Bikechain

Bikechain's Frequently Asked Questions

 The Do-it-yourself Educational Shop

 Are you busy?

 Yes, we are very busy. Frankly we need more space, so if you know of anywhere...

 But really, yes, we are busy. The best time to come is right when we open at 11am, or make an appointment on Mondays or Saturdays.

 For our own sanity, we've instituted a five bike/bike owner limit in the shop. Bring your bike down and take a peek in the shop, if it's full, we'll let you kn ow and you can put your name on the blackboard and wait. The wait time varies depending on what work people need to do, so you may want to bring reading material, or peruse the pamphlets and magazines outside the shop.

 Do I really have to do it myself?

 Yes. We have staff and volunteers who can guide you through repairs, and will help you with hands-on work and technique. Really though, the point is to help educate and get people comfortable with working on their bikes, and know how to take care of their bikes.

 If you would like our recommendation regarding commercial shops, come in and speak to us, and we will give you our honest advice.

 Can I volunteer or work at Bikechain?

 Yes. We hire students for work-study positions in the fall, and these positions carry on through the school year. During the summertime, we hire some workstudies and contract mechanics to help run the DIY shop and lending program.

 You can volunteer during any part of the year. Come speak to us about what is involved. We run a “shadowing” program where you are partnered with a mechanic and are there to learn and assist. We will probably ask you to do unglamorous things as well, such as sweep, put tools away, and make coffee. Doing these things all help the shop run.

 Does it cost anything?

 We have no expectation that students pay anything, and there is no set cost to access the shop. If you are not a member either UTSU/SAC or GSU, a donation for the use of the space would be appreciated. Similarly, a donation for any used parts is appreciated. Make sure to ask us how much, because sometimes there are some pretty sweet parts laying around.

 New parts cost what they cost. There is a price list on our webpage and at our front desk. We aim to keep prices down, but don't want to undercut our friends at for-profit bike shops.

 How are you funded?

 Bikechain receives student levies for the base of our funding, with each full time student at U of T paying $1 per year, and part time students paying $0.50.

 We also rely on donations for the service we provide (there's a box on the front desk) and see a small amount of revenue through the parts and accessories that we sell in the shop.

 We have in the past received larger grants and institutional donations, but those don't come easily or often.

 Do you take donations?

 Absolutely! We will take donated parts, bikes, frames or money (see above). Bikes and frames will be recycled into loaner bikes in our lending program, and parts will be sorted and find homes on the bicycles of future students.

 Do you sell bikes?

 Not yet, but that doesn't mean we won't in the future. We don't have the space or human resources to make it happen right now. We will happily refer you to places that can cater to your taste and budget, with many of those same shops being listed on our “Allies” page of our website.

 Do you buy bikes?

 No. If you want, you can put a listing on the corkboard outside the shop space and hope for the best, or you can donate your bike to us.

 Can I leave my bike overnight?

 No. We don't have the space, and we have had problems with people not actually coming back the next day. Please refrain from locking to the fences around the CIE (the building we're housed in) and leaving them for months on end.