Caltech Bikelab

Basic bike repair course

2012-01-15T11:12:00.000-08:00

The Caltech BikeLab is hosting a basic bike repair course on Sunday the 22nd from 2-4 PM. Come by the shop to learn how to fix a flat, oil your chain, adjust your brakes, and set your saddle at the right height. This event is free and open to all in the Caltech and JPL community.

If you have any questions please contact bikeshop AT caltech DOT edu.

More important bike safety

2011-12-25T12:16:00.000-08:00

With your friends, RiffTrax.

Merry Xmas and other solstice-related holiday!

Xmas light ride, round 2

2011-12-14T22:20:00.001-08:00

It's time for the second annual BikeLab Christmas Light Ride! Come join us for good cheer and gawking at some truly impressive displays of Christmas lights. This is to be followed with food and hot drinks, as is right and proper.

When: Saturday, Dec 17th, leave from the BikeLab at 7 PM.
Route: We'll head up to Altadena to see Christmas Tree Lane (Santa Rosa between New York and Altadena Drive). If the Balian house is lit this time (we can only hope) we'll take a trip over to there as well. If I find any other houses of interest in the area we may stop by them as well. Afterwards, it's back to Pasadena for post-ride nourishment.
Pace: Light. There's going to be some climbing (700 ft) but we'll keep the speed slow and make sure no-one gets left behind. Length should be about 12 miles.
Bring: Your bike in good working condition, lights, warm clothing, that sense of child-like wonder that countless Christmas TV specials have told us to keep hold of.

Please RSVP at bikeshop AT caltech DOT edu so I can get enough food and drinks. You can show up last minute without reservation, but you might have to starve like Tiny Tim. (No starvation in the end, but a note if you're thinking of coming would be appreciated for planning purposes nonetheless).

Yours in holiday spirit,
Paul

BikeLab policies

2011-12-05T18:39:00.000-08:00

BikeLab policies, written 12/4/11 by Paul Anzel

Introduction
The BikeLab managers can be contacted at bikeshop AT caltech DOT edu for any questions or issues. These policies are effective immediately.

Honor code announcement
All users of the Caltech BikeLab are subject to the Caltech honor code: “No member of the Caltech community shall take unfair advantage of any other member of the Caltech community.” The full rules are posted here. We encourage members to be honest in all their dealings (not just in classes), and so ask them not to leave a mess for others, ensure tools remain in the shop, pay fairly for all parts used, keep current on dues, and to treat all equipment with care and respect.

Membership
BikeLab key access is subject to an annual fee of $10/year, though the fee may be waived by donation of a tool or volunteer efforts (defined in the Volunteering section). New dues are collected at the beginning of the Fall term. Members who join in the Spring or Summer terms are covered for the next year.

Key access to the Caltech BikeLab is limited to current members of Caltech and JPL. Friends and family of Caltech/JPL members are welcome to use the shop, provided their sponsor (the current Caltech/JPL member) is present with them. The responsibility of sponsored guests lies with their sponsor.

All members will be automatically enrolled on the BikeLab mailing list (bikeshoplist AT caltech DOT edu).

Other access
Office hours and repair classes are open to current Caltech/JPL members, their friends and family, and alumni. We will not turn away other attendees, but preference for space and time is given to those listed above. Our bike rides are open to everyone, but non-Caltech/JPL members may be expected to help pay for any food or drinks involved in the rides.

We reserve the right to kick anyone out of an office hour, class, or ride for being overly disruptive, harassing others, or endangering the safety of themselves or others.

Leadership
The primary (and secondary, if available) manager of the BikeLab must be a current undergraduate or graduate student. If there is need for further managers, they can be any other members of the Caltech community. Any call for new managers will be made open on the cyclists and bikeshoplist mailing lists. If the decision of a new manager cannot be resolved among the current managers and volunteers, the selection of a new manager will be put to vote amongst BikeLab members.

Managerial duties include
- Taking inventory of the shop and ensuring all tools are in working order.
- Purchasing new tools.
- Organizing classes, rides, and office hours.
- Ensuring rags get put through rag service and any toxic chemicals are properly disposed of.

Managerial privileges include
- Unlimited time to stash their bike at the BikeLab, if needed.
- Ability to freely take tools out of the shop.
- Love and adulation.
- The occasional free beer (or drink of preference).

