Donations based repair cafe - what services would you expect
Discussion
A repair cafe (bring your broken stuff and we'll fix it for free / donations) has just started up locally and I've volunteered to help out with bike repairs when I can.
My only real concern is people might expect miracles, so I thought I'd poll here and see what people would expect versus what I'm able to offer.
My plans for what I'll offer is (everything except cables would be on a byo parts basis)
Advice / fault diagnosis
Gear indexing
Brake adjustment / pads
Puncture repair
Cable replacement
Wheel truing
It'll only be 1.5 hours each month so I don't expect to achieve much, plus I am enthusiastic amateur rather than a professional, but it's what I feel I can help with whilst I've got a baby to look after.
My only real concern is people might expect miracles, so I thought I'd poll here and see what people would expect versus what I'm able to offer.
My plans for what I'll offer is (everything except cables would be on a byo parts basis)
Advice / fault diagnosis
Gear indexing
Brake adjustment / pads
Puncture repair
Cable replacement
Wheel truing
It'll only be 1.5 hours each month so I don't expect to achieve much, plus I am enthusiastic amateur rather than a professional, but it's what I feel I can help with whilst I've got a baby to look after.
That’s awesome, I’m sure you’ll be appreciated. I think you’re right with what people can expect, they certainly shouldn’t expect new parts to be fitted but gear/brake adjustments and advice are good. Be prepared for some horrors though that have lived outside and never seen lubricant….
Do you have any qualifications? I am always wary of *helping" after this incident. Will the cafe have liability insurance?
https://road.cc/content/news/82467-family-threaten...
https://road.cc/content/news/82467-family-threaten...
As a little postscript to this I've now done two of these and it's great. Brake cables, brake blocks, gear cables, derailleur replacement, how to fix a puncture, check overs and just advice.
Particularly it's been great seeing kids go from nervously handing over their bike to the big scary man, then their faces light up as I give it back fixed and they can go zooming about again!
Particularly it's been great seeing kids go from nervously handing over their bike to the big scary man, then their faces light up as I give it back fixed and they can go zooming about again!
Good stuff!
My wife helps out at one locally to us completing minor jewellery repairs. She can then advise where to go if something more substantial is required, I’d expect it’s the same for you - advise on parts to bring the following month if it can wait, or a point in the direction for jobs outside the time window.
We have a bike guy and 99% of the time it’s gear and brake adjustments.
My wife helps out at one locally to us completing minor jewellery repairs. She can then advise where to go if something more substantial is required, I’d expect it’s the same for you - advise on parts to bring the following month if it can wait, or a point in the direction for jobs outside the time window.
We have a bike guy and 99% of the time it’s gear and brake adjustments.
The place I help at is in suburban Bristol - quite polarised between very rich and very poor.
On parts and consumables, people donate what they can to the cafe and once the building hire costs and insurance are covered the remainder is going to initially recoup setup costs, then it'll be funding consumables for the repairers.
That's a long way of saying I'm paying for parts at the moment out of my pocket, but I'll only cover cheap stuff - brake pads, cables, puncture patches, oil, wd40. By not buying branded stuff it's cost less than a fiver so far.
Degreasing.. Yeah kind of has to be done for repairs in a way, most of the bikes are either caked in oil or have never seen a drop.
On parts and consumables, people donate what they can to the cafe and once the building hire costs and insurance are covered the remainder is going to initially recoup setup costs, then it'll be funding consumables for the repairers.
That's a long way of saying I'm paying for parts at the moment out of my pocket, but I'll only cover cheap stuff - brake pads, cables, puncture patches, oil, wd40. By not buying branded stuff it's cost less than a fiver so far.
Degreasing.. Yeah kind of has to be done for repairs in a way, most of the bikes are either caked in oil or have never seen a drop.
bristolbaron said:
Did your cafe work on a kids red Islabike and an adults grey Apollo at the last one? Its not the same as our local one but interesting to see what’s happening where!
Yes, my feet I think made it into the photos but my face is sufficiently unappealing so as to be excluded 
In related news, I now see why Islabikes are so respected and I plan to get one for my daughter when she's old enough! that bike is on its 3rd owner and was in lovely condition (or at least it is now it has a front brake again)
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff