Davis Bike Collective

Bike Forth, the DIY repair shop operated by the collective

About

The Davis Bike Collective is a volunteer-run nonprofit community bicycle organization. They operate a public D.I.Y. shop called Bike Forth where folks share tools, skills, and knowledge about bike maintenance and repair. The also support many community bicycle related programs such as repair workshops, bike share and lending, etc. They accept donations of used bicycles and parts from the community and, in turn, make used parts available for anyone else to build or repair a bicycle. They ask all patrons to contribute financially to the cooperative shop, but they don't turn anyone away for lack of funds. Their aim is to empower confident and committed cyclists through education and community building, and to encourage more cyclists by making bikes and bike maintenance, fun, safe and accessible for everyone.

Between 2004 and 2009 they operated as the Davis Bike Church from the Domes on the UC Davis campus where we taught thousands of Davisites the way of the spoken wheel and pedal wrench in a quest for for community liberation, love, peace, and sustainability through appropriate technology and self-empowered transportation (i.e. bicycles). We are now organized as an IRS 501(c) organization thanks to the fiscal sponsorship of the Solar Community Housing Association and venture onward with our mission at Bike Forth.

Hablamos Español

Bike Forth also accepts Davis Dollars community currency.

Annual Volunteer Training Class Fall 2012

Fall Volunteer Training Class begins next week on Tuesday nights! 7-9 pm at 1221 1/2 4th Street, Davis, CA

You’ll learn everything from the nuts-and-bolts of bicycle maintenance to the philosophical underpinnings of a consensus organization. Other workshop topics include DIY tips-and-tricks, sustainable transportation, and tallbike riding.

Every Tuesday!
Oct 9: Wheels, with Max and Robbie
Oct 16: Brakes and cables, with Jan and Kent.
Oct 23 : Bottom brackets, pedals and cranks, with Matt and Kent.
Oct 30: Shifters and Chains with Cat and Jan.
Nov 6: SKIP A WEEK!
Nov 13: Steering and Headsets with Sally and Matt. Plus: how the nonprofit thing works.

Cost: $50, $15 rebate to those who attend all five of the classes. $10 per class drop in rate.

Contact me if you want more info!! maxstevenson2001@yahoo.com

Ministers

Matt Sattva

Spokemistress Sarah Friar Robbie

Suami Salami

Obi-Jan-Kenobi Count Darach Saint Efrem Tim Lane Darin Wick

Goði Woolley

Max Stevenson Angel York Joshua the Uncertain Johnny, Eric, Jason
Jeff 3:16 Sister Cat

Emeriti

Congle-Roshi

Deacon Ty Ted Cardinal Janaki

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2009-04-21 00:28:52   Are there more details about what the community can do to help with the move, and specifically what address the new space is. Riding by it was completely unclear. What about fund raising goals or monthly budget? As someone who isn't in the inner circle, has hours but not dollars, it's not clear how I can help. —AlexMandel

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2009-04-21 16:50:37   Meetings every Friday at 6pm, as per Bike Church page. For the first time, we're going to hold our meeting this week in the new space. —Darach

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2009-04-24 11:50:11   Is the "grand opening" going to be a grand opening or is it just going to be like the first day of operation? Also, it's really unclear where this actually is. Can you guys put up a graphic explaining or something? —jsogul

• Have you tried clicking the map icon? There's one on most wiki pages.
  

• My bad... I thought there wasn't a map icon but I was just looking in the wrong place. —jsogul
  

• I am often able to use google maps and street view, but the above link isn't working for me. If you are at the intersection of 4th and L, you want to look on the north side of the street: between Bikram Yoga Davis and Abbey Road Press there is a courtyard, and the Bike Collective should be visible in the northwest (back) corner. —DougWalter
  

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2009-04-26 00:59:55  

Biked by the old church site today and got confused. may i suggest you put up a big and legible sign outside the church to inform people of this move?

also where are the meetings held? —RaymondZhang

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2009-04-26 09:40:40   "2009-04-21 16:50:37 Meetings every Friday at 6pm, as per Bike Church page. For the first time, we're going to hold our meeting this week in the new space. —Darach"

We'll get some sinage up when we have the resources to do so.

—Darach

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2009-04-26 13:11:14   Does the DBC have a preference about the type of bikes/parts donated? I'll be skipping town soon and need to unload a bunch of stuff, but some of the frames and parts are from department store junkers. —TheAmazingLarry

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2009-04-27 08:48:32   We are working on signs and will get those out soon at the new and old location. As for parts, we welcome all and any, but prefer not to get department store bikes (Magna, Huffy, Next, Roadmaster...). We're working on creating an alternate use for these sorts of bikes, but are still working out the details.
To learn more about volunteering, sign up for our volunteer google group by searching "Bike Forth Volunteer" on google groups. We'll be sending emails out about how to help out and get involved. —smcc

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2009-04-27 14:01:12   I'd like to volunteer, but I can't seem to figure out how to find the "Bike Forth Volunteer" on the google group search.. Any help/suggestions?