Volunteering and Office Hours
Volunteers are asked to lead classes, hold office hours, or lead or support BikeLab rides. Anyone is welcome to volunteer. A volunteer is expected to contribute at least two hours of work a month for at least one term for their fees to be waived.
Office hours for the week must be told to the shop manager by Thursday of the previous week so they can get them published in Caltech Today. Hours will be put on Caltech Today’s weekly announcements and on the BikeLab calendar (see below).

Volunteers are asked to keep office hours reasonably consistent from week-to-week over a term to minimize confusion.

Office hours are a time for teaching, not direct repair. Volunteers are encouraged to teach visitors how to repair their own bikes, not to do it for them. Likewise, visitors are expected to actively participate during office hours rather than simply pass their bike onto the volunteers for repair.

Classes
The BikeLab will lead at least one introductory bike repair class per term. Additional classes are at the discretion of the shop manager and other volunteers, but are a good thing.

Rides
Official BikeLab social rides must have a small med-kit around. They are no-drop (unless stated otherwise) and we will have a volunteer riding DFL. For more training-style rides, you may be on your own; riders are expected to plan accordingly.

Shop policies
Shop users must sign in every time they use the shop.

Shop users are expected to clean up after themselves and are encouraged to leave the shop in better shape than they found it.

Shop users must inform the shop manager if any tool breaks or they find broken equipment, and are asked to inform the manager about any other shop-related issues.

Visitors and Members must NOT take tools outside of the front door of the shop without the explicit permission of a volunteer or manager.

Members are welcome to leave their bikes at the shop for a short period of time. To ensure their bikes are left untouched, members are encouraged to put a label with their name on their bikes. Bikes are left at the shop at their owners own risk. We ask that overnight time is kept within reason, and if anyone leaves their bike untouched for over a month without prior consultation of the management, their bikes are considered abandoned and may be cannibalized for parts. Managers may decide to clean out the shop and reclaim any bikes around, but will give fair warning via the mailing list.

Statement on office hours and classes
The managers and volunteers for the BikeLab are not professionals, and their advice should not be treated as coming from such. We will help visitors to the best of our knowledge but we may be wrong at times or miss important issues. Take our advice at your own risk, and if you are concerned about anything we say there are a number of books and resources on-line for repair advice. A healthy dose of skepticism is not just important for science, it’s important for life.

It's another cyclotrope video!

2011-11-27T23:11:00.001-08:00

Wheel building class

2011-11-06T10:48:00.001-08:00

It's that time again: time to learn to do some fancy bike repair, and this time the BikeLab going to be doing a session on wheel-building. This will be a longer class, split into two sessions of two hours each: Saturday the 12th from 2-4 PM and Monday the 14th from 6-8 PM, both held at the BikeLab. Due to the level of personal instruction required, class size is limited so please send a message to bikeshop@caltech.edu if you'd like to reserve a spot.

This event is supported with the help of the GSC, ASCIT, CPA, and Parking.g.

We encourage all our members to ride safely

2011-10-28T11:58:00.001-07:00

Just sing this song (and do the dance) whenever you go out riding:

Via Everything is Terrible.

Basic bike repair course

2011-10-13T11:19:00.000-07:00

The Caltech BikeLab will be leading a course basic bicycle maintenance on Monday, October 24th at 6 PM at the shop. We'll be covering fixing a flat, oiling your chain, adjusting your brakes and setting your saddle at the right height. This event is free and open to all Caltech and JPL affiliates.

If you have any questions please contact bikeshop AT caltech DOT edu.

Bike BBQ, October 15th, 4-8 PM, South Cats Rec Room

2011-10-08T11:57:00.000-07:00

The tradition returns! The Caltech BikeLab, Velo Club, Tri-Club, and JPL Cycling Club will be hosting a celebration of B-things that we love: Bikes, Beer, and Barbecue. Meet at the South Catalina Rec Room (Caltech building 106, 440 S Catalina Ave) from 4-8 PM on Saturday, October 15th. Whether you're a complete beginner or can hammer for 5 hours straight, we'd like to see you. Spandex (bspandex, if we're continuing our love of B-things) is not required, but may be helpful in getting you in the right frame of mind.

We're also going to have a bike (and bike parts) sale at this event. If you have anything you've been thinking of selling or are looking to see if anything good pops up bring your stuff and/or checkbook. We'll provide labels and tables to display everything.

If you're interested in coming please RSVP to bikeshop AT caltech DOT edu so we can make sure to get enough food and drink for everyone.

(Return of the) CicLAvia!

