bike mechanics

Parts Unknown is closing after 18 years in Kensington Market to make way for a condo development. Martin Reis took some great photos.

People taking a look around at the deals (including Mike the Bike, another "back alley" bike mechanic in Kensington Market).

Stepping into the shop, surrounded by frames and parts.

George.

Jane's Dad: Jane's dad poses with donated tools

Jane Tooley is well-known among the cycling community. Her bright smile, her energetic personality and her all around nice attitude has won her many friends.

Friends of Jane also know that she is a person who likes to help out with causes, lots of them. This summer Jane went to Namibia in southern Africa to volunteer in a bicycle store with an organization called D.E.E.P., Disability Economic Empowerment Project. Here is how Jane explains it.

"The project was stared with a shipping container sent over from Canada full of bikes, tools and a work bench. basically, they emptied out the container and turned it into a successful bike store in just three years. The catch is that they didn't have the best tools to start out with and after three years of wrenching, the tools they do have are extremely worn down.

It is honestly a wonder how everyone continues to stay positive and fix bicycles. Where wrenches are concerned, all they have is a barely functioning 15 wrench, an 8 a 10 an 111 and a socket 9 and 15. One Phillips screw driver. The freewheel remover, chainbreaker pin, cone wrenches and allen keys are essentially useless. No pedal wrench, vice grips, cable cutters, truing stands or headset wrenches. I gave them my two spoke wrenches since they only had the multi-size kind. In short DEEP is in dire need of tools."

Toban Black, sent us these photos he took of the Community Bicycle Network space. It just so happens I'm on the board there. I encourage everyone to give it a try: let the mechanics fix your bike, or learn to fix your own.

"Streets are for People"

"In the Community Bicycle Network space

Outside the Community Bicycle Network space

Rosie the bike mechanic

Bicycling

"WOMEN + CYCLING"

"Bikeshare"

When I took these photos, I was just dropping by the Bicycle Network space (but, regrettably, without photographing the mural around the entrance). I since have added brief remarks to a few of the Flickr posts that the above thumbnails link back to.

I live in London, Ontario, myself. The images will mean more to residents who have more experience with the Bicycle Network. If anyone wants to type about those experiences, this post is a place where you can do that.

(If you know which artists made the work shown here, I would appreciate it if you would name them to help me to give them credit.)

I happen to know who did which photo, as they appeared in the two calendars that CBN produced a few years ago.

(Photo: sniderscion

An article on shift gears effectively was forwarded to us recently by an anonymous I Bike TOer. We agreed this might be useful for our readers (and if they still can't get the hang of it they can stick to single speed bikes).

The author is a bike mechanic that realized that an experienced cyclist was complaining to him about his gears but realized that they did not know how to properly shift their gears. So he rode around with him and came up with some tips:

Tip one: Pedal at a brisk pace. It’s better to pedal at a brisk pace using the easier to pedal gears than to muscle the harder gears more slowly. This technique will increase your stamina over a longer ride and will enable you to accelerate more quickly if you need to "jump". I promise you’ll still get a good leg workout. A brisk pace on the pedals also improves the shifting.

Tip two: And this is hugely important. Lighten the pressure on the pedals when you shift. Keep them turning, but don't be muscling down on them while you shift. Lightening the pressure on the pedals significantly smoothes the gear change, reduces those grinding noises when you shift, and lengthens the life of your drive train. You’ll have to anticipate your shifts a bit as you approach the hills, but it only takes a beat to change your gears on a hill once you get your timing down.

Noah Richler gives a run down on the tune up for spring in The Star. He covers the flavour of various bike shops including an interesting story about how personal the service at some shops can be.

Yes, spring means bicycles means freedom means exercise means the open air. ...

It's a good reminder that if you don't do your own tune up, you better get your bike into the shop before it gets any warmer and sunnier.

Aspiring mechanics can now take a bike mechanic training program for at-risk youth. The Learning Enrichment Foundation partnered up with Toronto bike stores, the Bicycle Trade Association of Canada, City of Toronto and industry suppliers give the "BAM" (Bicycle Assembly and Maintenance) course a third try. This time they've got a well-stocked work space at LEF and broad support.

"There's an overall shortage" that's only getting worse as more people switch from four wheels to two, says Pete Lilly, owner of Sweet Pete's Bicycle Shop at Bloor and Dufferin Sts.

Last summer, he said, most bike shops were running three weeks behind on repairs because of the high demand.

A new project aims to fill that gap. The Bicycle Assembly and Maintenance Program will train out-of-work youths to fix and assemble all kinds of bikes so they can tap into a rising market, organizers say.

Many "will walk right into a job," says a project organizer, Rob White, sales vice-president at Outdoor Gear Canada. He estimates there are openings for 50 to 100 bike mechanics each year in the GTA.

Few could argue with more training. But what about paying bike mechanics a bit more so that more people will actually choose it as a career? I know a few bike mechanics that have moved on to more "adult" careers. I can only assume it's because of the pay.

Look up. No I mean at ibikeTO's...ah...screwed up banner (as of December).

Ok, it could be an environmentally inclined -- it's green after all! -- Metalhead's idea of a fashion accessory. But it's even better: your ticket to remaining upright in slippery situations.

If you balk at the $100 Schwalbe and Nokian charge for their premium versions, are a do-it-yourselfer, and are keen on doing your part to save valuable resources -- that is, you're own green! -- do read on.

Studding your own tires is straightforward, and the result can easily exceed the performance of the high priced versions. You will need a few items before beginning though...