—LinaPlanuty

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2009-04-27 18:46:39   There seem to be two google groups, http://groups.google.com/group/bike-forth-volunteers and http://groups.google.com/group/bikeministry , what are they each for? Can an administrator of them explain on this page? Thanks. —NickSchmalenberger

• I assume that "Bike Forth Volunteers" is the group for people who want to volunteer and help out at Bike Forth. The "Bike Ministry" group, I once again assume, is for the current ministers of the Davis Bike Collective (whom you can see on the Bike Church page). —Oleg.Lokhvitsky

* The Volunteers listserv is more or less inactive, though an occasional email will go out. Anyone may join this listserv. The ministry listserv is for internal operations, and pretty much anyone interested in getting flooded with email who wants to be useful for Bike Forth and who we more or less recognize from around the shop is welcome to request an invitation to join. - Angel.York

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2009-04-28 15:55:41   Go to this link and you should be able to sign up for the google group for volunteers: http://groups.google.com/group/bike-forth-volunteers. This will get you signed up for the volunteer group. The Bike Ministry group is for active ministers. —smcc

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2009-05-15 19:53:29   Spanish language site on bicycle maintenance: http://www.unionbike.net/mantenimientobici.htm —Angel.York

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2009-05-23 00:21:29   Whoo hoo! Go Bike Forth! Pasture Ted, minister emeritus —TedBuehler

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2009-06-20 00:28:39   who put up that terrible photo of me? i'm changing it. —SisterCat

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2009-06-30 02:55:04   These folks are signifigantly awesome. If you don't mind getting a little grease on your fingers, you can fix your bike very nicely and cheaply, plus you'll know how to do it next time! Teach a man to fish, and all... The location is a bit hard to find: it's across the street from the Quaker church, at the back of that little parking lot. —Flynn

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2009-07-13 22:39:01   Does the Bike Collective want 5 years of Bicycling Magazine for free, delivered by bike? 2004-2008 +/-. (Asked on facebook already, trying here too.) Lemme know... —EdHenn

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2009-09-23 23:24:44   Matt and Friar Robby sure do rule! —StevenDaubert

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2009-09-25 23:44:06   The venerable Davis Bike Collective has saved my butt several times. You walk in with a sick bike, you ride out laughing skipping. Both riding and skipping. They're that good. They give you more than repairs, they give you new skills. I have taught my friends what I learned there, and they were seriously grateful. —Devonian

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2010-01-24 12:09:48   Bike 4th sure is awesome! —StevenDaubert

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2010-01-25 10:55:52   I must agree, this is a very awesome place. Be sure to donate while you are there. Davis needs a place like this to stay open for a long time. Donate so they can pay rent and buy new tools/ equipment. Everyone is so very nice and helpful, tools and equipment are well organized. —DagonJones

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2010-08-28 21:27:11   EXCELLENT PLACE! Great people. —PeterM

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2010-09-08 23:33:19   It should be noted that you can get a new-to-you bike here, for far less than it would cost to get a new bike. They aren't really in the 'business' of 'selling' bikes, but they do have a LOT of parts on hand that they are willing to let be built into a noble steed for the roads. Expect a LOT of grease, and you may wind up with a 'unique' bike, but it will be roadworthy and sound. —Flynn

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2010-10-27 00:33:19   I was wondering if anyone knows about the average cost of building a bike here? I would probably do almost all the labor myself, but in terms of parts? —superamazing123

• The usual guideline for building a bike from scratch is about half what it would go for on craigslist, which is normally between $10 and $80 depending on the bike. And you'll have to do ALL the labor yourself - but there are people around to explain anything you don't know how to fix. —DarinWick
  

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2011-05-08 08:47:06   I'm pretty mechanically-inclined and I hate to pay for services I can do myself. Enter: Bike 4th. They've got all of the tools you'll need (and if they don't have it.. no, they have it). I didn't take advantage of the rummage-through-bins option but I certainly frequently use tools and stands. They've got a great support staff as well. Needless to say, this place offers a great service to the Davis community. Thanks! —ZElliott

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2011-09-05 23:03:39   I have the pleasure of having a second-hand 24 year old bike that is in constant need of tune-ups, and the lovely people here have been there to help me along the way. Last time I was there they had enough patience to direct me how to open up and clean my back wheel's axle. My bike never rode so smoothly. —MarisolG

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2012-04-08 01:03:04   We cancelled Tuesdays so that we can focus volunteer energy more reliably on the other open hours. —Angel.York

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2012-08-13 08:00:40   My name is John Pecore, President of Bike 1st in Saint Petersburg Florida, a connection group with our Methodist church here. What you have aspired to do, we are emulating here in Florida. I did not know that you existed until I did a search. We should keep in touch. —JohnPecore

• John, You'll want to join the Bike Collectives listserv on this page: http://www.bikecollectives.org/ . —angel.york