Building the jig for the bamboo bike.

Neato torpedo!!  MoBo had an impromptu bamboo bicycle building workshop last week.  The workshop was held by past MoBo member, Dan Vogel-Essex, of Ozon Bicycles.  Currently based in Berlin, Germany, Dan was in Cincinnati visiting family and friends and stopped by the Co-op.  One thing led to another… after hours, resins purchased, a crew of people cutting up bike frames to use, extremely rich and delicious Ghirardelli chocolate brownies, and a custom bike jig.  Dan explained the process, showed critical points to look out for, answered questions, and was ultimately patient with us all.  Kudos!  He even agreed to donate it to MoBo’s Loaner Bike Program!  Well, the bike is looking great.  Dan has flown back to the DDR, and we’ll be finishing up the final touches of bike soon.  Ask about it next time you’re in open shop and keep an eye out for it pedaling around soon!

Feb 6
Urban Riding 101

Have you ever heard of the “right hook” or the “door zone”? Do you know how to correctly lock up your bike? Urban Riding 101 is a great workshop for those who are new to riding on city streets! This informal group discussion will cover: how to dress for the cold (so you stay warm, but not sweaty!); basic street safety (right hooks, the door zone, metal plates, making turns, lights, bells); gear for commuting/running errands (weight distribution and securing of cargo for racks, panniers, baskets and messenger bags); recommended routes/roads; and how to correctly lock up your bike so it doesn’t get stolen!
https://www.facebook.com/events/209807015777596/
Feb 13
Roadside Repair 101

Learn about mini air pumps, how to patch or change tubes, how to make tire boots, and what to do when your chain falls off! https://www.facebook.com/events/281840588541299/

Feb 20
Maintenance 101

Learn basic maintenance skills, such as: how/when to lube the chain, change or adjust brake pads, air up tires, and check the trueness of your wheels. https://www.facebook.com/events/275617605836059/

Feb 27

Brakes

March 5

Shifters & Derailleuers

March 12

Wheel Basics

March 19

Hubs & Bottom Brackets

March 26

Headsets

So many people have given so much. Time, energy, materials, advice, love, support, understanding, critiques, friendship, inspiration… the list goes on. All gifts. All blessings. All of it channels back out of MoBo. Its a smile, a helping hand, a presence, a reassurance, a support network that ripples out the doors of the shop to flow around our neighborhood and even the whole of Cincinnati itself. Amazing the things that have been accomplished through the existence of a tiny little community bicycle workshop. What will happen next? Will we we continue to as a tiny little workshop? Will we inspire a child? Bring understanding & peace to tensions and discomfort? Share jokes? See more and more people riding bicycles down the street? Will we continue to build a place that that vibrates with life and friendship each time we sign in?

There have been as many ideas shared within those walls, as seeds have been planted in the surrounding gardens, as the turns of the wrenches each week, as rotation of the wheels of your bike when its all said and done. Endless possibilities. Potential roadblocks. Only way to see what happens is to keep taking part part, isn’t it? It won’t be easy sometimes. Sometimes it will be epic. Other times humbling. And, hopefully, we all come out for the better.

How will we come to MoBo in the new year? What can we give to it? How can we help? And when its figured out, it feels good.

Happy New Year and Love

We all want to be babied when we’re sick, don’t we?  Someone to make you tea, rub your back, put a hand on your forehead,  bring you movies.  Sounds nice, doesn’t it?  Don’t forget the fever.  And the achy muscles.  The sweats, the rasp in the lungs.  Not fun.

So, an ounce of prevention vs pound of cure….

Keep the moisture off the chest.  Athletic shirts of various fiber types accomplishes this.  It does.  Yeah, yeah…. not in your wardrobe, well, what in there might remove moisture from your skin?  The answer is NOT COTTON!

And if the special moisture control shirt is unavailable, then at least keep the wind off your chest.  Nothing says pneumonia like a good bike ride in cold weather in the wrong jacket.

Remember, moisture control and thermoregulation.  You know what they mean.  How do you practice it?

When you ride down the street and there’s 2 lanes, but one is filled with parked cars, how do you ride?  Do you ride in the middle of the traffic lane?  Do you ride towards the outside of the traffic lane?  Do you ride in the parking lane, all close to the cardoors?  The sidewalk?  Not sure?  Think for a minute.  Maybe you’ve been going down Hamilton Ave through Northside down by Hoffner Park.  On the north side of Blue Rock heading down towards Spring Grove.  There you have two lanes at your disposable, if the bus isn’t taking up the outer.  Once we cross over Blue Rock, cars begin to park in that lane and there is only one left for moving traffic.  Where do you go?  Straight to Take the Cake?  Ok.  Now back out in the street…   Car behind you and bus ahead of you.  Yeah, it a big car!  They’re all big!  Wait!  Real quick, just consider what could happen if you try to make yourself small against that wall of parked cars.  You know, to give those people in the vehicle that can do 0 to 70 in how many SECONDS the opportunity to squeeze past you?  THEY CAN WAIT!!  They can.  Really really really realize that if a cardoor opens up and hits you, you’re screwed.  If it opens up and you hit it, you’re screwed.  And not in the fun way!  How will we be friends for thirty years if you didn’t make it?!  Own your lane.  See your line in front of you.  Pedal.  How often have you caught yourself only looking at the moving traffic?  How often do you listen to your space radio while cruising?  Think about how crucial it can be to see the head inside the parked car moving like they plan on opening the door, and hear the ‘ca-click’ of the latch and lock.

