Derailer Seeds FOUR New Bike Programs!

The Derailer Bicycle Collective has officially closed.  We have completed the Request For Proposals process and will be redistributing all of our materials to FOUR amazing programs around town:

1. Girls, Inc will be set up with a bicycle mechanics classroom to expand their bike classes for girls.  (http://www.girlsincdenver.org/home.html)
2. El Centro Humanitario Para Los Trabajadores will set up a bicycle fix-a-bike station at their location downtown for use by El Centro members and neighbors. (http://www.centrohumanitario.org/)
3. The Bike Pit! A volunteer-led group that will remain in the former-Derailer location at 411 Lipan and will open this Summer with bike repair programs for women & transgender folks and TBD programs for the public. A link to their site will be posted on the Derailer website when it becomes available.
4. La Academia, the 7-12th grade school in Lincoln Park operated by the Denver Inner City Parish will have a small bike repair station at their school and will participate in programs at 411 Lipan. (http://dicp.org/education/la-academia/)

While there is sadness about the closure of Denver's only free community bicycle resource, we are proud of our ten-year run and EXTREMELY excited to be able to seed new programs in the neighborhood and help these amazing groups continue the work of salvaging bikes, teaching mechanics, fixing the things that are broken, and sharing bike-love in Denver.

Hello friends and supporters!

We're still working out the details of what great new projects will give new life to Derailer's resources.

But in the mean time, we have a work day scheduled from 1-4 p.m., Sunday Feb. 17. We need your help cleaning the shop, sorting through tools, painting and making repairs. This is also a great time to learn some new information about forthcoming projects.

We'd love to see your faces again (and put you to work!).

Thanks and love,

Derailer Bicycle Collective

Hello Friends, Allies and Community,

It is with heaviness that I write The Derailer Bicycle Collective (AKA "Build A Bike" AKA "The Free Bike Shop") will be CLOSING its doors on December 14, 2012.   We just don't have the volunteer leadership to keep it open any longer. The Collective is in the process now of identifying other groups and organizations in Denver to take over our bikes and materials so that they are still put to use in the future.

Derailer has become a HUGE part of the lives of hundreds of people--past and present volunteers, Collective and Spokecouncil members, mechanics, cyclists of all shape & size, donors, referrers, friends, neighbors, and allies. Please know that the Collective understands the weight of this decision. It has been a long road (10 years! Thousands of bicycles!) and we are both proud of Derailer’s accomplishments and saddened by this change. We as individuals are also still very committed to Derailer’s original vision and though we will no longer operate the same volunteer-run, entirely-free community bicycle shop, we are hopeful that the future will be full of many more patched flats, trued wheels, bike stories, and new skills.  We are grateful to everyone who has contributed, wrenched, passed through, and stuck around.

If you want more information, please watch our website (www.DerailerBicycleCollective.org) and FAQ. Questions may be directed to info@derailerbicyclecollective.org
And if you are inspired, please send us good stories and memories of the bike shop!

We will keep you informed of the coming transition through our website. In the mean time, please spread the word that the Derailer Bicycle Collective has closed.

Thanks for the good times, friends. And thank you for all the good work you also do for our beloved city.

So Much Love to you!
Love,
The Derailer Bicycle Collective

Help Day! and one more frame Sale

This Sunday is a help Day, but we are also having a frame sale! If you're interested in helping us keep the shop spiffy, come on by from 1-4 this Sunday. But also perhaps you're looking for a bare frame:

On Sunady November 11th, 2012 from 1pm-4pm we will be holding a frame sale. We have about 50 various used frames inluding Mountain, some interesting Road frames and several BMX frames. These frames are sold as is some with parts attached. We don't have any additional parts for these frames and will not be selling any other items. Most of these frames will be priced to sell $5-10, with some the nicer frames individually priced $20-40. This sale is a one day only cash and cary sale first come first served, sorry we will not be holding or showing these frames at any other times. Also: These frames cannot be built at Derailer at all, idealy, we never see them again! We do not have the resources or people power to build these frames at Derailer. 



More Pics Here: Click!

Big News: Derailer's Future

The Derailer Bicycle Collective is making another big transition.  We no longer have the dedicated people-power to continue operations. The Collective has decided to accept serious proposals from groups who want to use Derailer’s resources in the future. We will be launching a formal Request For Proposals on October 1, 2012.
 
Our hope is that the bikes, parts, tools, knowledge and skills that have made up the Derailer Bicycle Collective in the past will find new life, energy & direction in the Springtime and continue to be available to the community.

In all likelihood, Derailer will be closing for a period of time this winter and may close permanently.

As we know details about this closure, we will keep you updated here on the website and in the shop.

Build-a-Bike

 Need a Bike? October 4th is our day to build bikes for people who have no other way to build a bike. 

How it works: Every First Thursday of the Month, Lottery at 3 p.m.

The Build-a-Bike Lottery is for Denver's bike-less population. We hold a lottery drawing at 3pm SHARP on the 1st Thursday of the month.  If your name is drawn, you "win" the opportunity to build a bike from the ground up, learning about all the working parts, internal mechanisms, and maintenance along the way.  With the help of a volunteer you will pick out a frame that fits your body and preference, and begin making it your own. The process will probably take at least two hours, depending on the type of repairs, availability or tools, and experience of your mechanic. 

REMEMBER:

• Build a bike is for people who do not already have a bike that we can fix, or another way to get a bike.
• There will be no Fix-A-Bike assistance on this day. Other than patch a flat. No digging for parts either.
• Your Build-A-Bike may take longer (more than one day even) if the pin in the chain breaker is bent or we are out of glue and patches.
• We usually choose 10 names on B-A-B Lottery Day.  Sometimes as many as 35 people enter their names in the drawing.  Please consider the odds before hiking across town. (And tell your friends to do the same.)
• It is almost always easier to Fix-A-Bike at Derailer than it is to Build-A-Bike.  Check out the Other Places to Get a Bike page.

Help Day

Help Day! Sunday September 9th, 2012

Are you thinking of a way to get involved in Derailer with less time commitment and fewer crowds? Attend a Help Day. Help Days are every 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month. We sort donations, strip scrap bikes, clean, organize, and work on projects. Drop by anytime from 1-4pm at the shop. Help Days are a great way to familiarize yourself with the space, get to know some volunteers and learn bike mechanics.
This Help Day we hope to do all of the above! and
-strip bikes for parts
-Build up bikes for our build a bike program
-any other ideas? send us a note

info@derailerbicyclecollective.org

Can't make this one? Upcoming Help Days:

Sunday, September 23
Sunday, October 14th