Pedal

How OCB Works
Shop Rates
Hours
Location
Courses
Women on Wheels
Volunteering
Support
Membership
Calendar
OCB FAQ

How OCB works

Our Community Bikes (OCB) is the best known project of PEDAL.  It is a full service repair shop, bicycle recycling depot and an educational workspace for people who wish to repair their own bikes or learn how to do so.  We encourage people to come in to work with us on everything from fixing a flat time to bleeding hydraulic disc brakes.  We have nearly all of the tools, parts and accessories you might need to tweak or complete your dream bike.  Our shelves and bins are stocked with new and used parts, and our mechanics do their best to help you figure out with that weird sound is, or why your 10 speed has been acting like a single speed.

OCB also endeavors to be a safe space for all marginalized people which means that we have a zero tolerance policy on homophobia, racism, sexism, ableism, etc.  As a collectively managed, non-hierarchical organization there is no owner, boss, supervisor or manager.  All staff are mechanics, teachers and students and we are learning and improving all the time as individuals and as an organization.  At the shop there is a sign stating our Ten Commandments.  If it’s your first time at the shop, or you’ve never checked them out before, please take a couple of minutes to read them over.

Shop Rates

There are 3 different levels of diy bicycle repair available at Our Community Bikes:

1.  Tool & Stand Rental Only – 6$ / hour

This one is all about you;  you can use all of the public tools at the shop, you get a stand of your own (or a truing stand) and the clock starts when you sign in at the front.  There is no instruction provided at this level, so you will be using knowledge you already have or figuring it out as you go.  There is a minimum shop charge of 2.50$ for any tool use under 15 minutes.

2.  Tool & Stand Rental + Verbal Instruction – 12$ / hour

This one is the same as above with the addition of verbal help from one (or several) of the amazing people that work at the shop.  As we encourage self motivated learning in the shop, people opting for this choice should be asking their helper when they are lost/confused or lonely as staff will undoubtedly be multitasking.  Ask as many questions as you like, the more the merrier

 3. Tool & Stand Rental + Hands On Instruction – 18$ / hour

The last self-help option with assistance is the same as above only your helper will be right in there with you demonstrating the new moves that you’re learning as well as talking you through the repair.  We encourage this choice for absolute beginners to bicycle repair as it is the best way to become oriented with the space, the tools, how to use them and general dos and don’t of mechanics.

We Do It, You Relax

Since we are also a full fledge bike repair shop, there is also the We Do It, You Relax option for those who are either too busy or not interested/able to do their own repairs or learn about them.

Hours of Operation
OCB is open every day of the week from 11am to 6pm. Days of the week include not only Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, but also Sunday. The only exceptions are the last Friday of every month, where we close for Critical Mass, and some Statutory Holidays.

Location
Our Community Bikes is located at 3283 Main Street in Vancouver, British Columbia. The cross street is 17th Avenue. There is 2 hour parking on Main street out front of the shop, parking on 17th Ave, but no parking around back. For donation drop off, please use the front access.

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Courses and Women On Wheels

We are pleased to offer an Introduction to Mechanics/Maintenance workshop to individuals interested in learning in a more structured, classroom like way. It is hosted at Our Community Bikes on the first Thursday of every month starting at 6:30pm and finished around 9:30pm. We generally believe that a class of 6 people isn’t too snuggly and is the ideal size for effective hands-on learning with a qualified mechanic. The cost is 40$/person which must be paid uponregistration. Please come in to Our Community Bikes during regular open hours to register. It is not possible to secure a spot in the class over the phone.

Women On Wheels (currently held at PEDAL Bike Depot as of May 18th, 2011)
Another night that we are all stoked to offer is the Women On Wheels workshop nights.  Twice a month we open our doors after hours (6:30pm to 9:30pm) to women and trans people in the community to come in and use the shop.  The rates and set up are the same as regular shop hours, but we try to make the experience as comfortable and inviting as possible for people who may feel less than welcome in the male dominated realms of cycling and mechanics.  Right now Women on Wheels is happening the first and third Wednesday of every month and is usually hosted at Our Community Bikes (though sometimes we like to switch it up and host it at the PEDAL Bike Depot).  Please call 604-879-2453 to confirm location.