Fall Bike Drive 2014

Over 100 Bikes Collected!

Linda Dalton of Friends of Falmouth Bikeways manages the
donations coming in. Bikes needed to be assessed and counted.

A few of our Earn-A-Bike students
pick through our inventory

The Falmouth Bike Lab would like to say a big THANK YOU to the Friends of Falmouth Bikeways for collecting over 100 bikes for our educational programs. Bikes starting rolling in before we even officially started receiving them last Saturday and before the day was over, we had collected enough bikes to keep
us busy all winter long. Some of the donations featured our first unicycle, a tandem bicycle and an adult tricycle. We are all looking forward to riding and repairing them. Thank you to everyone who donated a bicycle or bicycles. Your support is critical to our success and mission of teaching the Falmouth Community and Cape Cod about the power of bicycles.

Summer Earn-A-Bikes

Thanks for a Great Summer!

A goofy picture on graduation day (Earn-A-Bike Session 1).

Thank you to everyone who helped make this summer fun and productive. There are lots of people in Falmouth that know a lot more about bikes now!

Students get ready to practice their
riding skills in the back parking lot.

Hello everyone! We have been very busy here at the Bike Lab getting ready for our Fall Earn-A-Bike sessions, so busy in fact, I forgot to post about our amazing summer. This summer featured the first official Earn-A-Bike programs and we had a great time. During our 3 separate week-long programs, 24 youth learned maintenance skills like fixing a flat tire, repairing a broken chain, adjusting brakes, replacing cables, and lots of other useful skills for repairing a bicycle. They also learned how to ride their bikes more effectively. We practiced Rules of the Road in relation to stop signs, four way stops, turning, signaling, and riding in traffic as well as practicing emergency maneuvers. All of our students worked hard and gained a lot of valuable experience both on and off the bike, including a group ride into Woods Hole and back. And they all worked hard to fix up a bicycle that they either took home or donated back to the Bike Lab to be used in our future programs. Thank you students!

The winner of the "Spirit of the Bike Lab" collects
his graduation certificate.

We would also like to thank our many volunteers that made this happen. Some people even took vacation time off of work to hang out with us and help us teach people about the power of bikes. They were patient, helpful, kind, encouraging and an absolute joy to work with. Thank you volunteers, you make all of this possible!

Join us this fall for more great programs including: Earn-A-Bike, Bicycle Video Production, Girl Scout Bike Lab Badge, Boy Scout Cycling Merit Badge, Open Shops, and Adult Education Programs.

July VotM

Congratulations to July’s Volunteers of the Month: 

Iz and Milo!

Milo and Iz are two of the FBL’s most dedicated youth volunteers. This summer they both participated in an Earn-A-Bike session and then volunteered for yet another week-long session, helping other kids fix and build their bikes. Milo earned a red bike, to which he has added a bell, big horn, and rearview mirror. Iz earned a pinkish-purple bike, which was in pretty good shape to start with except for the brakes.

Milo learned how to ride a bike in the back parking lot of JWUMC, and it is still one of his favorite places to ride. He likes to create fun courses across the parking lot and off-roading in the grass and gravel too. He also likes to ride his bike along the bike path down to Woods Hole with his family. When Milo isn’t busy helping other kids at the FBL, he enjoys karate and origami. He is ten years old and just started 5^th grade at Morse Pond School.

Iz is also ten years old and in 5^th grade at Morse Pond. She learned how to ride a bike in a cemetery near her house, and she also likes to ride along the Shining Sea Bike Path. In her spare time, Iz enjoys reading, math, and arts and crafts.

Thank you so much to both Milo and Iz for their hard work and volunteering for the FBL this summer!

June Volunteer of the Month

Congratulations Nancy!

Congratulations to Nancy, our June Volunteer of the Month!

Nancy got involved with the FBL through the John Wesley United Methodist Church, where she attends. She was already looking for volunteer opportunities at a bike co-op and was even ready to commute to the nearest one in Boston to do so, when Jeremy and the church started the FBL in the church's basement. It couldn't have been more perfect timing!

Nancy has very generously volunteered at our Grand Opening event and on open bike nights, and she spent an entire week helping out at one of the Earn-A-Bike sessions this summer. We are so thankful for all of her many hours of work to help the biking community! Nancy has also recently earned a great 3-speed bike through the Volunteer Earn-A-Bike program and is eager to completely restore and repair it on her own.

Nancy said, “Cycling has always been one of my most favorite things to do. I get the feeling of being a kid all over again and love the sights passing by. Whether I'm riding in century events, commuting to work or running errands I love moving through space as a result of my own effort.”

Originally from the Midwest, Nancy has called Massachusetts home for 25 years, the past 20 spent on the Cape. She works as a scientific research librarian at the MBL/WHOI Library.

Thank you Nancy, and thank you to all of our awesome volunteers this summer!

August EAB

Announcing:

Earn-A-Bike in August!

Due to lots of interest in the program, we have decided to run another Earn-A-Bike Program August 18-22. This session will be for youth going into grades 3 through 7.  For more information or to register, email jwygfalmouth@gmail.com.

May Volunteer of the Month

Congratulations to our 

May Volunteer of the Month

Elizabeth Dorr

Congratulations to Elizabeth Dorr, FBL’s Volunteer of the Month for May!

Elizabeth volunteered at the FBL Grand Opening celebration, baking cupcakes for the event and helping staff the info table. She also helped with various marketing efforts, writing blog posts online and designing lawn signs for the lab. The signs alone have attracted numerous passersby to stop into FBL, learn about our programs, and get involved!

