“Never pay someone to do something you can do yourself.” If there were a collected tome of Dad-isms this would be the title and it’s sound advice. It’s also one of the philosophies at Recycle-A-Bike (12 Library Court, Providence). Anyone who can ride a bike is more than capable of the basic upkeep and maintenance required to keep their whip in tip-top shape. For one reason or another, a lot of folks don’t, and it’s Recycle-A-Bike’s mission to change that.
On a Tuesday night in late April I stopped by RAB’s Olneyville space for a commuter bike workshop. Ally Trull, RAB’s Education Director, led the group of six participants with varying degrees of mechanical acumen in basic upkeep, like cleaning chains, adjusting and inspecting brakes and checking rotational systems. This was a special workshop offered ahead of May’s slate of National Bike Month events, but RAB offers open shop time on Tuesday and Saturdays where anyone is welcome to stop by and make use of the shop’s tools and volunteer bike technicians.
“A lot of people reach out to us because they want to get a bike and they want to know how to fix it,” says Ally. “Some just want to build their skills as mechanics.”
Continuing in that mission is the slate of events that RAB, the Rhode Island Bicycle Coalition (RI Bike) and Bike Newport have lined up for National Bike Month. May 1 through May 28 is loaded with rides and meetups meant to enhance riders' understanding of bike maiantance, skills for safe commuting and spreading bicycle advocacy to the community at large. Highlights include RIBike's bike advocacy meeting at Flatbread Pizza Company, Bike Newport's Ladies' Night Bike Class, Bike the Night with Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza and the Lovecraft themed Tour de Tentacle.
For a full list of Bike Month events, click here.
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