The Bike Cave is not dead!

Merely hibernating.  Yes I realize late summer is an odd time for a bike co-op to hibernate but due to personal circumstances of myself and other staff members, regular open shop hours were put on temporary hiatus.  We are still available by appointment (through this blog, facebook, or email me at mtjames at cox dot net) and are tentatively looking at Sundays for our regular shop day through the winter.  We have also been kicking around the idea of a weekly minor repair station on WSU campus, most likely Thursdays. 

Other plans for the winter include
-another fundraiser event
-renovating the shop!  Workflow has been difficult and we're drawing up plans to add more work stations, more tools and better organized parts storage
-Winter biking seminar to help get you and your bike through the cold, sleet and the snow.  Trust me, with the right preparation, winter cycling can be a lot of fun.
-More group rides and alley cat races 

If you're interested in volunteering or need help with a bike or have donations for us, please get in touch via my email above, or this blog, or just stop by 553 N Fountain.

Thanks everybody!

Thanks to everyone who came out Saturday! It was a blast and a huge success. We're over halfway to our goal of $400 for the 501c3 filing fee. Of course I brought my camera but was too busy to take any shots. If anyone has any pictures they'd care to share, we'd love to see them!

overhaul reminder

Just a quick reminder, tonight is OVERHAUL at rewound sounds at 8pm.  Ryan Windham and Standing in the Color will perform, pickup polo matches, farcical sprints, food from Jimmy Johns, and some awesome raffle prizes.  suggested donation is $5 or a bike/parts. 

Rammed on RAAM

By now most of you probably know about Diego Ballestero's unfortunate experience on the roads of Kansas last week.  Here's an update forwarded from Ruth Holliday who has been a tremendous help to the Spanish team.

Well it is time to keep everyone informed with what is going on with Diego Ballesteros, the Spanish "Race Across America" rider  He was moved to a regular room at WMC yesterday afternoon.  He still does not have any feeling from his waist or so down.  He has a very positive outlook but says it is very hard under the circumstances.  I have not been there when his Dr's are there, but they have told him that they feel the paralysis is due to severe inflamation.  He did have 4 broken vertebrae's but the spinal cord was intact!!  He also has 4 broken ribs and road rash galore, from face to toe! 

His girlfriend, Ana arrived Saturday eve following 24hrs of travel.  Two from his support crew, Mattias and Chavi, remain to help him through the red tape involved with this kind of situation.  What insurance covers and which insurance covers what, has been a real headache. 

Their goal is to find a medical airplane to airlift him back home to Spain.  The cost is prohibitive and whether or not insurance will cover is still in question.  His girlfriend only has 10 vacation days and so she is hopeful all will work out.  Another option is a rehab hospital in Colorado until he can board a regular flight.  A local couple, Carol Boorady and Jan Eddy have opened their house (2 bks from WMC) to these 3 to keep their cost of stay at a minimum.

They are surprised at Kansan's generosity and concern.  So now that he is in a regular room we could actually give him more of a taste.  How about a card shower . . . and a few flowers would be cool too!  But do not procrastinate because if a medical plane becomes available, he will take it!

Wesley Medical Center

Diego Ballesteros, 4-434

550 N Hillside St

Wichita, Ks.  67214

Diego rode as close to Marco Polo's route from Spain to Peking, China 2 years ago in 100 days or so, all by himself, just shy of 13,000 km.  He would stock up on water whenever he could as he had some pretty isolated areas.  He has written a book on his trip which will be released in the fall.  This year alone he had over 7000 miles logged on his bike.  His physical condition was extraordinary and that will be in his favor.

Feel free to share this e-mail.  Thanks for all your e-mails, phone calls and questions.  I have shared them with Ana and Diego. They are still making decisions on what legal route to take.

Ruth Holliday

Bicycle Pedaler
330 N. Rock Rd.
Wichita, KS 67206
(316) 685-4545

Please send your best wishes to Diego and let's not let him leave Kansas with too bad a taste in his mouth.  

OVERHAUL

This Saturday marks our first benefit concert event.  It will be held at Rewound Sounds 810 W Douglas, Standing in the Colour and Ryan Windham will perform, possibly others.  There will be polo matches, farcicle races and bikes for raffle and auction.  Suggested $5 donation to enter but bring a bike or parts or tools to donate and you get in free!

LIV Fest

Tomorrow the shop will be closed because of LIV Fest come join us at 1pm at the Donut Whole (1720 E. Douglas) for a group ride to the event. Where we will have a satellite shop set up for some repairs and demos. There will be some great music and art so come hang out!


-Brandon

for more info check out
The Official LIV Fest Site

P.S. try a recumbent

Welcome back!

Well I know it's been a while since the last post, but days at the Cave haven't been nearly as lackadaisical as our blogular presence might indicate. We've acquired a few new toys, a couple bikes, played a lot of polo and updated our summer hours! Barring any catastrophic circumstances (of which you will be notified via this very site) our open shop hours will be
SUN: 11-3
MON: CLOSED
TUES: CLOSED
WED: 3-6
THURS: 3-6
FRI: CLOSED
SAT: 12-6
(all subject to change)

Donations are welcome nearly 24/7, but please contact us ahead of time.


