A derelict Shogun road bike gets new life as a Single Speed at the Bike Oven
Bike Oven mechanical wunderkind, Harv, has posted a spot on summary of what it feels like in the Bike Oven these days. We are BUSY! His article is posted on the C.I.C.L.E. blog and is entitled “It’s Happening As Fast As It Can“.
As oil prices have shot up, the bike industry cannot provide what people need to use to get around town, and the result is a mad-cap version of a gold rush at the Bike Oven.
Here is what Harv has to say about the whole deal:
Here at the Bike Oven, we can barely keep up. The demand for bikes and repairs is overwhelming. People are digging up those ten-speeds and bringing them in for refurbishing (sometimes a daunting task) or conversion. But more often they want ready to ride bikes (we call them RTRs at the Oven). As fast as we can twirl the wrenches, we take the Sow’s Ear donated bikes and turn them into Silk Purses. The most popular and sought after bikes are the single speed road bike and urban commuter conversions. As a training exercise and during slow moments (rare!) we take suspensionless mountain bikes and convert them using parts that have been stripped from the hopeless cases that have been donated.
Continue reading ‘It’s Happening As Fast As It Can’
| April 18, 2008 |
| 8:30 am | to | 10:00 am |
The Bike Oven’s initial reaction to news that we are going to be recognized for helping the environment, “We better recycle this can.”
Our local councilman, Ed Reyes (1st District), is going to give the Bike Oven a bit of special recognition this coming Friday, April 18, 2008 from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at an Environmental Awards Breakfast in the Tom Bradley Tower downtown.
If you’re interested in being there on the Bike Oven’s behalf, shoot me an email at ubrayj02 @ yahoo.com
If anyone has any idea about what sort of background information we should offer up, post it here, or email it to me. I’ll work on something to submit on Wednesday, April 15, 2008 - but I can use all the help I can get on this one! The big question: should we mention how cheap wine and Mexican cookies helped fuel the Bike Oven in its early days?
If inspiration strikes here is what the staff putting the award ceremony together need:
“… background information on the history of Bike Oven, when it was established, your service to the community, and any other pertinent or interesting info on Bike Oven, etc.?”
Bicycle Advisory Committee Meeting *New Location* - The April 1st meeting of the BAC will be held at the Griffith Park Ranger Station Auditorium, 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, at 7 PM.
The Los Angeles Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC) was formed in 1974 by Mayor Bradley in order to address bicycling issues in the City of Los Angeles.
Today the BAC advises the Los Angeles Department of Transportation and Planning Department on issues relevant to bicycling for transportation and the implementation of the City’s Bicycle Plan. The BAC also advises the Department of Recreation and Parks on issues regarding recreational bicycling.
For more information check out the LABAC’s homepage.
The Bicycle Kitchen recently had a huge bunch of children’s bikes donated to them. Since they are not in the business of handing out free kids bikes, they tapped a bunch of local bicycle collectives and advocacy groups to see if we could hook up some needy youngsters in our neighborhoods.
The Bike Oven received a stack of around 15 bikes, and we’re working out the details of a giveaway to some deserving organization, or group of kids, in our area. The bikes even came with helmets - which is awesome, because kids are not allowed to ride bikes in California without a helmet.
Councilman Reyes’ office might be able to help us out with some fun schwag, or just a little it of press. The folks at C.I.C.L.E. have a few bicycles from this shipment as well - and plans are in the works to coordinate some sort of training class for the kids that get these bikes. I want to hook these new ridazz up with some blinky lights.
If you’ve got a good idea, or a good cause, throw up a link in the comment section or shoot us an email at info at bikeoven.com.
For Immediate Release Contact: Jordann Turner – (213) 978-1379 Michelle Mowery – (213) 972-4962
City of Los Angeles Bicycle Master Plan Update
Public Meetings to be Held February and March 2008 at Four Neighborhood Locations Los Angeles (January 22, 2008) - The City of Los Angeles will be holding a series of public workshops to discuss the Bicycle Master Plan Update, during the months of February and March 2008.