All the hard work paid off, and Elizabeth is now the proud owner of “Mimi,” her pink cruiser, who was fixed up through the Earn-A-Bike program. Mimi is short for Miami Vibes, which is painted on the chain cover alongside a pink and green flamingo. Mimi is a perfect fit for Elizabeth with her bright pink paint job and big wicker basket, and they’ve already enjoyed many a bike trip to the beach or down to Woods Hole for coffee and pastries from Pie in the Sky.

Elizabeth is an Admissions Counselor at SEA Semester in Woods Hole as well as an alumna of their program. She’s lived in Falmouth for the past two years and really appreciates getting involved in the greater community through the FBL. Elizabeth said, “FBL fills an important niche in town. It brings together a diverse group of people, from kids to young professionals like me to more established Falmouth residents, all while promoting being physically active, more environmentally sustainable, and enjoying all the natural beauty that Cape Cod has to offer. I’m excited to help FBL in anyway that I can, and I am so honored to receive the Volunteer of the Month award!”

In our first month, it took the help and work of many volunteers to open our doors for business and get the community excited about biking just in time for summer! Thank you to all for your help, generosity, and enthusiasm!

Open Shops and Volunteer Nights

Come Stop By!

Join us for an Open Shop to get your bike fixed up, or visit us during a volunteer night to help us work on our bike inventory and get bikes ready for our summer programs.  Volunteer nights are Thursdays from 7pm to 9(ish) and do not require any previous knowledge of bikes.  We will teach you how to help us.  Open Shops are the first Saturdays of the month (except July Open Shop will be on July 12th) and run from 10am to 1pm.  This is a great time to bring down your own bike and have us help you work on it.  We hope to see you soon!

Summer Programs

Sign Up for Summer Earn-A-Bike

Sign ups are now open for our Earn-A-Bike program for youth going into grades 2 through 9.  The program runs from Monday to Friday, 9-noon.  Youth will learn basic maintenance and riding skills while helping out around the shop.  At the end of the week, they will have earned their own bicycle to take home.  Email jwygfalmouth@gmail.com to register for the appropriate session or if you have any questions.

Dates for Earn-a-Bike:
Session 1 - July 7 to 11 (9-noon)
For youth going into grades 5-9

Session 2 - July 21 to 25 (9-noon)
For youth going into grades 2-4

May is Bike Month!

May is Bike Month, and this week is Bike to Work Week! Check out the upcoming events in Falmouth during Bike Month:

Wednesday, May 14th: Bike to Work Day! Stop by the corner of Main and Gifford Streets that morning for free breakfast as you make your way to work.

Friday, May 23rd: Lawrence School Bike to School Day! Details TBD.

Friday, May 30th: East Falmouth Elementary School Bike to School Day! Meet at Menauhant Beach, leave for school by 8:00am, return to Menauhant at the end of the day. There will be a bike parade, slow race, and give-aways at school in the morning as well.

Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for more Bike Month festivities around town!

http://falmouth.patch.com/groups/going-green/p/bike-to-work-week-and-national-bike-month-falmouth

We're Officially Open for Business!

Falmouth Bike Lab celebrated our official Grand Opening this past Saturday at the John Wesley United Methodist Church! Thank you to all who came to help us celebrate! We couldn't have asked for more beautiful weather to be outside and were pleased with a turn-out of roughly 40 people throughout the day.

Volunteers were on hand to teach people about the services FBL offers and to help tune up bikes. Kids participated in a bike obstacle course and a slow race, trying out a number of different bikes that FBL volunteers have already fixed up into working condition. There was even an impromptu class on how to clean and fix a chain. It was a great day for the community, filled with fun in the sun, delicious snacks, and of course lots of bikes!

Thank you to all who came, especially our volunteers who helped with everything from bike maintenance to hot dog grilling to set up and clean up. And a very special thank you to the local Shaw's, Stop and Shop, and Windfall Market for donating most of the food for this event. Finally, another big thank you to the Falmouth Substance Abuse Commission for helping to fund the FBL program. We truly appreciate all your help!

So start spreading the word around town that the Falmouth Bike Lab is officially open for business! We look forward to seeing you at an event in the future!

Grand Opening This Saturday

You're Invited!

Our Grand Opening is this Saturday from 11am to 3pm at the John Wesley United Methodist Church on the corner of Jones Rd. and Gifford St.  Join us for food, fun, and cycling!  We will be offering free tune ups and free advice on how to get your bike ready for the summer ridding season.  There will also be a bicycle rodeo and lots of food.  Bring the whole family, actually, bring your whole neighborhood and help us kick off bike month in style!

Bike Drive Tonight

Our first bike drive drive was such a success, we are having another one tonight.  We collected over 40 bikes that will be refurbished and put to use in our community.  If you have a bike that you want to donate, bring it by the church tonight any time between 5:00 and 8:00.

Spread the Word:

FBL now Accepting Bike Donations

Click here to view and print a .pdf version of our poster announcing our upcoming bike drives.  Put this up in your office or any other place that you think people will see it.  Thanks for your help!

Donate Your Used Bicycle to the Falmouth Bike Lab

As we get ready for our summer programs, we are in need of bicycles.  We will be collecting bicycles on Saturday, April 12 from 9am-2pm and Thursday April 17 from 5-8pm.  The Falmouth Bike Lab is a community bike shop in Falmouth run by the John Wesley United Methodist Church.  You can find us on the corner of Jones Rd. and Gifford St.  We recycle old bikes and give them away to local youth and other folks in need.  So instead of your bicycle sitting in your garage collecting dust, it can be used to improve someone's life.  Learn more about our programs by clicking the tabs at the top of the page.

Community Bike Shop set to open in May

Greetings and welcome to the Falmouth Bike Lab!  We are a community bike shop run by the John Wesley United Methodist church and we are committed to teaching people about bicycles and all the great things they can help us accomplish.  We will be holding bike drives throughout April, check out the schedule in the Upcoming Events tab and Check back here often for updates.