30 Apr - Changing Lives that change everything else

Before we get into the busy-ness of the next few weeks' classes and activities I thought I'd editorialize a little bit on what we do, and the lasting effect that it has on peoples' lives.  My ABSOLUTE favorite to do here at Positive Spin is teaching kids and adults to ride for the first time.  When you think about it, what "learning to read" does for the mind, "learning to ride" does for the body.  I can't think of anything that can affect a person's life - starting so early, lasting so long and taking them so far.  The next step, teaching them to ride safely on public roads, is what our new classes are all about.  It's been really exciting, yet humbling, how eager kids are to ride - even when it's just around the block.  In the surveys I do before every class I ask how many kids know how to ride a bike (balancing).  By 3rd grade just about every kid does, yet they are taught almost nothing about traffic law and riding skills.  That means we are putting them out on the streets without knowing how to look out for themselves.  As a result they crash - and 80% of all bike crashes don't involve another vehicle, it happens just because they haven't learned to handle the bike or riding conditions.  Studies have shown that good quality bike classes, like the courses we offer from the League of American Bicyclists, reduce crash rates by 80%.  Not coincidentally, helmets reduce head injuries by 80%.  Although the connection may be coincidental, it seems intuitive that we have the choice of preventing injuries by either protection (helmets) or prevention (education) - OK, how about both?
Many parents and adults point to the high crash rates as a reason to discourage youth bicycling and walking - particularly around schools.  But most of those crashes happen because the cyclists AND the motorists haven't been taught to share the road safely.  Besides, this argument just reduces short-term risk while increasing long-term risks like obesity, inactivity and poor lifelong fitness habits.  Kids can bike to schools and other places they want to go if we teach them how to handle their bikes - alone and in traffic.  In Europe this has been done for 50 years.  Every child has a full day of bike/pedestrian skills education in 4th grade (the age at which they develop adequate depth perception to judge oncoming traffic speeds).  As a result every adult knows how every child will behave in most traffic situations, making the road environment much more predictable.  As those students become driving adults they retain that knowledge, and the expectation that roads will be made to accommodate cyclists and as drivers they are expected to share the road safely with all other users.
In the meantime we also offer courses for adults and new drivers in bike/pedestrian awareness.  Let us know if your school or community group is interested in any of our offerings.
We'll be in Mt. Morris this afternoon at Perry Elementary School to teach 2 classes. Special thanks to Ms. Ruschak for inviting us.
Tomorrow we'll be giving a clinic at the Clinton Fire District building near Ridgedale Elementary from 10am-1pm.  This event is open to everyone, see the event flyer for more details.
Next week the shop will be closed EXCEPT for our Wednesday evening and Saturday afternoon hours while I'm teaching in Martinsburg.  Call the shop if you need to make an appointment at any other time.  I'll be leaving the phone with someone here.

27 Apr - Coming Events

Good evening,
The next 2 weeks will be the busiest we have ever had.  On Friday we are giving a class at Perry Elementary School in Mt. Morris, Saturday is the bike clinic at Clinton Fire Station (Ridgedale Elementary), Sunday is the Spring Spectacular bike ride and next Mon-Thurs is our first big Safe Routes to Schools class at North Middle School in Martinsburg, WV.  Most of our staffing for the events is OK (except for the SRTS classes - call me if you can help out), what we really need are volunteers in the shop to help fix up bikes.  We've gotten a bunch in and even more are waiting to be repaired for customers.  Please call or come in anytime during our open hours between now and Saturday evening.

We are in the process of setting up an email list server so you can get notifications like this sent to you directly.  Look for details soon.  The hope is that it will improve our response rate - we're not getting the help we need at events.

