The spare tubes, chains, patch kits, and spare parts were all laid out. Three full bike stands and workstations we're set up. Coffee, breakfast food, all set out on the table. Seven of us mechanics were there, set, ready, wondering if anyone would come...
A half hour passed. We had decided to start at 8:30 in the morning in order to catch the bike commuters who work labor jobs during the day on Saturday. But, so far no one had come. There were some donated bike frames and parts, which some of us had started to build up. As soon as we all looked down on the work we had picked up for ourselves, somewhere, far off in the distance, the floodgates opened. Just those simple flats and adjusting derailers? No way Somehow, by divine intervention we, the rag tag team of 'wrenches,' were being tested to our limit. Headset repair, freewheel complications, front and rear shifter cable replacement on old bikes that used a cable so antiquated that we had to file down the bead at the end of the cable to make a square peg fit in a round hole. We restored a 1940's cruiser- with an antique hub otherwise siezed that had to be open up-ed and reassembled. Did I mention any and every kind of bottom bracket issues addressed? We did it. Our humble assortment of tools was stretched to its limit, but we somehow managed to have everyone who came leave happily, with bikes healthy and ready to transport them as they wished.
This was really the event that many of us were waiting to happen- to prove that there was the will and the commitment to make a free community bike effort happen. La Casa De La Raza provided an exceptional space and event volunteers. Team Echelon and Hazards provided a large grouping of needed chains, tubes and patch kits. Baron @ Cafe De Velo outdid himself by providing bike locks, tires, chainrings, forks, frames, and numerous last minute 'needs.' Fairview Gardens and DP Café donated food. Most inspiring however, Our 'wrenches' all of us, aside from volunteering numerous hours, - without any promise of compensation or any push to do so- paid out of pocket for carafes of coffee, juice, danishes, enough burritos for everyone, tubes, cabling, even wheels and other parts that would be needed. Many of our tools were bought specifically for this event- not to own but to share. The display of community goodwill was there in force. Bici Centro is here, taken root here in downtown Santa Barbara. Free bike repair, bike recycling, and youth/community bike skill share is happening.
Chatting as we cleaned up after the event, we couldn't be happier. A Saturday spent working with new friends, doing good, making daily transportation a more pleasant experience. For How Many? Well, today, around 50 people came in to get help in repairing their bikes. And Today was just the first of what's to come. In our view, There is nothing that this community needs more right now. So we're doing something about it. Join Us: www.bicicentro.blogspot.com
1 comment:
Great summary Ed. Many props to you for sharing so many of your tools, spare parts, bike expertise and enthusiasm. A special thanks again to Casa de la Raza. Your generousity and cooperation laid the groundwork for this event to thrive. And to the tight team of volunteers--even the accidental volunteers (you know who you are)-- we can smile to know that we had lots of fun working on other people's bikes and many of us even squeezed in some time to work on our own.
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