Tucked into a quiet industrial park behind Boulder Beer sits an unassuming little bike shop.
But this little bike shop is unlike the others you find around town. Community Cycles is a non profit bike collective that has been doing good things for the Boulder biking community since 2006.
Not only do they accept donations of old used bikes, but they also use those very bikes to teach the basics of bicycle maintenance. Brilliant, right?
The combination of education, advocacy and community involvement has proved to be a smart one indeed for Community Cycles. They work on a membership and donation system. Once you become a member, you get all the benefits of having your very own bike shop.
In addition to being able to find just the right part, you can use the service bays to fix your bike and rent trailers at no extra charge. And since Community Cycles is located right off the bike path, they often receive “roll-up” donations from riders who have found bicycles abandoned along the path. The bikes that are for sale in the retail area of the shop have all been completely refurbished and perform like new.
With the wide array of workshops, classes and rolling bike clinics, there’s no reason not to jump in and get involved. Learning the fundamentals of fixing your own bike is highly recommended, especially if you’re riding it regularly and don’t want to spend a ton of money on service work.
From the beginner to the more advanced rider, Community Cycles offers education for all levels. On August 3rd, Community Cycles is offering a Saturday workshop introducing women to the basics of bike commuting. And if you’re just interested in meeting other riders, there are social rides and film nights on the schedule.
According to Dax, the sales & service manager at the shop, the only challenge that Community Cycles has encountered recently is that of a rainy nature. “We have strong community support and people know who we are. Even with the slow start to the cycling season, it’s been a pretty successful year so far. Honestly, the weather has been our biggest adversary.”
Community Cycles is always on the lookout for new members and volunteers. They’re also currently hiring for a few part-time bike mechanics. If you ride a bicycle and you care about supporting others doing the same locally, then be sure to take a closer look at Community Cycles.
