CALTECH BIKE LAB: October 2012

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Want more and better campus bike racks? Let us know!

We're working to improve bike parking on campus so it is better than this

Caltech BikeLab met this week with the Caltech Transportation Office and are working to prepare a specific set of recommendations to improving the availability of bicycle parking around campus.

Is the bike rack near your lab, dorm, office always filled with bikes with no extra space to spare? Do you want more and better bike racks for your or favorite part of campus? Do you worry about bikes locked to nearby handrails as a potential safety hazard?

Now is your chance to let us know! Words work, but better yet would be to please take a photo (i.e. with your phone) and send it our way along with the approximate time, date, and location to bikeshop@caltech.edu

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Caltech ZipCar

No need to own a car, Caltech has ZipCar when you need it. Here's their latest deal.

Monday, October 29, 2012

THIS SATURDAY: Learn Defensive Cycling with CICLE and Caltech BikeLab

Learn how to:

Take back the road

Be alert and safe

Know your rights as a cyclist

Make the best use of your bike!

When: THIS SATURDAY Nov 3rd 11 am – 12:30pm

Where: Caltech Y: 505 S. Wilson

What to Bring: Your bicycle, in good running order and a helmet.

Price: FREE!
This class is generously subsidized by the Caltech’s BikeLab

RSVP to: bike@cicle.org. Space is limited, but the public is welcome!

In the class, you’ll learn basic principles of bicycle and traffic safety. For the second part of the workshop, you’ll need your bike, because we’ll be hitting the road for an easy ride that will put what you learned into practice.

To attend this class you must be able to:
Start your bike with confidence and ease.
Balance and steer your bike
Bring your bike to a smooth and controlled stop.
Use your gears effectively
Remove one hand from your handlebar to signal without veering.
Look over your shoulder without veering.

Monday, October 22, 2012

THIS FRIDAY: Bikes and Barbecue Social

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Video: Caltech Bike Lab Ride from Pasadena to CicLAvia!

Check it out! A video of our Caltech Bike Lab ride from Pasadena to CicLAvia (Oct 7 2012). Thanks Eugene from JPL Bike Club!

and some CicLAvia highlights:

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Saturday Oct 13 2 PM Tour De Pasadena

photo from CICLE

Come meet other grad students and tour Pasadena by bike!
We are leading a bike ride around the sights of Pasadena, including:

Old Town Pasadena
The Gamble House
The Rose Bowl
North Lake district
Bungalow Heaven
Where the Saturday farmer's market is
The PCC student area
A few of our favorite bars

Bring your bike out and ride with us! The pace of the ride will be comfortable for all participants.

We'll meet at the BikeLab on California Blvd at 2 PM Sat Oct 13
(Map: http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/8899/bikelabmap.png)

If you need repairs before the ride, come to the Bikelab space at 1:30 PM. Questions? Email panzel AT caltech DOT edu

Bike Lab Office Hours and Location

We sometimes have to cancel office hours due to schedule conflicts. See our Google Calendar for up-to-date office hour availability and for Bike Lab classes and events!

We are on the north side of California Blvd between Arden Ave and Hill Ave (closer to Arden than Hill). Enter the driveway with the black metal gates. We're immediately on your left below Dabney House.

Approximate Address: 1331 East California Boulevard, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA

(Google Maps)

Latitude : 34.136135
Longitude: -118.122987

What is the Caltech Bike Lab?

Caltech Bike Lab is a bike cooperative run by volunteers at Caltech, particularly students.

Joining Caltech Bike Lab is a great way to meet new people and learn new skills!

We are always interested in having members of the Caltech/JPL community visit the Bike Lab workspace, and help out by donating or volunteering at the shop or to host events. No prior experience required to get involved, just email us at bikeshop AT caltech DOT edu

We teach you how to fix/maintain your bike, organize classes on how to ride safely in the streets, host rides and other club events, teach classes on bike repair, and participate in local Pasadena/Los Angeles bike community outreach to try to make the streets safer for everyone, not just cars.

How can I access the Bike Lab?

The Caltech bike lab is open to the entire Caltech and JPL community.

Visitors may drop in on our regular office hours, where anyone can come and get access to tools and assistance with bike repair FREE without needing to get a key. See the schedule above.

Key access requires an annual membership fee of $10 or donation of a tool. E-mail us at bikeshop AT caltech.edu and we'll show you around the shop. If you're interested in volunteering at office hours, please contact us via email. Annual dues for volunteers are waived!

How to pay your annual dues:
For those of you who have a key -- you will find a stack of envelopes next to the donation box in the shop. Slip $10 in an envelope, write your name & email on it and put it in the donation box. Don't seal it, we can re-use the envelopes. Thank you! 45% of our annual budget is covered by you, the users.

We DO NOT have bikes for sale (we only do repair & have basic repair supplies in stock). If you are looking for a cheap bike, read this.

Yes, we take donations of bike parts and bikes. Come to any one of our volunteer office hours to donate (see Google Calendar above). Thanks!

Caltech Metro TAP subsidy

Caltech METRO Passes

Members of the Caltech community can now receive a Free Metro Pass that is valid for unlimited rides on all Metro bus and rail lines, as well as many local bus systems including Pasadena Transit. All active Caltech personnel are qualified to receive a Free Metro Pass

It is a subsidy provided by Caltech Transportation Office to support public transit use by members of Caltech community. Find METRO PASSES information here.

Student passes must be renewed quarterly at the Caltech Bookstore

Also: Caltech Bookstore sells U-locks and bike lights!

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