2011-09-28T21:33:00.001-07:00

It was so awesome last time we're going to have to go again - The BikeLab is leading a ride down to CicLAvia on Sunday the 9th of October, departing at 9:30 AM from the shop. The ride is about 12 miles to downtown (mostly downhill) which we'll take at a fairly slow pace (so if you're pretty new to biking, you're good to come with us)--but if someone wants to lead a hustle ride, please contact me. We'll also need volunteers to help with leading the main ride to make sure no-one gets dropped.

For those unfamiliar with CicLAvia, a short description: LA will be closing down a 10.5 mile route for bikes, pedestrians, skateboarders, and whatever-else-have-you, and you can go ride around to your heart's content. The organization has been working to make the event much more of a festival this time around, and so we'll see such things as dodge-ball in the streets, a game of human-chess, and a gamelan ensemble. The Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association will also be hosting a parade celebrating the 100th anniversary of Taiwan on North Broadway that day, immediately accessible from the CicLAvia route.

I can vouch for this being a fun event, see pictures here. Note that this is a BIG event--both previous CicLAvias had over 100,000 people.

If you're coming please bring a spare tube for your bike so we can quickly fix it if you get a flat. I also recommend wearing sunscreen as you'll be out for a while at the festival. There will be water stations at the event but I'd recommend bringing your own for convenience. There is no official ride back--just head back (by bike or metro, the Little Tokyo station is right on the route) when you see fit.

Let me know if you'd like to come (send an e-mail to bikeshop AT caltech) so I can get an approximate head-count.

Also, costumes highly recommended.

Wheel class

2011-09-07T21:31:00.001-07:00

The Caltech BikeLab will be leading a course on truing wheels and replacing spokes on Saturday, September 17th at 2 PM. As per usual, this will be at the bike shop. This event is free and open to all Caltech and JPL affiliates.

If you have any questions please contact bikeshop AT caltech DOT edu.

Bike Film Festival in LA

2011-09-06T17:05:00.000-07:00

Not an official BikeLab event, but here it is for those who are interested.

Click here

Geffen museum ride

2011-07-24T20:55:00.002-07:00

Hi all,

It's occurred to me that I'm being deficient in my LA-urbanism, as I have yet to see the street art exhibit at the MOCA Geffen center (http://www.moca.org/museum/exhibitiondetail.php?id=443). To remedy this sad fact I've decided to drop by the museum this Saturday (7/30). This gives me an excuse to ride my bike downtown again and, since it's generally more fun to go with people, I'm pushing this invitation to the Caltech bike community at large.

The plan is this: Depart from the BikeLab at 10-ish on Saturday. I'm going to try a slightly modified route from my usual downtown ride, but it should still be pretty relaxed. Along the way we'll make a few detours to assorted points of interest in Highland Park and Lincoln Heights. The Geffen is right in Little Tokyo, so we can figure out lunch when we get there. At some point I'll decide it's a good time to head back and anyone who wants to join me for a ride back can do so (it'll be a bit spicier), but the Little Tokyo metro station is right there so you can depart whenever you see fit.

Please bring money for the Geffen ($10 general, $5 student) and lunch. Also, please bring a spare tube if you have one.

BikeLab/Velo Club GUSH on Friday

2011-07-12T10:15:00.003-07:00

The Caltech BikeLab and Velo Club are hosting the July GUSH party, and you're invited! Come by and meet your fellow bike dorks, roadies, mountain bikers, weekend warriors, cyclocommuters, Ridazz, occasional riders, and people who hate bikes but love to get beer on Friday. This party is this Friday (the 15th) at 6:30 in the evening, at the Caltech North Catalina recreation room (see directions at the bottom of this e-mail).

We will be doing a lesson on how to change a flat and oil your chain--which, as we all know, is best learnt with a drink in your hand--and be handing out free patch kits and cycling maps. Beyond that, who knows? Maybe we'll teach you how to crash properly or watch some Tour de France. Maybe we'll have a dance party to Kraftwerk's "Tour de France". Life is full of mystery; all I can say is there will be drinks and snacks, which is more than you can expect from most of life.

Note that while GUSH may stand for Graduate Underground Social Hour, anyone at Caltech and JPL is welcome to come by. This event is similarly being held on a slightly raised patio and will probably last for hours plural but, lest you get completely discouraged, it should nonetheless still be social.

Since some of us bike to be sustainable (or at least that's what we tell ourselves to feel better) let's not undo any environmental karma with this event. Please bring reusable cups and dishes if at all possible.

