The Bike Project

of Urbana-Champaign

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News Archive

News and Recent events

• Women's / Trans Night at The Bike Project. To better serve our female members and our transgender members, we are starting a monthly night specifically for them. The first Tuesday of the Month from 6—9 pm is Women's Night. The next Women's Night is Tues, Dec. 1st, 2009. Most of the volunteers staffing will be women and child care will be provided. "A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle."
• Winter Cycling Workshop Class will be Offered Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009, 7:00 pm, at The Bike Project co-op repair shop. Topics include winter bike prep, DIY studded tires & clothing options.
• Our next general meeting will be Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009, 6:00 pm, at The Bike Project co-op repair shop. See/edit agenda on the wiki!
• First ever Women's / Trans Night at The Bike Project. To better serve our female members and our transgender members, we are starting a monthly night specifically for them. The first Tuesday of the Month from 6—9PM is Women's Night. Women's Night starts next week on Tues, Nov 3rd, 2009. Most of the volunteers staffing will be women and child care will be provided. "A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle."
• Cranksgiving II is coming! Ride a Bike / Feed the Hungry. Saturday, November 14th, 2009 at The Bike Project. Noon registration, 1PM start. Bring at least $5 to purchase canned goods during the ride.
• Our next general meeting will be Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, 6:00 pm, at The Bike Project co-op repair shop. See/edit agenda on the wiki!
• Free bike light giveaway! Light the Night 2009. This Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009, 4:30 — 8:30 pm. At two Urbana locations: 1) Wright and Green near Alma Mater and 2) Lincoln and Illinois near Illinois Street Residence Hall. Stop by one of these locations with your bicycle without a light, and volunteers will install a set of front and rear lights free of charge. See more info. here, and help promote the event with a printable flyer. Volunteer signup is here.
• Light the Night 2009 is coming on October 15! Volunteer signup here.
• Our next general meeting will be Tuesday, Sep. 29, 2009, 6:00 pm, at The Bike Project co-op repair shop. See/edit agenda on the wiki!
• On Sunday, Aug 30, 2009 come out for bike music and a bike movie at the UC-IMC building (upstairs from the Bike Project shop). At 6:15 pm, the music: Schwinntonation — a band that takes the sounds that bicycles can make and turns them into music. At 7:15 pm, we'll screen the movie: Veer, a "behind the scenes look at bicycling culture". Local biking organizations will run information tables throughout. Admission is $10, discounted to $5 for IMC, Bike Project, and CCB members. Children under 12 admitted free! Kids will definitely enjoy the Schwinntonation music show, but parents should know that some of the material and themes in the bicycle culture documentary may be inappropriate for children. If you come with kids and just stay for the music, the ticket price per adult will be only $3.
• The Bike Project is hiring a Volunteer Coordinator! This is a paid position as a one-year AmeriCorp worker. Apply soon, applications are due by Aug. 21, 2009. Full job description and application instructions are here. Applicants should love bikes!
• There'll be an alleycat, after-party with live music, and much more on Aug. 22, 2009. Registration for The Mustache Ride, and full event details, at www.mustacheride.org.
• Our next general meeting will be Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2009, 6:00 pm, at The Bike Project co-op repair shop. See/edit agenda on the wiki!
• Save the date: On Sunday, Aug 30, 2009 come see Schwinntonation — a band that takes the sounds that bicycles can make and turns them into music — performing live in downtown Urbana at the UC-IMC building / Bike Project. More details posted as available.
• There will be a Cotter Crank/Bottom Bracket Repair class starting at 2:15 pm, Sunday July 19th, 2009. This is a great time to learn about the inner bottom bracket workings of that old 3-speed, 10-speed, or the bike you are trying to turn into a fixie. If you want to know how to use a cotter pin press, C spanner, or the old style cup and cone bottom bracket, this class is for you. Class given by Todd Spinner.
• Our next general meeting will be Tuesday, July 28, 2009, 6:00 pm, at The Bike Project co-op repair shop. See/edit agenda on the wiki!
• Sunday Classes Are Back! There will be a Tube/tire repair class on Sunday, July 12, 2009 at 2 pm, at the Bike Project co-op shop.