26 Apr - Westwood Middle School Repair Clinic

I've just returned from Westwood Middle School where we gave a lecture to the Kaleidoscope afterschool program on bike maintenance and repair.  As is common for these types of programs kids come and go throughout the lecture so it's hard to give an attendance number.  There were 18 at the start and 8 at the end though, several of them were very interested.  All of them calmed down and listened after they saw how useful the information could be.  No pictures since I didn't get a volunteer to help me out.  I got to ride my own bike there with all of the tools and presentation materials.  Several of the kids brought bikes to trade so we'll be sending back 3, and 2 helmets.  In case you were thinking of asking, we ARE getting paid for this - pretty reasonably in fact.  Enough to cover our costs and some refueling for me.  Special thanks to Sandy Cress of "Our Studio" for using her truck to bring back bikes from the school.  I have no idea how I would have fit them on the bike trailer.
In other news, our latest MDS student groups have just turned in their time sheets for the last time.  We'd like to recognize them for the great help they've been at repairing bikes, planning/running the tradeup day and general help around the place.  Several of them are staying on til Friday in fact, to help run the bike clinic at Perry Elementary in Mt. Morris.
And this just in from the "Unexpected Good News" bureau, when I got back from Westwood there were 12 donated bikes from a shop in Ohiopyle at the door waiting for me.  Kevin had actually called earlier to me to let me know he would be coming, several of them will fix up nicely.  He said he's been saving these since he got our card 2 years ago and just now finally had enough to make a truckload.  Thanks!

Now to finalize the details for the Perry School clinic, and next week's bike (1100 kids) clinic in Martinsburg.  Do I hear any volunteer helpers who would like to get away for a few days?

25 Apr - Leadership

A friend sent this YouTube video with lessons about leadership.  Although it looks goofy, it has a message that applies to expanding the sustainable transportation movement in Morgantown.  I hope you like it.
Yesterday we had another great day at the shop, same as just about every day - but more of you need to be the first followers - not just walking and biking, but being so joyful and excited about it that others WANT to join in because they see it as a FUN necessity.  Followers won't want to be like the leader, they'll want to be like the followers.
Special thanks to Aman for volunteering the past few days as part of his course work - that guy can really make our bikes SHINE.  Thanks also to Duncan for helping out in the shop, and to Will for being there at just about every Wednesday and Saturday work session since we started.

This afternoon I went on a scouting ride to check out the route to Westwood Middle School where I'll be giving a bike maint/repair workshop to afterschool students.  On the way out I met Tony, a rather amazing guy.  He had a stroke a few years ago and to recover he's chosen daily bike riding as his physical therapy.  He started by using our electric trike, which allowed him to start building up the balance and stamina to ride under his own power.  Then he purchased a recumbent trike, then traded in the electric trike for our EZ Sport recumbent bike.  He put about 900 miles on it last season that way.  This Spring he put on a Bionix electric assist motor and has put on 350 miles in just the past few weeks.  Today he was on his way back from the recycling center where he had dropped 2 bags of stuff.  As I left him he was apparently feeling cheeky and snuck up and passed me as I was going out River Road.  Once I realized it was a race I passed him back and held him off until the road started to climb (past the recycling center).  He caught up with me and we stopped so I could take this picture.  He decided to go home then rather than embarass me on the climb, leaving my ego intact.  It's great to see him having so much fun, especially since it was Positive Spin that made his recovery possible - and FUN.

I continued my ride out River Road to Westwood School, then to the Mountaineer Wellness Center (the old Waitman-Barbe school) and returned to town via Glory Barn Road, Highway 19, Dupont Rd and River Road.  Then I went up the Deckers Creek trail a ways and into Sabreton to visit a friend.  On the return I passed Hazel Ruby Park where a steel drum band was playing.  About 30 miles of riding and an immeasurable number of smiles, on a beautiful spring day with the smell of new growth so thick you could chew it.  Looking forward to this week.

23 April - More bikes

Good evening,
Bikes are still trickling in from our Spring donation, we received about a dozen more today with promises of more to come.  This is good because they are going out even faster.  We have a big backlog of customer repairs and rehabs, as well as a hal-dozen bikes to put out on the showroom (if they don't disappear before then).  Thought you might be interested in a few informal metrics we track for information. 
- We get approximately 1000 bikes every year, a third are repaired for local use, a third shipped overseas and the rest stripped for usable parts and scrapped.
- Customers typically pay our asking price for bikes (or more).
- We've had several tinkerers come into the shop that just need our pool of parts for home projects or inventions.
- Bike recycling generally brings a gross income of $6-10,000 per year
- Other income is from editing websites, teaching bike safety to school youth and other freelancing.
- About half of our volunteers come from WVU (CCE students and students  who volunteer on their own
- The rest of our volunteers are members of the community who share our passion for sustainable transportation right here.
- We give away bikes to area environmental groups as a way of getting more volunteers.  They pay the recommended price for their bike by sending their volunteers to work with us for $10/hr.  We get a better appreciation for their purpose, and get to know their people.  They are able to raise more money.
That's all the time there is tonite.  Hope to see you at the Friends of Deckers Creek "Spring Meltdown" at the Brewing Co from 7-10pm tonite. 
Have a great weekend.
Nick