For those not familiar with the Catalina Apartments, go to the Caltech map (http://cit.s3.amazonaws.com/map/Caltech-map-20110428CO.pdf). It's at the phone in section 2A.

This event is sponsored with the generous support of the GSC.

Bike repair class

2011-06-16T17:11:00.000-07:00

The Caltech BikeLab will be leading a course on how to do a bearing overhaul on your hubs, bottom brackets, and headsets on Sunday, June 26th at 3 PM. Come learn how to make sure your bike runs as smoothly as possible. This event is free and open to all Caltech and JPL affiliates.

If you have any questions please contact bikeshop AT caltech DOT edu.

Ride to Chantry Flats

2011-06-13T19:53:00.000-07:00

I plan on leading a ride up to Chantry Flats every Thursday leaving at 9 am from the Caltech Bikelab. In this post, I'll collect some comments on this ride in the form of Q&A.

Q: Why should I come?
A: Because Chantry Flats roads is awesome and it is fun to exercise with other people. So you will sweat a lot going up...

Q: Where is the Caltech Bikelab?
A: Look here. So it's on California Blvd.

Q: What should I bring?
A: Since the ride involves a downhill part where you go down about 2000 feet in 5 miles, I urge you to wear a helmet and have working brakes.
Furthermore, I recommend bringing some water, some food, and if you get chilly easily you might consider taking a jacket for the downhill part.
Also before going down, you will go up, so I recommend bikes that have small gears. Of course, it is always a good idea to carry a spare tube, patches, and a pump.

Speaking of bikes: We will be riding on roads, so road bikes are the weapon of choice, but other types of bikes are welcome.

Q: Can I fill up my tires or lube my chain before this ride?
A: Yes, I (Helge) will be holding office hours starting at 8:30 am. Small repairs should be possible too.

Q: What is the route?
A: California -- Sierra Madre -- Santa Anita.

Q: How hard is this ride?
A: In my opinion, this is an easy and nice ride leaving from Pasadena going into the mountains. The ride is roughly 20 miles and involves 2000 feet of climbing.
If you want to test if you can do the climbing or train for it without riding through Sierra Madre you can go up Lake Avenue in Pasadena (to the end). This is a comparable amount of elevation, but not nearly as nice a street.

Q: Should I follow traffic laws?
A: YES!!!!

Q: Going up Chantry Flats bores me. Anything else, I can do?
A: The two routes of choice into the mountains are Glendora Mountain Road and Angeles Crest.

BikeLab Brewery Ride

2011-05-28T17:58:00.000-07:00

Do you like joy? Do you like happiness? Do you like camaraderie and bonhomie? If so, you should come join the Caltech BikeLab for our first* probably-once-a-term ride to a local brewery here in Los Angeles on Sunday the 5th of June. Come join us for a pleasant ride downtown, food, and drinks. This time we're going to Angel City Brewing in Downtown (http://www.angelcitybrewing.com/). We'll even get to tour the brewery as well.

Ride to the brewery will be 12 miles (mostly downhill) at an easy pace. I'll be available at the shop at 1:30 PM for any last minute repairs, and we ride at 2-2:15. The brewery is right by the Little Tokyo metro stop so it will be easy to get back home to Caltech after a few beers.

We'll have the necessary equipment to make repairs on the ride down, but if you could bring a spare tube for your bike that will make all our lives easier should you get a flat. Try and make sure your bike is in good, working order before the ride. Bring your ID and some cash for the brewery--I'll try and get food subsidized, but you'll have to pay for your own drinks. Most importantly, bring your sense of fun.

Please RSVP at bikeshop AT caltech DOT edu if you plan on coming.

*Maybe some Caltech cyclists did this years ago. If so, their names and legends have been lost in the mists of time.

Arroyo ride and BWP Pedal Party

2011-05-05T17:58:00.000-07:00

As part of CICLE's Bike Week Pasadena festivities the BikeLab will be leading a ride from Caltech to join CICLE for a ride down the Arroyo and the afterparty on Saturday, May 21st. Meet up at the shop around 6 (particularly if you want to get your bike looked at), we head out around 6:30ish to join the crowd at the One Colorado Boulevard, and the ride formally gets started at 7:30.

Bike repair class this Sunday!

2011-04-25T18:42:00.000-07:00

The Caltech BikeLab is leading a course in basic bike repair on Sunday the 1st of May from 1-3 PM at the Caltech bike shop. Come by and learn how to oil your chain, fix a flat, adjust your seat, and all the other basic essentials you need to know to keep your bicycle running smoothly. This event is free and open to all Caltech and JPL affiliates.

