Bicycle Bee kicks off Tomorrow!

Hey kids - the time has finally come: we're kicking off the bicycle bee
tomorrow.

If you haven't heard, the bike bee is a community created set of bike
related workshops, coupled with a weekend long bike buildathon (don't have
a bike, but need one? come on down and build one up) and custom/chopper
buildathon (who doesn't want to build a chopper..?!). All workshops and
bike building are by donation, but NO ONE will be turned away for financial
reasons. We've been working hard to plan this event and are excited to
invite you all down!

So why don't you come down and learn, build, and play with us? The
festivities kick off with a potluck and group ride (highlighting the
locations to be used) at 6 pm at intermission studios - 1009 E Cordova
(Just north of hastings, and just west of clark drive).

The buildathons and workshops kick off saturday at 11 am, and run until
sunday evening. Come down and take part in one of these rad workshops!
(I've attached a schedule outlining when and where each activity takes
place as well). For more & updated info, visit us on the web!
http://bicyclebee.blogspot.com/

Bike Anatomy 101 & 102 (by Leanne, Lilo & Skylar) "What's that thingie? No,
not that one, that other thingie? Well, what does it doooo?" Learn to speak
bike. Yes, you can.

Wheel Trueing (by Leo) No word of a lie.

Bike Basics (by Jett Grrl) For women, boys welcome too:
each session 1/2 hour, followed by questions Bike Basics: Flat fix Bike
Basics: Drive train maintenance and assessment Bike Basics: Brakes

Fix Your Flat (Louise) Perhaps the most important bit of bike know-how in
the history of humankind.

Cycling Rain Cape and Foot Covers (by Pol) Workshop 2hrs. Bring fabric or
paper to workshop. This session will provide examples of raincapes and
booties. Patterns for cutting and basic instructions will be provided for
this beginner sewing project which will yield an excellent rain outfit
suitable for the rainiest climates. If you have material you can trace the
pattern directly onto it and save a step. Bring 3.5 or 4 metres of
lightweight coated or water proof nylon. Recognize this type of nylon
because it does not fray where it is cut and I usually buy it at Dressew
for $2 to $4 per metre in the basement or more in colours you might like
upstairs for more money. Or bring paper (40"x70" it is ok to tape pieces of
paper to get this and newspaper even will work) to trace the pattern onto
to bring home for when you get fabric and prepare to sew. The lighter and
thinner the fabric the smaller the cape and booties roll up when not in
use. Imagine all of your raingear being the size of a waterbottle and
costing less than $10 plus your time!

Bike LED Repair & Hackorama (by Ian) workshops will ideally be small.
preregistration recommended.

tools/supplies are available, but bring any of the following to supplement
the group if you have them -Broken / unwanted LED lights <- the more the
better! -Pencil type soldering irons (NOT the guns - too powerful) -exacto
knife, strippers, cutters, pliers / forceps -solder

a variety of topics covered, depending on attendees area of interest.
change the colour of your LEDs, extend their wires up into your helmet,
repair them, etc.

Basic electronics background: Ohm's law, considerations when changing
colours, current limiting, series vs parallel

About the LED: forward voltage, visually determining polarity, looking
through the resin, looking at the leads, schematic symbol, handling
precautions, current requirements

Soldering techniques: LED extensions (wires)

NiMH vs alkaline batteries, voltage issues, possible resistor mods for
making lights work with NiMH, charging / chargers

Voltage multipliers

Exotic stuff: luxeons, lithium ion / polymer batteries, spoke POV, EL Wire

Changing light propagation characteristics: misleading published specs on
bike lights (lenses increase viewing distance, but only in narrow
direction), filing the LED dome off, sanding lenses

Regular maintenance and repair: troubleshooting (why does light come on
spontaneously), cleaning corroded contacts, vaseline

Parts sources & resources: Digi-Key, LS Diodes, Lee's ElectronicsRP
Electronics, Active Electronics, Polar Batteries, online tutorials,
projects, etc, e-books (Evil Genius, etc)

Bike Repair Basics (by Omar & co.) More earth-shattering knowledge, made
bite-sized & wholesome.

Driver Re-education Workshop (by Ifny) Inside every car, there is a human
being trapped inside. Can we liberate them? Diplomacy, Propaganda, Driver
Relations. A Frank Discussion on the Seduction of the Car People.

&

Share the road, assh*le!: a Road Rage Primer Tips for dealing
constructively with the angry, the sleepy & the dopey. Change comes from
within (or from your friendly neighbourhood biker).

Anti-theft Techniques and Devices (by Ifny & co.) Your seat. Your wheel.
Your bike. Learn how to keep your bike yours. Locking technique discussed.
Also covered: Changing quick release wheels to less tempting ones, & seat
fasteners.

CarFree Cities Conference Presentation/Forum; inspired by the recent
conference in Bogota, Col umbia (by RusL)

Bike Art - brought to you by the Recyclistas from Victoria!

Bike Jewelry - (more Recyclista axshun)

Forum: A Vancouver Bicycle Hub, what is it & do we want it? (by RusL, Jane
& co.)

Cycling Advocacy (by Bonnie Fenton) Pothole in the road? Driver freakin you
out? Dangerous intersection? Learn how to make this city better! Names,
ranks, serial numbers, Bonnie (of the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition) has
it all!

Weekend Bicycle Build-a-Thon If you don't have a bike, or if you don't have
a working bike, bring what you have, even if it's only the desire to ride.
We can help set you up with everything from a wheel to a frame to a whole
bike in need of love. We'll help you tune up your new pony too. Why? Cuz
the road needs riders. (Mechanics/facilitators: Leanne, Emily, Kirsten,
Milo, Omar, Elaine, Androo and...?)

Weekend Custom Bike Chopperific Build-a-Thon Ok, so here's your chance to
free your inner circus. Want to make strangers giggle? Children point? Want
to bring a little doubletake to the neighbourhood? We'll guide you through
the design/chopping/welding of your very own custom bike.
(Welders/facilitators: Robert, Donald, RusL, Skylar, and...?)