This Saturday however, we will be set up at the first annual Mayor's Family Bike Day. We'll be helping with on the spot minor repairs and discussing the co-op and its place in the larger vision for Wichita's future as a cycling-friendly city.
Next Saturday, the 19th, we'll be at the LIV music fest, doing very similar things.




And Saturday the 26th we will be holding a fundraiser benefit show at an undecided location at an undisclosed time featuring possible entertainment of a nonspecific nature. Please come! (updates soon)

And last but not least, we got an air compressor!

First seminar of the summer

This Saturday, the Bike Cave will be hosting a basic maintenance seminar starting at 1pm.  This is the first in a series of workshops we will be holding once a month throughout the coming year.  This one will cover things like tire inflation and patching, chain upkeep, minor cable adjustments and other simple ways to keep your bike running smooth.  It will be geared more towards total beginners but more experienced wrenchers are welcome to pitch in and help out.

There is a $5 suggested donation for the workshop, but there will be some door prize items like patch kits and maybe a multi tool or two.  Future workshops will likely be moved to Sundays.  Look out for a complete schedule soon.

If you plan on attending, PLEASE leave your name and email in comment form so we can contact you if anything changes and so we know approximately how many people to expect.  

The Bike Cave will be closed this Saturday but we'll be set up at Earth Fest in Herman Hill Park at Pawnee and Broadway.  There's some pretty cool things planned, check out the aforementioned website for a schedule of events.  We'll have a couple bikes for auction and raffle, repair workshops and other fun stuff.  As always, accepting donations of your unwanted bikes, extra parts and tools.  Come out and show some support, we'll be set up from 10:30 until we get tired. 

Big plans are in the works for this summer and volunteers are desperately needed.  If you have any time to spare and share our cause, please get in touch and we will give you something to do.

The Bike Cave now has an oxy-acetelyne torch!  Let the brazing/welding begin!

just a quick reminder

Critical Mass tonight leaves from the Donut Whole at 6pm, get there by 5:30 to make sure you don't get left behind! 

Then at 8pm, meet at Market and William to celebrate two years of ROR in the most appropriate way... riding fast and irresponsibly.  Race starts at 8pm SHARP, two dollar entry fee and some pretty great prizes. 

After party at the Bike Cave, 553 N Fountain. 

Then Saturday promises sunshine and lower 50's, so you've got every reason to come over and wrench on some bikes.  Open shop is 12-6.  See you there!

So as you might have guessed, dear readers, we were closed due to weather on Saturday.  So instead we ate Po' Boy pizza rolls and watched Zach Galifianakis.  It was a good day.  Almost as good as working on bikes.

Speaking of bikes (that's what I'm supposed to be doing, right?) some of you may be aware of a vicious street gang called The Riders of Rohan.  They've been known to terrorize Delano and downtown on Friday nights, speeding around on color-coordinated tarck bikes- rowdy, reckless and visibly intoxicated.  They've even been spotted with polo mallets.  Needless to say, neither the Wichita Bicycle Collective nor The Bike Cave condone this type of irresponsible behavior.  We suggest taking immediate cover if you see a blur of green bandannas quickly approaching. 

However, since we have all taken a blood-oath to embrace and promote all things cycling, it is our duty to inform you of their upcoming 2 year anniversary celebration February 26th.  Weather permitting, they'll probably kick things off with an afternoon barbeque and maybe a polo match.  Later, they'll "take over" Critical Mass and ruin the positive atmosphere with their fancy riding, inadequate tail lights and bad attitudes.  After that, they'll be hosting an alleycat race through downtown with fantastical prizes including gift certificates to local businesses like The Vagabond and Rewound Sounds.  All skill levels and bikes are welcome for a small entry fee.  After the race, the partying commences.  Well, continues.  Or so I'm told, anyway.  So if this sounds like the type of degenerate hipster debauchery you need in your life, get in touch or stay tuned, details to come. 

In closing, I should mention The Bike Cave will be closed February 20th.  I've been summoned to perform with Soul Blade at the Jackpot in Lawrence the 19th, so if you happen to be up that way you should stop by and party with us, it'll be a good time. 

That's all for now, dear reader.  Ride hard, wrench safe and stay off the sidewalk!

Long time, no post folks.  But fear not, the Bike Cave is merely hibernating like a Grolar bear in a hollowed out tree or a toothless crackhead under the canal route walkways.  Attendance to open shops has been next to nothing for several weeks now but last Saturday showed signs of spring.  Sure enough, the balmy lower-50s temperatures and clear skies brought with them new volunteers!

They were extremely professional, as you can see they organized themselves in near sweatshop-like efficiency.  Three slaved away, chained to their workstands, covered in grease and sweat while the cold-hearted CEO and his soft-spoken consultant glare on.  It was an inspiring sight.  They even cleaned the heck out of the garage!

 

And put up some new tire racks

We even sold a few bikes. 
The Creepy Face approves.

Don't be scared of the snow!  It's Critical Mass tomorrow, meet at the Donut Whole, ride leaves at 6.  Don't miss an epic trek to kick off the first CM of the new decade!