If you have any questions please contact bikeshop AT caltech DOT edu.

CicLAvia!

2011-04-12T23:24:00.000-07:00

En route down. (Photo by Helge)

(Almost) everyone and the LAPD. (Photo by Helge)

Hanging out in MacArthur Park. (Photo by Emma)

Riding around. (Photo courtesy of http://rainbeauseitz.com/)

There's a couple of photos of us at ChinaDaily (1st and 3rd picture) and we got a mention in the LA Daily News.

BikeLab ride to CicLAvia!

2011-03-30T21:22:00.000-07:00

The Caltech BikeLab will be leading a ride down to CicLAvia on Sunday the 10th, departing at 8:30 AM from the shop. This ride will be about 12 miles (mostly downhill) at a fairly leisurely pace, though if someone wants to lead a hustle ride please contact me (since CicLAvia starts at 10, you can even sleep in a bit if you want). We will also need volunteers to help with leading the main ride, making sure no-one gets dropped.

What is CicLAvia, you might ask? Well, during CicLAvia LA will be closing a nice long path downtown through the streets from traffic, allowing cyclists (as well as pedestrians) to freely wander around without any cars to get in the way. From what I've heard, the last CicLAvia was quite a bit of fun, so we'll have to go and check out this one.

If you're feeling really gonzo, I recommend you check out the "Feel My Legs, I'm a Racer" ride before CicLAvia: 10 of the hardest hills of LA...are you feeling (wo)man enough to do it? And if you stay for the whole thing there's a couple of after-parties (one at Senor Fish starting at 2, one at Atwater Crossing starting at 4).

If you're coming please bring a spare tube for your bike so we can quickly fix it if you get a flat. I also recommend wearing sunscreen as you'll probably be out for a while at the festival. There will be water stations at the event but I do find bringing my own water a good idea nonetheless. There is no official ride back--just head back (by bike or metro) when you see fit.

Let me know if you'd like to come (send an e-mail to bikeshop AT caltech) so I can get an approximate head-count.

Bicycle Locks

2011-03-24T17:06:00.000-07:00

Bike theft is a big problem here at Caltech, and I know several people here who have had their bikes stolen. Always make sure you have a good lock for your bike, or you’ll just be tempting fate. There are three basic types of locks on the market:

- Cable locks: These locks are extremely insecure and can be cut in a matter of seconds with a large bolt cutter. NEVER rely on just a cable lock. They are fine in combination with another type of lock, though (for example, you can use a U lock to get your rear wheel and frame, and lock your front wheel with a cable lock).
- Chain locks: I’m talking about the kinds of chains where the links are a good centimeter thick, otherwise see above. They’re much better than cable locks, though not necessarily as secure as U Locks. Also usually cut with bolt cutters. Still, some of the better ones on the market can be good. Tend to be pretty heavy, but may be easier to deal with than U-Locks.
- U-Locks: Probably the best option. These are cut either by prying open the protruding end (not a problem with newer U-Locks, and with older ones you can stick a Plumber’s Tee on the end to help with this) or sticking a car jack in the lock and opening it (so get the smallest U-Lock that works. It might also be worth investing in something called a “Bad Bone”, which fits in the middle of the U-Lock).

Other bits of lock advice:

- NEVER leave your bike totally unlocked.
- It may be helpful to use two different types of locks (e.g. cable and U-Lock), as thieves are less likely to have the tools to defeat both.
- If you have to leave your bike locked up overnight on campus (and cannot take it into your office or room) it’s better to use the bike racks closer to the center of campus (like at the Red Door). Bike racks that are secluded and easily accessible by some alleyway (like the one between Firestone and Lauritsen) are riskier, as someone can drive in, cut some locks, toss the bikes in the back of their vehicle, and make their getaway. The Catalina apartments are often plagued by thieves—beware!
- If your bike has any quick-release levers you’ll want to lock the related part. This is particularly important for wheels (especially your rear wheel, which is the most expensive part of the bike after the frame), though you should also be aware of the potential for your seat to be stolen as well. For the latter you can buy seat-post clamps which don’t have quick-release levers, which will deter anyone from taking your seat.
- Don’t leave your bike lights on your bike; take them in with you.
- If you’ve got a particularly valuable bike, the parking office has bicycle cages at the Holliston parking structure (see here) which requires card access and has a camera. Or take your bike into your office or room.
- You can download a form to register your bike with campus security at this website. It may help with bicycle recovery after it’s been stolen (otherwise, you tend to be SOL even if the bike is found). Occasionally campus security will go around and pick up bikes that look abandoned—registering it (and placing the sticker you get on your bike) will ensure they don’t take it without contacting you first.
- Just remember, any lock can be broken with enough time and the right tools. You can’t leave your bike outside and expect perfect security, but you can definitely make it much harder to take than the one sitting right next to it.