22 Apr - Happy Earth Day

Good evening,
It's been a busy Earth Day starting with a workshop session at MTEC this morning.  The expected students didn't show up so it ended early after repairing a bike for a student.
After that it was back to the shop where the Industrial Engineering students and MDS students helped fix more kids' bikes.  At 1:30 we went to the Green Fair on the Mountainlair Green - which ended up being moved indoors because of threatening weather.  The turnout was huge and it sounds like we'll have a few new volunteers and customers as a result.  The generator got a lot of interest and excitement from many people who passed through.  We were set up next to the WVU bike racing team who all took it for a spin.   Thanks to our  MDS and service learning volunteers who helped hand out literature and promote our efforts.  Here are a few pictures.

This last picture is the winner of the bike drawing.  I promised her that within 15 minutes I'd have her all over the internet.  Sorry it took a little longer.  Congratulations Stacy!

Tonite is the Sierra Swing sponsored by the Student Sierra Club at WVU.  We've also donated a bike to them, come out for great music and support this great environmental cause to celebrate Earth Day and enter to win a Schwinn Frontier Mountain bike.  Tomorrow nite is the Friends of Decker's Creek "Spring Meltdown" where yet another Positive Spin bike will be raffled off.  Help support restoration and preservation efforts, and have a good time with great people and music at the West Virginia Brewing Company.

Last item, they've been keeping a bike for us over at Habitat for Humanity's ReStore.  Can anyone drop by and pick it up during their business hours?  Thanks.
I'm off to party.
Nick

20 Apr - More volunteer opportunities

This is the first week for our (slightly) reduced Summer hours, we'll be closed Sun-Tues and open Wed 1-7pm, Thurs-Sat 1-5pm. It's still usually a good idea to call and let us know you're coming in case we have to run out for an errand.  Volunteers should call anytime, we'll work around your schedule for you.  Speaking of which, we have a large group project (6-10 volunteers) if you'd like to come in with some of your friends.  There's a big pile of bikes that needs to be prepped for shipping, and parts to sort and box.  Shipment goes out May 29th, but we know most of the students will be gone before then so now's the time for it.

This morning I thought I'd take advantage of my rest day for a joyride.  I decided to check out totally - didn't tell anyone where I was going, left the phones behind, now water, tools or spare tube.  Just the door keys.  I rode up Decker's Creek to a dirt road that went uphill to a ridgetop.  I parked my bike out of sight and hiked to the top where I was facing the quiet side of a valley.  A 4-wheeler went by about 100 yds away as soon as I got there but it was totally quiet after that.  I found a beautiful rock ledge and laid down for a quiet nap under the Spring sun with the leaves budding above me and nothing but the sound of birds singing and darting around.  Aaaaahhhh....  I hated to come back but I  did have some things to do.  Why can't it be this peaceful everywhere?

Speaking of volunteer opportunities, we could use help handing out information and talking to people at a couple of events.  Thursday from 2-6pm the Green Fair at the Mountainlair has given us a table.  Please come help hand out brochures and have a good time if you can make it.  Friday nite is the "Friends of Deckers Creek" Spring Meltdown.  They'll be giving away one of our bikes, and letting us hand out info and recruit more members and volunteers.  We'd also appreciate your help there.

We're expecting a couple of shipments this week.  More bike pins are coming as well as bike locking cables, commuter tires and more helmets.  Lots of bikes to fix from tradeup day still so stop in and help out when you can. I'll close with another picture from tradeup day, thanks to Tim - one our MDS students who will be finishing this week.  Thanks to all of you, and all of our volunteers.

Thanks,
Nick

19 Apr - Week of Engagement

In addition to being Earth week this is WVU Center for Civic Engagement's "Week of Engagement".  Today we staffed an information table at the Mountain Lair from 11am to 2pm.  Many people came through on their way to lunch but only a few stopped.  One of them is interested and enthusiastic being a new volunteer for us.  That's all it takes to make it worth the time.  In addition we connected with volunteers from other organizations and got to spend some quality time with the great staff at CCE.

