Located on McDonald St, the cooperative is here to help fix bikes for people with the help of our volunteer mechanics, get people set up on bikes that we build from donated parts and frames, and to empower individuals to fix their own bikes using our tools. All these things are done with the focus of helping to support the cycling community here in Blacksburg and encourage cycling as a healthy, alternative means of transportation.
OK, now that we’ve covered our grand-picture jargon, what is co-op actually like? We’re really just an informal group of old and new friends who like to talk shop, wrench pimp rides, ride bikes, and drink PBR. We’re as likely to be practicing track-stands or bike polo as grilling out or building bikes during co-op. And we don’t bite… at least most of us don’t bite.
How does this all work?
Our volunteers fix the broken bikes donated to us. Once we fix up an old bike, we post it on Craigslist for sale.
If you’re looking for a cheap used bike or a personalized bicycle, you can build your own bike at co-op. We have lots of old frames in our storage shed. For $60, you can pick out any frame & have access to any used parts at co-op to build your own bike. Yes, we will help you build it… but you have to do a lot of the work yourself. New mechanics can expect to take 12-15 hours to build their first bike.
If you’d like to build up a frame that you already own (or are looking at a broken, cheap bicycle on ebay), you can become a member for $30 and get access to all of our tools and mechanical savvy. Again, we do ask for some sort of exchange if you take used parts.
Looking for some replacement parts for your current bike? We have lots of old parts sitting around. In exchange, we really appreciate time, money, or parts donations. Your donations keep us alive.
I (Andy) liked this quote too: “The more I think about U.S. domestic transportation problems… the more I see an increased role for the bicycle in American life.” George H.W. Bush, U.S. ambassador to China, 1975
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