Some good sites to go through:
http://www.consumersearch.com/bicycle-locks
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/lock-strategy.html

Just remember, while a good lock might set you back $40-$60, a lost bike will be worse.

Things are interesting on the internet

2011-03-18T01:04:00.000-07:00

Because life is better with cycling related videos.

Things I'm not remotely coordinated enough to do.

Also, bike wheel + frame rate => art.

The Cyclotrope from tim Wheatley on Vimeo.

Bike Repair Course

2011-03-04T20:05:00.000-08:00

The Caltech BikeLab will be leading a bike repair course next Sunday (3/13) from 1-3 PM on brakes, derailleurs, and cables. The course will be conducted at the shop (room 39 SAC, http://caltechbikelab.blogspot.com/2009/10/geography.html). This course is free and open to all Caltech and JPL affiliates.

If you have any questions please contact bikeshop (at) caltech (dot) edu

Cables and bearings

2011-03-02T19:30:00.000-08:00

The shop now has some mountain bike brake cables and assorted bearings for people to use. To cover their replacement we ask that you please donate to the shop if you use either ($2/cable, $1/8 bearings). We will be getting more cables and other consumables once the next round of club funding rolls around, which will be in a few months.

Basic bike repair course next Saturday

2011-01-14T16:03:00.000-08:00

The Caltech BikeLab is leading a course in basic bike repair on Saturday the 22nd from 1-3 PM at the Caltech bike shop (room 39 SAC, http://caltechbikelab.blogspot.com/2009/10/geography.html). Come by and learn how to oil your chain, fix a flat, adjust your seat, and all the other basic essentials you need to know to keep your bicycle running smoothly. This event is free and open to all Caltech and JPL affiliates.

Christmas light ride!

2010-12-03T09:16:00.000-08:00

The Caltech BikeLab is leading a bike ride next Sunday, (December 12th, meet at 8 PM) to go see some awesome Christmas lights. We'll start at the Bike Shop, ride through San Marino, and then bike up to Christmas Tree Lane in Altadena. Following that we'll bike back down to the North Catatalina Rec Room (building 116 on this map) and finish up with hot chocolate and cider.

If you're planning on coming please shoot us an e-mail at bikeshop AT caltech so we can plan how much food and drink we will get.

TOOLS!

2010-11-21T19:25:00.001-08:00

Thanks to the combined generosity of the Caltech Parking Office, the Graduate Student Council, and ASCIT the bike shop has managed to raise several hundred dollars for the purchase of new tools. We've got our first batch in today, with plenty of wrenches, freewheel removers, and other wonderful bits of shaped metal and plastic. Come by the shop to see some of our new purchases!

Class this Sunday

2010-11-15T14:08:00.000-08:00

The BikeLab will be hosting a class on Sunday on wheel maintenance--how to true your wheel and fix a bad hub. The class will be from 4-6--come on by!

Updated list of needed tools

2010-11-03T16:27:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

We're getting funding from Parking and GSC (and hopefully ASCIT) for a whole bunch of new tools. If anyone is interested in donating to the shop, here's what we need that won't be covered by the grants:

- Shock pump (e.g. Rockshox)
- Drumstix disc brake levers (http://www.sicklines.com/reviews/morningstardrumstix/)
- ~~Large adjustable wrenches~~
- ~~15 mm bolt crank wrench (shop has 14 mm sizing)~~
- ~~11 mm metric wrench~~
- ~~Shop apron~~
- ~~Channel-lock pliers~~
- Lubricant
- Penetrating oil
- Citrus degreaser
- Rags

First class of the year and MORE

2010-10-15T00:49:00.001-07:00

EDIT: WE'RE LEAVING FROM THE SHOP FOR THE TOUR DE FAT AT 10. GET SOME MORE SLEEP!

The Caltech BikeLab is going to be hosting a free course on basic bike maintenance (fixing a flat, oiling your chain, adjusting your brakes and deraileurs) next Sunday the 24th from 1-3 PM. We'll be holding the class at the shop.