• We will be closed Sunday, July 5, 2009. Happy day-after-Independence Day!
• Come to Bike-in Movie Night at the IMC, 10 pm, Saturday, June 20, 2009. See movies including Creature Comforts in the outdoors, with popcorn and other refreshments. Takes place in the Back Alley behind the IMC building, near the entrance to the Bike Project shop. The event will head indoors if there's bad weather. (Note: there will also be an indoor movie showing at 10 pm on Friday, June 19). More info here.
• We will be closed Sunday, May 24, 2009. Happy Memorial Day weekend!
• Our next general meeting will be Sunday, May 31, 2009, 5:00 pm, at The Bike Project co-op repair shop. See/edit agenda on the wiki!
• Our next general meeting will be Sunday, Apr. 26, 2009, 5:00 pm, at The Bike Project co-op repair shop. See/edit agenda on the wiki!
• We will be closed Sunday, April 12, 2009. Happy Easter; happy Spring!
• We're now open Mondays! We've just added staffed, open hours every Monday 5:30pm – 7:30pm. This means The Bike Project is now open five days a week!
• Bike Donation Pickup from the University of Illinois. Friday, March 27th, 2009 11am - 3 pm. Please mail us if you'd like to volunteer, and to get more details!
• Our next general meeting will be Sunday, Mar. 29, 2009, 5:00 pm, at The Bike Project co-op repair shop. See/edit agenda on the wiki!
• We will be closed Dec. 24, Dec. 25, and Dec 31, 2008 as well as Jan. 1, 2009. Happy holidays!
• Our next general meeting will be Sunday, Feb. 22, 2008, 5:00 pm, at The Bike Project co-op repair shop. See/edit agenda on the wiki!
• Our next general meeting will be Sunday, Jan. 25, 2008, 5:00 pm, at The Bike Project co-op repair shop. See/edit agenda on the wiki!
• We will be closed Dec. 24, Dec. 25, and Dec 31, 2008 as well as Jan. 1, 2009. Happy holidays!
• We will be closed Nov. 26 — Nov. 30, 2008 for the Thanksgiving holiday. Key-holding members can still access the shop, but there will be no public open hours. The next open hours after Thanksgiving will be Wed., Dec 3, 2008. Happy Thanksgiving!
• Cranksgiving is coming! Chambana Cranksgiving 2008 is a bike scavenger hunt / food drive / alleycat. Start/finish: The Bike Project, Urbana, IL. Start time: 1 pm, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2008. See the Cranksgiving website to find out what to bring (besides your bike), plus other vital details.
• Our next general meeting will be Sunday, Oct. 26, 2008, 5:00 pm, at The Bike Project co-op repair shop. See/edit agenda on the wiki!
• Coming up: Mass Light Giveaway Night 2. Volunteer signup here. Help needed, about 800 lights to be given away! Monday, Oct. 27, 2008, 4:30 pm -- 8:30 pm. Two locations: 1) Illinois and Lincoln, 2) Gregory Dr. and Fourth St.,
• Our next general meeting will be Sunday, Sep. 28, 2008, 5:00 pm, at The Bike Project co-op repair shop. See/edit agenda on the wiki!
• Our next general meeting will be Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008, 5:00 pm, at The Bike Project co-op repair shop. See/edit agenda on the wiki!
• Our next general meeting will be Sunday, July 27, 2008, 5:00 pm, at The Bike Project co-op repair shop. See/edit agenda on the wiki!
• C-U Bike Map Roll-out Event: Be among the first to get the new, free map of biking routes in and around town! On Sat, July 19, 2008, 10 am, at the Farmer's Market in downtown Urbana (at Lincoln Square Village), come join in an event to introduce the Champaign-Urbana Area Bicycle Map, developed by our friends at ChampaignCountyBikes.org. Local biking groups will attend, as well as people from CU-MTD, University of Illinois, Chamapign and Urbana city governments, and the Leage of Illinois Bicyclists. Also: the CU-MTD "Share the Road" bus. Come on out, get a very useful map for free, and show your support for local cycling!
