We have a small trailer suitable for a car to pull -- but we don't have a car.  If you are willing to help us run some errands to pick up bikes, drop off and pick up event setup equiptment, or other random tasks too big for even the biggest bike trailer, please contact Krista Bowers.

Greetings to One and All,

I hope that you have all been having a great holiday season. It has been a while--were you all beginning to suspect that I had gone away?  Well, I am most definitely still here, gearing up for another fun-filled year here at Ye Olde Bicycle Collective.  I know it seems hard to believe right now, what with the massive amounts of snow we are getting, but Spring will be here before you know it!

Which brings me to my next topic:  starting back on January 6th, we will be having kids' earn-a-bike classes gearing (nice pun, huh?) back up.  These little darlings will be at the shop every Monday-Thursday, and we could really use some help with them while they are there.  The times to cover are 3:45-5:30 pm, but you don't have to do every day (although if you do, you will most certainly NOT be turned away, and you will have my undying gratitude!).

We need patient volunteers to enlighten the minds of young mechanics.  Contact us if you are interested in becoming and Earn-A-Bike Instructor.

Ironically you do not need any previous bike mechanic skills or experience.  The quality we look for the most is your ability to work with young adults.  During the school year classes are Monday through Thursday from 4:00pm until 5:30pm.  When school is in summer session, we run classes all day long.  If that is something you relate to, we will gladly teach you the mechanics part.

Because bicycles are so tactile the students can see change and accomplishment every step of the way.  This makes the experience incredibly rewarding for both the students and the teachers.

Also, as a volunteer you are not obligated to come and teach every day of the class -- just give what time you and your schedule feel comfortable donating.

For more info on the course click here.

 

Do you like mountain biking and kids? Salt Lake City is surrounded by stunning landscapes and some of the best mountain biking trials anywhere. Sadly, many local youth never get the chance to experience this natural beauty or the healthy fun and challenge of mountain biking. With Trips for Kids Salt Lake City we hope to change that by getting kids who might otherwise not get the chance, on mountain bikes and out onto our local trails.

Plans are currently underway for after-school and weekend rides this spring through fall. We are looking for volunteer ride leaders to help share the joy of mountain biking and an appreciation of the outdoors with kids ages 10 to 16. Besides the ability to ride a mountain bike and relate to kids, no particular experience is required. If you can share a few hours to join us on an afternoon or weekend ride, we would love to hear from you. If you know of a local youth group or organization that might be interested in scheduling a ride, we'd love to know about that too.

Contact Krisha Pessa our Trips for Kids Coordinator to find out how you can be involved in this incredible program.

The Bicycle Collective is always in the process of refurbishing bikes and in constant need of experienced and/or eager to learn mechanics.  You don't need any prior experience, just be willing to get your hands dirty and ask questions.

If you are an experienced mechanic, but only have time during the day please contact Jonathan Morrison about coming in off hours.

Do you have some Community Service Hours you need to fullfill?

Whether the reason is voluntary or involuntary consider the Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective a perfect place to spend all or some of those hours.

From AmeriCorps to court mandated -- we provide a laid back, fun, yet meaningful way for you to help the community.

Providing free valet parking and tune ups during each downtown farmer's market is darn fun, but we sure could use some help throughout the summer manning our booth. Even in the off season, there are opportunities to really improve traffic problems at the markets by working on new ideas with the Downtown Alliance.

Go here for more information about our Farmers' Market services

Bike Drives are a fun and simple activity to do.

Contact us and we will ask for the following information:

• Where and when you are planning to do a bike drive, we keep records so that you won't overlap streets with previous bike drives.
• How many of our pre-printed door knob flyers you think you will need.  NOTE: We are currently out, so you will need to print these.
  
• When you would like to schedule a drop off day for.

1. If you are an Eagle Scout Applicant, bring your Eagle Scout Workbook to us for signing -- please fill out the proposal prior.
   
2. Just like a food drive, distribute the flyers annoucing a pick up day and distribute them a week prior.  As a point of reference, it can take two people two hours to distribute 200 door knob flyers by bicycle.
3. Coordinate your volunteers to help pickup the bikes and spread flyers -- you will need to borrow or rent trucks and/or trailers.
4. As scheduled earlier, drop off the bikes at our Community Bike Shop and give us any unused flyers.
   
5. Go the extra mile and organize a day to fix the bikes.  If you are an Eagle Scout Applicant, this also helps fill your other scouts fulfill bicycling merit badge requirements.  You can use our shop, tools and one of our volunteer mechanics.  Check our events calendar for a open day/time slot and ask if we can open the shop up for you.  Generally speaking Wednesday and Friday nights are free.
   

More information on Bike Drives, as well as the best months to do them

{mosdocument=doorhanger91-13-06.pdf}Door Knob Flyer Design{/mosdocument}

If you are an eagle scout candidate looking for a project, the Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective can help! For your project consider organizing a bike drive. If this is of interest to you feel free to contact Jonathan Morrison, he is our executive director and also an Eagle Scout (1997) from New York.

We have a goal of becoming one of the premier online resources bicycle information.  But we need your help writing content for our website.  Whether it be a simple trick that saves time, riding tip, mechanic secret or common knowledge -- we would love to have you write about it.  Include as many pictures as you like.

Here is our current Digital Library, as you can see it needs your help.

The Collective is operating on a very low budget and will need increased funding to start new programs and enhance current operations. You do not need previous experience to start fundraising, but you do need to share our passion for bicycle advocacy. Contact Jonathan.

Talk to and invite you favorite local business to join the national Bicycle Benefits program where there is friendly parking and some discount or other special to folks that ride their bike to the business.

http://www.bicyclebenefits.org/