Just a few pictures that happened to be in my camera chip that I thought I'd include here.  This picture was taken last Thursday as I was picking up helmets from Rock Forge to take to our homeschooler bike safety clinic.  These madly pedaling toddlers raised $1100 for a cancer fund to help their friend.  Do you suppose we could raise that kind of money by going around in circles?

And finally, over the weekend I took off after work to ride out the Mon river trail to Little Falls and this is what it looked like there, with the tree buds just starting to come out.  By today I suspect the trees are all fully in leaf.

18 Apr - Happy Earth Week

Good morning,
We had a hugely successful Tradeup Day on Saturday in terms of volunteers, customers, bikes received, bikes sent out, repair backlog and income.  Thanks to all of you who worked hard to help make it a success.  That includes our long-time volunteer, MDS students and 3 new volunteers who showed up by sheer grace at the right time with a great attitude ofr getting more people on the bikes they'll ride.  We didn't gather numbers on anything except income for the day which was over $400.

With repairs that we'll be finishing in the coming weeks that will probably climb to $600 or more.  But the real payoff was the excitement of the kids and adults who are riding for either the first time, or the first time in years.

We also exhibited our pedal generator and handed information out at the Impact EARTH fair downtown.  This was also a great opportunity to let people know about us, and we got a lot of business sent to us from it.

There's not a lot of time to relish the success though.  Earth Week is also very busy for us, we'll be tabling at events and donating bikes to various events and we need your help.  Take a look at the calendar and call us at the shop at 304-276-0213 if you can spend some time helping out.  It starts today with the Center for Civic Engagement's Partner Fair where we'll be showcased for providing students with a fun and meaningful service learning experience.  This is just the kickoff for their Week of Engagement, we hope to recruit volunteers to help us fix all the bikes we received this weekend and help prepare bikes and parts for overseas shipment. You can help out too, just ask us how.

13 Apr - It's late, I'm tired so this is short

It's been another busy day, we...
- Retrieved bikes from yesterday's successful bike clinic at Rock Forge Neighborhood house
- Took scrap to the warehouse, brought back bikes for the tradeup day
- Hosted MDS student volunteers who are now feverishly working the publicity for Tradeup Day
Thanks to Duncan Oliver for the generous use of his truck for hauling (again).  I smacked the tail light backing up, but a new one is on the way and I'll install it first thing tomorrow.  Sorry.

In the office I...
- Sent out proposals for classes at Westwood Middle School (bike repair), Clarksburg (SRTS) and Martinsburg (SRTS)
- Completed the final report on last week's SRTS classes in Charleston, will post as soon as I get photos.
- Started drafting a mini-report on the Rock Forge classes


Tomorrow and the rest of the week will be at least as busy with...
- Final arrangements for the Homeschool Bike Clinic in Fairmont Thursday
- Prep for the Tradeup Day Saturday
- Finalizing other class and event arrangements
- Setting up a list serve to blast email notices about shop goings-on

As you can guess we need volunteers!  Call the shop or stop in from 1-5 M-Sat, Wed til 7.  We need you.  Nobody has answered this call yet and those of us that have been doing everything are starting get burned out.
Don't let this happen!
Thanks, Nick

10 Apr - A Busy Day

Good evening,
I'm writing this at the end of a very eventful day.  We had things going on at once:
1) Tau Beta Pi - repairing bikes for Tradeup Day, preparing bikes for overseas shipment.  Shown below is the morning work crew getting bikes stripped for parts to send overseas.

2) Fun Day with MCCAC at Mountaineer Mall - Bike Clinic (assisted by TBP volunteers).  There was a good turnout, shown below is the family that won a bike from Positive Spin in the grand prize drawing.  This is a Latino immigrant family and I suspect this was a big deal for them.  On the left are 2 of our TBP volunteers who helped with the afternoon bike clinic.

3) Usual bike repair and recycling at the shop.  We had  a number of people come in for bikes and repair while we were supervising engineering students who ably cleaned and repaired kids bikes for next Saturday's Bike Tradeup day.  Make your plans now.

4) Supporting the Clarksburg Bike Rodeo (in conjunction with collegiate roadbike racing).  Yesterday we dropped off bikes for them to use on a course they've constructed using the League-recommended layout.  Early reports are that it was a big hit with large crowds of kids.