• Bike Project Social : On Sat, July 19, 2008, 9 pm, meet at the Bike Project for bike movies, ice cream, and bidding farewell to some sadly soon-to-depart members. Come early; carousing may move to local joint Crane Alley soon after 10 pm.
• Building Bikes For Kids: on Sat., June 28, 2008, 12 noon – 5 pm, come by the Bike Project co-op shop and help us tune up kids' bikes for donation to Urbana's M.L. King Elementary School. Also a great time to donate kid's bikes — check those garages and bring us your extra, used kids' bikes. Food and drink provided after all the work. Get bikes to kids who can use them, and support local Safe Routes to School efforts!
• Our next general meeting will be Sunday, June 22, 2008, 5:00 pm, at The Bike Project co-op repair shop. See/edit agenda on the wiki!
• Our next general meeting will be Sunday, May 25, 2008, 5:00 pm, at The Bike Project co-op repair shop. See/edit agenda on the wiki!
• We are closed on Sunday, May 4, 2008; see us at the 2nd Annual Champaign County Bicycle Festival.
• The 2nd Annual Champaign County Bicycle Festival is coming soon! On Sunday May 4th, 2008, 11:00 am — 4:00 pm in Hessel Park, Champaign. Many events: movies, repair demos, a bike auction, safety rodeo, bus wrap unveiling, a bike parade (bring your bike and your helmet!). Our friends at Champaign Country Bikes have organized this fantastic local event, and Bike Project folks are pitching in. Bring your friends and family!
• Our next general meeting will be Sunday, April 27, 2008, 5:00 pm, at The Bike Project. See/edit agenda on the wiki!
• Go Green Bike Clinic TV: Bike Project staffers Tony and Jen presented two great segments on WCIA-TV's Morning Show ( Video #1 , Video #2 ) demonstrating bike safety and helping promote the April 10 Go Green Bike Clinic.
• Register now for the Go Green Bike Clinic, April 10, 2008, 7:00—9:00 pm, at the Anita Purves Nature Center in Urbana. It's Spring and time to wake up your bike! Learn how to give your bike its annual tune-up, and how to maintain it for fun, healthy, and eco-friendly riding all year long! All ages and families welcome. More info. on event poster. (A joint Bike Project / Urbana Park District event.)
• Our next general meeting will be Sunday, March 30, 2008, 1:00 pm, at The Bike Project. Discuss wholesale purchasing (hooray!), expansion plans, the upcoming Bike Fest, and special classes.
• There'll be a strip-scrap-and-organize workday on Saturday, March 9, 2008, 12:00 noon to 6:00 pm. Pizza order at 3:45 pm. No need to being a workstand (we'll have enough), but extra tools, and your buddies, are welcome!
• Our next general meeting will be Sunday, Feb. 24, 2008, 5:00 pm, at The Bike Project. Discuss community bike sources, scrap plans,and promotional items.
• Our next general meeting will be Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008, 1:00 pm, at The Bike Project. Repair polcies, upcoming member party, our new phone number, and more.
• Our next general meeting will be Sunday, Dec. 9, 2007, 12:00 noon, at The Bike Project. Winter hours, trailer projects, and various volunteer matters.
• Stop by the Kids' Bikes Workday 1–5 pm, Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007 and lend a hand for a while! We'll be tuning up kids' bikes to prepare them for donation to the Prairie Elementary School PTA.
• A special Co-op Structural Meeting will take place on Wendesday, Oct. 10, 2007, 5:30 pm, at The Bike Project. Only topic will be: organizational/leadership structure of the co-op. [Your webmaster urges you to keep in mind the secure simplicity of techno-hagiocratic despotism.]
• The next organizational meeting will be Sunday, Sept. 23, 2007, 1 pm, at The Bike Project. New volunteer positions, bike donations/storage, shop and management guides,and more.
• We're holding a strip-to-scrap workday on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2007, from 12 noon to 6 pm. Beginners and first-time-vistors welcome; jobs for all skill levels; food will be provided. A big focus will be stripping parts from our scrap bikes until they are true scrap.
• The next organizational meeting will be Sunday, Sept. 2, 2007, 1 pm, at The Bike Project. There are many jobs we need volunteers for; please come if you are intersted in anything from a single hour-long project, to a day of constructing storage racks, to regular weekly staffing.
