slowed down enough to set aside time for someone. So you'll have to be patient.

http://www.sasobike.com

His email and phone number are on his website.

=8-)

good karma bikes http://www.goodkarmabikes.org/ offers a 6 week bike mechanics class. Sunol street near Lincoln and San Carlos. (close to down town)

Community college may offer classes on brazing And welding..

Tim Sanner has 3 day, 2 student frame building workshop sessions in Palo Alto where you build a lugged steel frame.

Thanks so much for the help, guys! I have decided to start with Good Karma bikes. Their classes are booked until January, but I am going to be volunteering to help fix bikes for the homeless and low income people. I might as well do it for a good cause while getting trained for a new skill. And mrrabbit, I may take you up on that offer someday. Thanks again!

You might also want to pay it forward by helping bike silicon valley get off the ground.