We will have classes once a month from here on out covering a range of basic and advanced repairs. Check back later to see what we'll be doing next!

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!

New Belgium is doing their Tour de Fat here in Los Angeles on the 23rd (next Saturday). If you haven't heard of this before, it's a big bike festival with plenty of beer (it's New Belgium after all) and fun (they insist people bring costumes). The event starts at 11 AM at the LA State Historic Park, which is conveniently located by the Chinatown station on the Gold Line.

This is also a nice ~10 mile ride from campus, so I'm going to be leading a bike ride down to the event that morning. If you'd like to come meet at the BikeLab at 10:00 that morning and we'll be heading out at 10:20 or so. I'll trust you to bike or take the metro back as you see fit. Make sure you've got a costume and money for beer tokens!

See: http://www.cicle.org/cicle_content/pivot/entry.php?id=2551

AND IT JUST GETS BETTER!

If you're looking for a cheap bike (or a good used one) Bike Oven is doing a trade in deal with REI this Saturday where people will bring in their used bikes to REI (getting a discount) and Bike Oven will then re-sell the bikes. What does this mean? On Sunday Bike Oven is going to have a whole new stock of used bikes available, and they get a pretty decent selection of used bikes through the event. So, if you're looking for a bike and are free on Sunday, I recommend you drop by Bike Oven at the beginning of their hours on Sunday (1 PM) to look around. Go to http://bikeoven.com/

Finding a cheap bike

2010-09-05T17:43:00.000-07:00

The second most frequent question I get from people (after if they can get a key to the shop) is where they can find a cheap bike to ride around town/learn how to fix up/turn into a giant squid for Burning Man. I think this is pretty useful knowledge, so I thought I'd do a post on this for general consumption. There are several places that are fairly accessible from Caltech.

- Bike Oven. The Bike Oven is a co-op located at 3706 N Figueroa St. in Highland Park. This is a bit far from campus, but they are all of 2 blocks away from the Heritage Square station on the Gold Line so they're reasonably easy to get to. The shop has numerous used bikes for sale in varying states of repair, and you can get a fixer-upper for around $50 or something you can ride out of the shop for $100. The shop's volunteers will teach you how to do any bit of bike repair necessary for $5/hr+parts and has some of the best prices for basic bike parts (cables, etc.).

They periodically do deals with Pasadena Cyclery or the REI in Arcadia where people bring in all their old used bikes for discounts at the respective stores, so check their website periodically to see if any such events are coming up. After these exchanges Bike Oven gets some really great bikes to sell. Otherwise their stock is a little more variable (some good, some bad), but is worth checking.

Their hours unfortunately are a bit short, though they're not during the heart of the working day so you can visit after lab. No Caltech discount, but you really don't need one. Cash only.

- Empire Bike Shop. Empire is a typical bike shop located at Esther and N Fair Oaks in Pasadena. They have several used bikes for sale (including ones for around $100) as well as the usual assortment of bike parts. They're cheaper than any other bike store I've seen in Pasadena, and have been a friendly lot when I've dropped by. Typical bike shop hours. They have a Caltech discount.

- PCC Flea Market and Rose Bowl Flea Market. The former is free, the latter has an entry fee. First and second Sundays of the month, respectively. There's generally a few bikes for sale. Worth going to anyway, because there's a lot of interesting (non-bike) things for sale.

- Open Road Bicycle Shop. Open Road is located at the intersection of Colorado and N Sierra Madre. Has used bikes for sale generally around the end of the school year (May-ish). Still may be worth a look at other times. Also a good place for getting bike parts for older bikes if you're fixing up something yourself. Open daily 11-6. They have a Caltech discount.

- Your Bicycle Broker is a outfit run out of a fellow's garage in north Pasadena. The guy (Nick) fixes up old bikes and then re-sells them. Probably your best bet for an used road bike nearby unless Bike Oven is doing one of their events with REI. Has a %10 student discount. Cash only.

- If you just need a bike occasionally, the Caltech Parking office has folding bikes that they will loan out to Caltech students. See my last post here.

- Craigslist. Enough said.

- Target. You get what you pay for, but if it works it works.

New bike loan program

2010-08-24T11:40:00.000-07:00

The Caltech Parking Office is beginning a program on September 7th where Caltech students, faculty, and staff can borrow a folding bike (with helmet and lock) for a bit. Borrowing a bike is free, though there is a $20 refundable deposit. There are currently 2 bikes available on a first-come-first serve basis.