Thanks to a full complement of VERY enthusiastic volunteers we were able to get it all done with everyone enjoying it fully.  If you were one of them THANK YOU and come back again soon.  If you weren't one of them come in soon and find out how fun and gratifying it can be.
Nick

8 Apr - From Charleston

Good evening,
I'm staying in Charleston, WV tonite after having finished my first Safe Routes classes at Piedmont Elementary.  Taught about 100 kids today, another 67 to go tomorrow and I'm still enjoying it.  I think I may be cut out for this.  My hosts are the Jesse family who are keeping me at their beautiful Southern Mansion on the East end, a block from the school.

 They've also been showing me the sights around town, regaling me with stories about their biking past and the local transportation scene.

While riding downtown today I bumped into my friend Dennis Strawn who I accompanied with the WV contingent at the Bike Summit last month.  He passed on the photograph that was taken of us all with Congressman Rayhall on lobbying day of the summit.

   Tomorrow I'll finish the classes at 1pm, then head to Clarksburg to help set up a class there to be held in conjunction with the bike races on Saturday.  We've still got WAY more work on Saturday than we have volunteers, if you can help out please call me.  There are also opportunities on Monday when we give our class at the Rock Forge Neighborhood house.
    It's been a busy day, I'm off to bed.
Nick

Apr 6 - Last desperate call for volunteers

UPDATE:  I have been unable to find anyone to cover the shop in my absence so we will be closed today through Friday (Apr 7-9), but back to regular times on Saturday Apr 10.  I was able to find someone to answer the cellphone if you need to talk to someone before then.  We apologize for any inconvenience.

Good evening,
Wednesday about 1pm I'll leave for Charleston to give our first "Safe Routes to Schools" bike clinic at Piedmont elementary.  While I'm gone it would be great if someone could take the cellphone and be at the shop from 1-5 Wed-Friday.  Aside from customers there will be volunteers who need to told what to work on.  Any takers?

Also, we are doing several events on Saturday and can use volunteers - particularly for the bike skills clinic at Morgantown Mall.  Call the shop phone if you can help out.
Thanks,
Nick

Apr 2 - Bike of the week

Good afternoon,
This bike was donated yesterday.  It's in pristine condition, I pumped up the tires and took it out for an errand ride.  I've been riding it more today after some minor tuneup and cleanup.  Although I still prefer recumbents, this really brought back some memories as it's the first time I've been on a road bike in about 20 years.  If anyone is interested in this bike it is for sale.  Act fast though, if no one buys it we'll ship it off to someplace where it will get used.
People are starting to bring in their bikes for tuneups and repairs and our showroom bikes are flying out the door.  More people are out on the trail, many of them thanks to your volunteer efforts at Positive Spin.  There is all the other wonder of Spring as well - birds singing, cherry trees blossoming, trees budding and flowers beginning to bloom. 

If you're out this weekend please stop by Our Studio on East Brockway (near Marilla Park) for their big moving sale.  Positive Spin has donated a bike to help them raise funds to continue their education and craft programs.  You can score some good deals and learn more about what they do for recycling and the creative arts.  More at www.ourstudio.org.

1 Apr - Sustainably-built sustainable transportation, car donation

Saw this reference to an article from 2008 about a home-built wooden velomobile.  This is great news to someone like myself with woodworking skills and aversion to fiberglass.
http://www.exacteditions.com/exact/browse/399/442/4594/3/42?dps=

 

Today Positive Spin received it's most unique donation yet during our Spring bike collection. A 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 was apparently dropped off at our shop anonymously during the night, and found sitting next to the ever-growing pile of derelict bicycles this morning at opening time. Like many donated bicycles we receive, this vehicle appears to have never been used. Although the stainless steel is a bit dulled the running gear is in excellent condition and the tires show absolutely no wear. Naturally we'll be stripping the guts out of it so we can put pedals in it and show it in parades. What better demonstration of appropriate use of human power! The WVU cycling team has already been contacted about providing the legpower for this unique showcar. Two riders will pedal, the rest will push from the bumper. The car may also be used for VIP transport during WVU football games from Grand Central Station to Milan Pushkar stadium. Football players themselves will be needed for the climb up the hill to University Ave.
Your Truly,
Folo Prail
Acquisitions Director
Positive Spin