• 2007-Aug-17: Local fame. Check out the article/photo-spread about The Bike Project in this week's edition of hip local newspaper the Weekly Buzz (see article "Around town / Ride On").
• 2007-July-6: We're now open on Mondays! The Bike Project now offers an additional day of open hours: Mondays, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Monday services will be limited (at first) to trial tool use for non-members considering joining the co-op, and to bike donation drop-offs. Bike sales and repair advice remain available during our Sunday, Wednesday, and Thursday hours.
• 2007-July-6: Pictures from Urbana's Fourth of July parade are up in a photo gallery. Our 11-foot-long Wrench-Bike was a big crowd-pleaser, and one sweet ride to boot! We rode with our friends from Champaign County Bikes who showed up with a squardron of excellent decorated bikes.
• 2007-June-18: Bike rentals are no longer available. Sorry about this. The rental program had gone fine, but our insurance agency tells us the liability risks are too great. We hope to find a way to restore this service in the future. For now, you can still buy a repaired bike at very affordable prices, plus you might consider our Build-a-Bike program, and for hard-working kids, we're just getting started with the brand-new Earn-a-Bike program!
• (Item superceded, rentals not available as of 2007-June-18.) We are widening our bike rental program, both for short-term and medium-term rental. Watch this space for details or mail us for more information.
• Want a bike? Our first Bike Auction will take place Sunday, May 6, 2007, 3:00 pm in Hessel Park (Grandview Dr. and Kirby Ave.) in Champaign, IL. (see map). We plan to auction 30 bikes — reconditioned, safety-checked and ready-to-ride — with starting bids as low as $10. Pre-auction viewing of the auction bikes begins at 1:00 pm.
  The bike auction is part of our county's first ever Bicycle Festival and Parade.
• Come by the April Weekend Workday on Sat., April 7, 2007 to help us get ready for selling, renting, and auctioning bikes...and to get the shop in shape for our new Build-a-Bike program! Pitch in with bike counting, bike part harvesting, bike repairs, and shop improvments. Work will go from 11 am – 7 pm; stop by anytime. Food from 1 – 1:30 pm and 5 – 6 pm. Details what to bring/wear, jobs to do, etc. are avaialble here.
• Mar. 27, 2007: Instant online donations to the Bike Project can now be made via secure credit card or Paypal transaction. Choose from suggested amounts, or choose any amount you want! Instant community bike karma points!
• Come by the Weekend Workshop Workday on Sat., Feb. 3, 2007 for Bike Triage. Work will go from 1 – 7 pm; stop by anytime. We'll be working through the recent huge bike donation, working on the space, and may get some donated bikes fully ready to ride. Food around 5 pm.
• Jan 29, 2007: Starting Wed., Jan 31, the Co-op workshop has expanded open hours and will now be open 3 days every week!
  See calendar entries with the new open workshop times:
  • Sundays 2 – 4 pm (class/open workshop)
  • Wednesdays 3 – 5 pm (open workshop)
  • Thursdays 6 – 8 pm (open workshop)
          (ammended 2007-Feb-19)
• Jan 8, 2007: An important organizational meeting will happen Sunday, Jan. 28, 2007, 1 pm, at the Co-op Workshop in downtown Urbana. Help shape the future of the Co-op! All are encouraged to come, see the calendar entry for more information and directions.,
• Jan. 7, 2007: The Co-op plans to help with another round of Indoor Bike Time Trials on Jan. 21, 2007! Email us to volunteer for staffing; contact Champaign Cycle to sign up for a time trial.
• Dec 20, 2006: T-shirt sales page is now up.
• Photo gallery from Indoor Bicycle Time Trials held at Champaign Cycle, Dec. 17, 2006. (This year's trials are being held as fund-raising events for The Bike Project. Thanks, Champaign Cycle! More time trials soon, check the calendar for the January 2007 trials.)
• Photo/movie gallery from 2006 Downtown Champaign Parade of Lights, Dec. 2, 2006. The decorated-bikes entry was organized by our friends at Champaign County Bikes.

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