City of Los Angeles Bicycle Plan provides a guide to develop a Citywide bicycle transportation system. The intent of the Bicycle Plan is to expand bicycle usage through further development of bicycle riding facilities, improvement of existing facilities, and creation of bicycle support programs. Ideally, the bicycle network will increase bicycle usage in place of automobiles.
Continue reading ‘Los Angeles Bicycle Master Plan’
| November 27, 2007 |
| 7:00 pm | to | 10:00 pm |
Bike Oven regulars Manny, Brian, and Arthur hanging out behind the front desk on Sunday, November 4, 2007.
Meeting to take place on Tuesday, November 27, 2007 at 7 p.m.
Continue reading ‘Bike Oven Volunteer Meeting’
The Situation:
For at least the last two months the L.A. River bike path, which runs from Fletcher Dr. in Atwater Village to Victory Blvd. in Burbank (at least the main portion does) has been dark. Even with top quality bike lights, this is a very dangerous situation for anyone that rides the path at night. Not only is it just dark, but the headlights from northbound I-5 traffic are blinding, creating a double threat.
There are lights all along this portion of the path, but vandals have busted open the access panels and stolen the highly sought after copper wiring to sell for scrap. Copper prices have risen and apparently you can get quite a bit of money for it in various forms. Despite pleas for help, the city, more specifically The Bureau of Street Lighting has failed to solve the problem.
So far inquiries to the Bureau Of Street Lighting have accomplished NOTHING. Their answer is that they have attempted to fix the lights, only to have the copper wiring stolen again. They are basically giving us the bureaucratic two step and not making this a priority. Surely with all of the city’s resources, they can come up with a solution quickly, before someone gets hurt…or worse.
What Can We Do About It?:
Bureau of Street Lighting
1149 S. Broadway, Suite 200
Los Angeles, CA 90015
…until the problem is solved.
If this was on city street in a rich neighborhood, you can bet this would have been taken care of a long time ago. Apparently bicyclists are a low priority. Let’s change that people!!!
FOR MORE INFO - CLICK HERE
I had mentioned earlier that the LACBC was working with the Bike Oven and the Los Angeles Department of City Planning to send in a proposal to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health to be awarded a “PLACE” grant.
Well, I slacked on the proposal writing, and the due date (Tuesday, November 13, 2007) didn’t leave me much time to work on the proposal.
So, that’s it. We gave up. No more grant writing, no money, nothing.
I am so depressed.
Seattle memorial for cyclist Bryce Lewis, who died Sept. 7, when he was struck and killed by a garbage truck making a right turn through a bike lane. Photo: Alan Berner for the Seattle Times.
Both Seattle and Portland are a very bike friendly towns. But in the past 2 months, both cities have had tragic truck vs. bicycle related deaths, and strangely both happened in the same manner. Both incidents were caused by garbage trucks turning right on a green light across bike lanes. Both times riders crashed into the trucks. There was a memorial ride in Seattle.
If it can happen in a bike friendly town, better watch your ass here… where they don’t even think we should be on the streets….
Ride safe, be careful out there.
| October 27, 2007 |
| 9:00 am | to | 12:00 pm |
Calling all bicyclists who live/work/bike/walk in Chinatown, Lincoln Heights, and Cypress Park! Livable Places is doing a plan to make conditions safer to bike and walk to the Metro Gold Line Chinatown and Lincoln/Cypress stations. Specifically, our plan focuses on a 1/2-mile radius around these stations, especially the areas that are currently industrial. We’re doing bike and walk events where we encourage folks who live/work/walk/bike in the area to attend and give us your input. These are free and include lunch. If you can’t make these, there will be additional public input opportunities next year as we near a draft plan.
Chinatown & Lincoln/Cypress Bikeabout
Saturday October 27, 9am - 12 noon
Chiparaki Cultural Center
1635 North Spring Street (entrance on Baker), Los Angeles 90012
To discuss this event, visit the Midnight Ridazz forum post for the Chinatown & Lincoln/Cypress Bikeabout.
Oh yes! There is going to be one additional event related to this project:
Lincoln/Cypress Walkabout
Saturday November 3, 9am -12 noon
Good Will Southern California
342 San Fernando Road, Los Angeles 90031
*Child care provided*
If you would like to volunteer at any of these events contact Jennifer Allen at jallen@livableplaces.org
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