Cartoons don't lie.

Just saw this over at Copenhagenize.com Ride your bike it helps lower your stress.......

......and feelings of pure evil.

February News

Recently, we(the Co-op) were asked to be on the board for the South Dakota Bicycle Coalition. The SDBC is the only statewide advocacy group for bicyclists. Currently their main project is working on getting a 3ft passing law through this session's legislature. This would largely be an educational measure, promoting the idea that bikes are vehicles too and have an equal right to the road. Another big component of the SDBC, besides working on legislation, is education. In this regard they are setting up adult traffic skills courses around the state. The Co-op will be hosting one of these trainings on May 7 and 8. The course is nine hours long and taught by League of American Bicyclist Certified Instructors. This course is the prerequisite for becoming an Certified Instructor, and is good for anyone who may be in the situation of teaching bike riding skills to children or other adults. Seasoned riders will also certainly find useful information in the course as well. Send us an email or stop by the shop if you are interested as there are limited spaces available.

In other news, the solar is all installed and tested and just waiting for BHP to come and switch out our meter to one that can spin backwards. More art is slowly populating the walls in the shop, come by to check it out or add some of your own. We still have a pile of old bikes looking for owners, so if you or anyone you know needs a bike come by and learn how to fix one up. And finally, start keeping eyes open for regular events starting soon from the Co-op: Bike-in movies twice monthly, cruiser rides once the snow is gone, and open-mics monthly. Any ideas for workshops or other events are appreciated as well.

If anyone is interested in the SDBC more information can be found at southdakotabicyclecoalition.org

Focus the Nation Final Report

On Wednesday Jeremy gave his final presentation to Focus the Nation on the Bike Coop. To watch his report, if you have a half hour to spare (and no reason to go bake cookies instead (..the Coop loves cookies)) check this out:

Watch live streaming video from focusthenation at livestream.com

He also got some great questions, including a call for an

explanation on how to unite the rabbits of the world:

Watch live streaming video from focusthenation at livestream.com

Thanks again to Focus the Nation!!

First Sunday of the Year

We had a nice exciting time at the Co-op yesterday that has us all excited about bikes despite snowy conditions. Started out by having a big ol' brainstorming session with John and Trish about this spring and what we want to see happen with the space. Filled up most of the whiteboard by the door with ideas. Everything from scheduling bike-in movies, open mics and cruiser rides to figuring out who in the community we still need to meet and work together with. The list is still up and we would love input and new suggestions to be added. This is Spearfish's Bike Co-op, what can we do to fulfill the biking needs of the Northern Hills? As we were finishing this up a good friend came by to pick up a T-shirt, brand new design from our resident artist, Trish. Ride on in and get one or else bring in something blank and learn how to make your own stencils. Dayne, from Two Wheeler Dealer, was busy helping organize the goodies that they donated to help us out. Thanks for the support, it's good to have the bike community working together to make biking better for everyone in Spearfish. While this rubber-banding of brake levers and shifter sets was occurring, a beautiful old Nishiki was brought in with a bum rear dérailleur. Bill, the owner, enthusiastically learned to replace and adjust this part as well as get excited about coming back to do a full tune-up before spring time. The afternoon finished up with Dayne starting a project in the sandblaster and an agreement to make up some venison lasagna later in the evening. Thanks everyone for the great day, it's good to know we have a full year more of these ahead of us.

Everyone else, come in and share your ideas for projects to tackle in 2010, to fix up your bike, get a bike - or just to see the new scrap bike parts dinosaur mailbox!

Reflections on Copenhagen

A giant mural and two beautiful cargo bikes

A week ago I returned to Spearfish after spending eight hectic days in Copenhagen, Denmark. I was there for the UN's COP15 climate conference due to the grant we received to start up the bike co-op. I was in Denmark with three others from Focus the Nation. The whole week was so busy, with hundreds of events going on all the time, that it felt like I didn't get a chance to do all that I wanted to during my time there. In retrospect, more than the official events of the conference, I feel like most of my time in Copenhagen was spent around the city, soaking up the bike culture and community events tied to climate change awareness. It was such an international and eclectic mix of people and ideas that I am definitely still digesting the whole experience.

The most important thing for me to do right now though is share some ideas that I think can be applied in Spearfish, both immediately this winter as well as long term goals.

First, I saw all kinds of bikes during my time overseas. A similarity between them all was that they were all utility bikes, for carrying big loads, traveling with children or just getting around town. Hardly any recreation bikes like here in the states. Everyone in Copenhagen bikes, because it is the most practical way to get around town. There are bike racks everywhere, in front of grocery stores, subway stations, just along the street - everywhere. All ages are on bikes, as soon as a kid can be strapped to a seat, s/he is on a bike. Mail/coffee/art - everything- is delivered by bike. I think that this is possible here in Spearfish too, almost all trips could be taken by bike if we just have the motivation to start doing so. This winter, as soon as the welder is up and running we will start trying to make our own versions of some of the Danish cargo bikes, but until then check out the Copenhagenize link for great inspiration to be more bikecentric. Come in with your own ideas for baskets and trailers, build your own cargo bike - be ready in time for spring.