The registration form is here, and you will need to pick up the bike from the Parking Office at 515 S Wilson.

For more information contact Kristina.Valenzuela AT caltech DOT edu.

So next time you find yourself down in the shop in need of a quick ride to the nearest bike store for some essential new part this may be worth checking out.

I'd also like to remind everyone that the Parking Office offers a free taxi ride home once per three month period. During the day you can contact Kristina at x4729, otherwise drop by the security office at the Holliston parking structure and they will call one for you.

Missing tools

2010-08-05T19:17:00.000-07:00

We're currently missing a 15 mm cone wrench and 19 mm cone wrench. If you have knowledge as to their whereabouts please inform me so we can return them to a loving home.

Maps and bike lights

2010-07-28T11:15:00.000-07:00

The bike shop now has a large stack of LA County bike maps and rear bike lights for everyone to use. They're completely free--just grab one off of the table.

Updated list of needed tools

2010-07-14T23:47:00.000-07:00

This will be updated as I think of more things, but here is what we need off the top of my head. Anything with a part number can be found off the Park Tool website, if you want to order from them.

~~Crank/ BB Wrench (HCW-5) [The single tooth side removes fixed cog lockrings]~~
Adjustable Wrench (PAW-12)
Magnetic Parts Bowl (MB-1) [Or if someone could donate a metal bowl, I've got a magnet we can use]
Digital Caliper (DC-1)
~~Socket wrench (should need standard, will check) (TW-5)~~
~~Pliers (we have needle-nose, need a pair of normal pliers)~~
Shop apron (SA-1)
Third Hand Tool
Penetrating oil
Chain lube
Citrus degreaser
Rags (and plenty thereof)

THIS LIST IS OUT OF DATE, REFER TO THE NEWER ONE ON THE SIDE BAR.

Domesday, July 19

2010-07-12T22:53:00.000-07:00

Those of you who are scholars of medieval English history (and who isn't one here at Caltech) will know that the Domesday Book was a great census and property record ordered by William the Conqueror in 1086 to assess the material wealth of his subjects. It was called Domesday ("Doomsday") because every person would be accounted for and the judgment was considered final.

In a similar vein, the bike shop is going to be conducting it's own "survey" of material wealth. There are various frame parts around the shop that may belong to people or may have been left for future generations of riders to use. Trouble is, I don't know which is which. So next Monday I'm going to take anything that looks like it's not being used and stash it in a corner marked for general use.

So, if you've got some bike part chilling in the shop that you actually want to keep, please either
1. Rescue it from the shop.
2. Put a note on it telling me it's yours.

Testing...

2010-07-09T15:12:00.000-07:00

It's alive. ALIVE!

Missing Tools

2009-11-30T09:19:00.000-08:00

It seems the park tw-1 torque wrench is missing from the shop. Also a couple of the small, non-handled park allen wrenches are gone.

If you borrowed them, please return them as soon as possible.

Tools in the shop are supposed to remain in the shop. C'mon, you know the honor system and whatnot.

Geography

2009-10-08T19:13:00.000-07:00

A lot of people ask "Where is the Caltech bike shop?"

Thus:

Don't be repelled by the orange glow.

I'm not tan, that's just grease: Summer Wrenching

2009-06-27T15:31:00.000-07:00

There are a couple of topics for this blog's inaugural post:

1. Open hours and the calendar.
2. More Park tools for the shop
3. Shop Access, Keys

1. I will not be doing regular open hours over the summer. I will, however, be in the shop often, and if you want to come in but don't have a key, just email me. If any of you want to have open hours, please do. Use the calendar on this site to post your hours, not any calendar previously sent out. If you already emailed me to get access to the old calendar, do not email again, you'll be added to this one. If you want access and haven't already emailed me or Jeff, email me.

2. I have a small list of tools the shop needs, if you have further suggestions, please suggest them in the comments to this post. Current list:

Pedal Wrench (PW-3)
Professional Cable and Housing Cutter (CN-10) [The cutter currently in the shop is mine]
Crank/ BB Wrench (HCW-5) [The single tooth side removes fixed cog lockrings]
Adjustable Wrench (PAW-12)
Magnetic Parts Bowl (MB-1) [Or if someone could donate a bowl and an old magnet]
Digital Caliper (DC-1)

See the park tool website for possible additions.

3. If anyone wants keys, please email me. You will either have to volunteer/donate to the shop, or pay $10.