Aloha!
10-22-09, 12:52 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Honolulu HI
Posts: 32
Bikes: Masi, Sekine, Zeus, Marin
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Aloha!
Hi guys,
My name is Matt and I am from Hawaii on the island of Oahu.
Been into bikes a long time - first into mountain bikes and then got into road around 1999 or 2000. I haven't really bought a bike in awhile - I am more into building them up from a frame. I have 3 complete bikes at the moment: a late 80's Sekine road singlespeed conversion, a 1972 Masi Gran Criterium, and a mid-90's Marin Bear Valley with an old school Manitou (elastomers are still working, amazing!). I'm currently building and collecting parts for an old Zeus frame. Going to make a nice lil 5-speed cruiser.
The last 4 1/2 months I've been managing a nonprofit bicycle shop called K-VIBE - the community donates bikes, parts, frames to us - and we in turn make these resources available to people who can't normally afford to buy a decent bicycle, allowing them to build or fix their bike using our tools and parts for free. We are sandwiched between two of the largest public housing communities in Hawaii, and we do a ton of work with the kids from these communities; give them options beyond a life of crime, which, in this neighborhood, is a grim reality for most of its youth.
I am always looking to improve my knowledge of bike mechanics, but the main reason I'm joining this site is to connect with bicycle cooperative managers to share and gain insight on how to organize our shop better. I confess, I am a bit of a newbie - prior to this position I was a graphic designer for a decade. I have little to no experience in running a shop, but I'm eager to learn from the experiences and wisdom of others.
It is great to meet you all.
Aloha,
Matt Yee
K-VIBE, Manager
My name is Matt and I am from Hawaii on the island of Oahu.
Been into bikes a long time - first into mountain bikes and then got into road around 1999 or 2000. I haven't really bought a bike in awhile - I am more into building them up from a frame. I have 3 complete bikes at the moment: a late 80's Sekine road singlespeed conversion, a 1972 Masi Gran Criterium, and a mid-90's Marin Bear Valley with an old school Manitou (elastomers are still working, amazing!). I'm currently building and collecting parts for an old Zeus frame. Going to make a nice lil 5-speed cruiser.
The last 4 1/2 months I've been managing a nonprofit bicycle shop called K-VIBE - the community donates bikes, parts, frames to us - and we in turn make these resources available to people who can't normally afford to buy a decent bicycle, allowing them to build or fix their bike using our tools and parts for free. We are sandwiched between two of the largest public housing communities in Hawaii, and we do a ton of work with the kids from these communities; give them options beyond a life of crime, which, in this neighborhood, is a grim reality for most of its youth.
I am always looking to improve my knowledge of bike mechanics, but the main reason I'm joining this site is to connect with bicycle cooperative managers to share and gain insight on how to organize our shop better. I confess, I am a bit of a newbie - prior to this position I was a graphic designer for a decade. I have little to no experience in running a shop, but I'm eager to learn from the experiences and wisdom of others.
It is great to meet you all.
Aloha,
Matt Yee
K-VIBE, Manager