Second, the infrastructure is set up such that bikes flow seamlessly with car traffic. Bikes know where they are supposed to be and cars likewise, this keeps all parties safer and avoids unpleasant interactions. Some of the bike infrastructure is better suited for large communities but much of it can be applied here in Spearfish, for example bike lanes and more bike racks. A few of us at the co-op are working with the city to try and address some of these issues, again if you have any ideas or input let us know, especially with the new renovations coming to downtown.

Lastly, and maybe due to the previous two observations, Copenhagen has a fantastic sense of community, everywhere people can be seen stopped and talking, bicyclists wave in passing at friends and neighbors and everything seems to exist on a smaller more local scale than is expected from a city of more than a million residents. Spearfish is expanding, development occurring further and further from the center of town and with it the sense of community stretching further apart. Transforming into a more bike friendly city may help counter this and keep Spearfish the very livable place it is.

These are some of the ideas and inspirations that I feel my time in Copenhagen has imparted and I think it matches nicely with what the co-op is trying to do and reinforces it. Once again if you have any ideas or concerns about the future of biking in Spearfish come by the shop and check it out. The more people we have involved the stronger the space is and the more good we can do for the community.

Solar Installation!

Well, the inverter hasn't arrived yet.. but on Saturday we successfully put up our four 230Watt Sunpower panels as well as ran the conduit for wiring.

Tom and Barton came down from Bozeman, MT to help with the installation: shovel snow off the roof, monkey around on high ladders in the cold and generally enjoy good times at the coop. Jesse, from Black Hills Solar, also came by and helped out. Mr Smith set up one fine electrical masterpiece and did some inspiring work with the pipe bender.

Other happenings in the workspace on Saturday- Jaycee painted our first mural: a bicycle Botticelli. Lots of people swung by to check out the shop and the solar unit. The fantastic new truing stand was finally mounted and used. Some new stencil graffiti has been added to the workshop. Cookies for breakfast and a welcome mid afternoon brownie delivery to warm us all up - thank you Mom! A very generous unicycle donation made for some entertainment in practicing/learning/watching. We also had our first open mic night - with spectacular appearances by several greasy wrench turners. And the evening finished off with a screening of everyone's favorite 80's bike classic "Breaking Away".

Thank you eveyone who helped out!

If you didn't get a chance to check out the Solar Party - please come by the shop anytime and look up.

The inverter is on it's way, and we should have power flowing by solstice. Which means we'll be producing more and more green energy everyday.

Solar Installation Today!!!

Today we will be installing the first grid-tied solar system in Spearfish. We had our four 215 Watt panels arrive the other day. Jeremy's old landlord drove down from Bozeman yesterday to come help with the installation. Barton has worked for Independent Power Systems out of Boulder and Bozeman for many years now and has extensive knowledge of the solar industry. We are faced with a bit of snowy weather this morning, but hopefully by the afternoon we get a few breaks in the sky!

Then this evening from 6-9 we will be hosting our first open-mic night at the Co-op. Lacey and Jaycee, a couple of our fantastic volunteers, have been doing the organizing for open mic! Be on the lookout for pictures in the next couple of days of this exciting day!!

some addendums

Forgot to say, If you or anyone you know needs a bike come on in. We have an ever growing pile waiting to find happy homes.

and

Also in the works is a Women Only night at the shop. Ladies come on in and learn care and maintenance of your bike and/or help teach these skills in a testosterone-free space.

A status report and some upcoming plans.

The Co-op is rolling along nicely. We are having three or four people stop by whenever we're open. Two bikes have been added to the streets that weren't out there before and many others have been brought in for a tune-up or just to fix a minor problem. We are also getting people in the space that have nothing wrong with there bike but just want to learn how to wrench so if they do run into trouble they're prepared. The grand opening a month ago also went well, we had about thirty people swing through during the day. Only four brave souls took the bracing ride down to the brewery in 11 degree weather but we had fifteen back at the shop for our showing of "Triplets of Bellville." More Bike-in movies are on the way. Also coming soon is our photovoltaic system. Plans are to install on Saturday the 5th of December. Also happening that same day/evening will be our first in a series of Open-mic nights. For more information on that or to sign up swing by the shop. And lastly, maybe most importantly, we are getting a truing stand in on Thursday so bring in those wobbly wheeels and learn how to get 'em riding straight again.