Mechanic Classes for Winter and Spring

 

 Basic Bike Mechanics

This is the perfect class for those wanting to learn how to keep their bicycle on the road. Classes cover:

• Basic bike care
• Flat tire repair
• Brake adjustment and pad replacement
• Derailleur shifting and adjustments

Bring your own bike or use one of ours, all tools are provided. $35 must be prepaid to secure spot in class.  3 1/2 hour class. Call or come by to register.

Dates:

               January 30, 2013 6:00pm to 9:30pm (Wednesday Evening)
                               Or
               February 20, 2013 6:00pm to 9:30pm (Wednesday Evening)
                               Or
               March 27, 2013 6:00pm to 9:30pm (Wednesday Evening)                                                                         

Advanced Bike Mechanics

This class is for those wanting to get into the heart and soul of their bike. Learn the parts of the bike and how to evaluate its’ condition. Learn about the bearing systems and how to overhaul them. Demystify the cable systems and get your bike running smoothly. Bring your own bike or use one of ours, all tools are provided. $95 must be prepaid to secure a spot in class. Class is limited to 4 students so sign up early. This is a 12 hour class. Call or come by to register.

Dates:

March 2, and 3, 2013 10:00am to 4:00pm (Saturday and Sunday) Bring your own lunch

                        Or

            April 3, 10, 17 and 24, 2013 6:00pm to 9:00pm (Wednesday Evenings)

           Sharing Wheels Community Bike Shop

“connecting unused bikes to people who need wheels”

2531 Broadway
Everett WA 98201
425-252-6952
Sharingwheels@gmail.com

Christmas House Bikes

Every year it is hard for me to think about Christmas. It can be a very stressful time with family expectations and demands placed on me all while the days are getting darker. Once we start delivering bikes to Christmas House here in Everett I start feeling better about the holiday.
Christmas House serves around 3,000 families in less than 3 weeks. That translates into around 10,000 children.
The stress for a single parent to make the holiday special for their children is much more significant than my stress over what I am going to get for my grown brother.
Today we delivered another 29 bikes to Christmas House and will do one more delivery next week.
We are a very small part of Christmas House but hopefully a big part of at least one child’s christmas hope.

There was an amazing article written in the Everett Herald newspaper all about ways to help around the holidays, and what do you know, we were in it! Come check us out and discover new ways to help out during the holidays. We sent a bunch of bikes to Christmas House and we are hoping to send 50-60 more! Help here is very appreciated and we love all of our amazing volunteers. http://heraldnet.com/article/20121118/NEWS01/711189989/0/SEARCH

Holiday Hours Reduced

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, Sharing Wheels will close early, at 5 p.m., on Wednesday, Nov. 21 and will be closed all day on Thursday, Nov. 22.

Sharing Wheels will also be closed on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, and on New Year’s Day, Jan. 1.

Summer at the Shop

We’ve had some great new volunteers at the shop these past few months as people helped us prepare for the Kids Bike Swaps in June and July.

Bikes for kids are a good cause to support, and perhaps people are not as intimidated about working on kids bikes. They sound easy, but in truth kids bikes can take lots of time due to hard wear and cheap parts.

For the rest of the summer we’ll take a break from kids bikes* . Volunteers are still needed, however. We fix adult bikes year-round to get them back on the road at a reasonable price  – and to pay the rent.

A basic principle of Sharing Wheels is that bikes are for everyone. So is our shop. Stop in during shop hours to turn a wrench, help with “paperwork” (might be on our computer), pet Tango or assist with housekeeping, literal or figurative. There’s always something to do and people who love bikes of all types at Sharing Wheels.

*See you in the fall when we get bikes ready for Christmas House.

Kids Bike Swap, Ready or Not

Darren, Tony, Anna and Vince with the bike of some kid’s dreams.

Lots of volunteers in the shop today helping get kids bikes ready for the Kids Bike Swap next Sunday, June 10. Feel free to stop by the shop during open hours this week to get greasy for an hour or two.

Kids bikes can be really easy – or really hard, since manufacturers do not generally build them for the long-term. Either way, getting a bike ready to continue its life with a new kid who wants it is very gratifying.

Gen’s favorite part of the work party was test riding bicycles. But he also learned where to find serial numbers for the bike tags.

You also get to use tools you don’t usually pickup in a bike shop – this Huffy had a hammer taken to the wheel, along with vice grips. And some hairspray for the new grips.

There’s something for all skill levels to do, from pumping tires to adjusting a loose hub. You learn a lot working on kids bikes, including how heavy they are!

 

Tango the Shop Dog

When you come to the shop, don’t be surprised to be greeted by the cutest little critter this side of canine.

Even if you don’t like dogs, we promise he won’t intimidate you or bother you – just tell him “no.”

But, if you tell him to “dance,” he just might do that. He’d also be happy to chase a ball or eat some grease off the floor.

That’s Tango, the shop dog.

Some days, he arrives by bike. He rides, but he doesn’t pedal. If his mom is riding up a hill, she might kick him off the bike and make him run alongside. That makes Tango happy.

So does hanging out with Sharing Wheels volunteers.

P.S. – If you ask Kristi, “What kind of dog is Tango?” she will tell you he’s a “golden wow-wow.” That means a mix of golden retriever and chihuahua. Or is he a daschund-chihuahua, also known as a “chi-weinie.” Ah heck – he’s a mutt!