No, you haven’t done anything wrong.  Just something to run round in your head tonight.  Each one teach one, right?  Why would you NOT want to think about this?

See ya later.

Would you believe how important at dusk to have a blinking taillight?  The Lakota peoples speak of this as a magic time, and no in the oh-so-fun rabbit popping out of the hat.  Think more like, everything is a shade of gray.  So its all the more important to have that flashing bit of red or orange blowing up drivers’ retinas.

The next little bit to consider is WHERE to place your reflectors and/or lights.  Studies have been done showing how simply by viewing  lights placed on moving joints, the human mind can discern a multitude of information, and in our case, that we are on a bicycle in front of their half ton+ of steel.  Don’t believe me?  Check out this little demo… http://www.biomotionlab.ca/Demos/BMLwalker.html

What it boils down to, is to seriously consider wearing reflectors on your ankles and knees, and have a blinking light on either your back or on the back of the bike.  Whichever is more visible.  Bike stores sell a variety of lights, which they will readily mount for you (sometimes for a price), and most will  also have reflective bands for your joints for a very low cost.  And if you’re crafty, you can always think up new ways to sew reflective material onto your clothes and gear!

Stay tuned, we may even have an upcoming reflective workshop in the not too distant future!

Ride safe, don't ride between the the tire lines

Last time I wrote about wet metal.  Remember that?  Only good wet metal is really good heavy metal, otherwise its bad luck, so try your best to avoid it or hold steady as you go over it.  The other tricky tricky during the rain is where in the road you ride.  Really.  You wouldn’t think it would make a difference but it does.  When its raining, ride in the car tracks.  The reason for this is that inbetween those tracks lies slickness – oil and other lubricants that leak or  get washed off the bottom of cars and sit in the street until the rains pull it to the surface.  And its most dangerous early in the rainfall before its had time to be pushed to the sides and middle by constant tire pressure from all the traffic.   Next time you’re caught in the rain on your bicycle, notice where all the pretty swirly rainbow colors are on the concrete.  Just don’t notice them too long or you might end up going splat!

So remember, in the rain, what lies between the lines can mess you up.

Topics to be covered include:
Winter Bicycling with Ben Nava
Derailleurs with Scott Pardi
Roadside Repair with Nate Kemphues
Bicycle Fit with Jess Linz
Bottom Brackets with Jay McKillop
Brakes of all Kinds with Gabe Freeman
Wheel Truing with John Wood
Wheel Building (two part series) with John Wood
Road Safety with Katie Vogel

Spaces are limited. Reserve your spot at open shop or via email to PRforMoBo[AT]gmail.com. The suggested donation is $5.

*WE ARE HOLDING A POSTER CONTEST FOR THE WINTER SEMINAR SERIES*

Send your design using the preceding information to PRforMoBo[AT]gmail.com or bring a copy by open shop. Entries should be for paper size 11″x17″ and are due by December 1st.

As you may know, the current governing body of the co-op is the interim board.  This May, MoBo will have its first ever election to determine who will be on the official board for 2008-2009.  The highest nine vote-getters will be winners of the one year term.  The only eligibility requirements are membership in good standing (having paid the twenty dollar membership fee for the year) and a dedication to the co-op and the co-op’s mission and vision.  The responsibilities of the board include both the day-to-day running of the co-op and long term planning for its future.  These are exciting times for MoBo and the cycling community; becoming a board member is a surefire way of being right in the thick of it and maintaining the co-op’s momentum.  Everyone who wants to give back as much as they can to the co-op is encouraged to run, as a hearty dose of participatory democracy will be healthy for the co-op.  Not to scare anyone off, but know that board members are required to attend a two hour board meeting every other week, and actively participate in or chair at least one committee; it is a serious time commitment.  Board members are required to log 20 hours each month in the volunteer binder.

The election itself will be held by secret ballot during open shop hours on Sunday May 17, Tuesday May 19, and Wednesday May 20.  During these days, ballots will be given to any paid member who so desires.  The member’s name will then be crossed off a list to prevent double voting.  Any member who has joined prior to the election’s beginning may vote; memberships may be renewed at any point.

To declare candidacy or to ask any questions, e-mail mobogovernance@gmail.com by May 9 at 5 PM.  Include your full name, contact info, and a platform statement.  Names of candidates and their statements will be posted in the co-op and on the website as they are submitted, but no declarations of candidacy will be accepted after May 9 at 5 PM.  Please be brief and positive- suggested prompts are “What experience do you have with MoBo?”, “Where do you see MoBo going?”, and “How do you feel you can contribute to MoBo?”.  Please attach a recent picture of yourself.  Platforms may not be longer than one single spaced page, including a picture.

We are really looking forward to seeing your platforms!

Our best,

The Governance Committee

We aim to empower individuals and communities by providing space and tools to repair and recondition second-hand, recycled, and low-cost bicycle materials.

With a strong commitment to community, we promote healthy, sustainable transportation through bicycle-oriented programs and events, work for bicycle advocacy, and encourage creativity and the free exchange of ideas.