Green Bike Co-op Class

Gale, Jeri & I had our "last" bike mechanic class at Waldport's Green Bike Co-op tonight.  This is a great program and we've really learned a lot and feel much more confident in adjusting/fixing our bikes.  Actually, Jeri assisted Rick Hill in teaching the class, and Gale & I were the students.  Rick has said he will continue with the class if we want (we all "want") in April.  I'm finding I really enjoy working on bikes.  It's something totally different than anything I've ever done, and I still have a lot to learn, but it's actually starting to make sense to me.  The Green Bike Co-op is under the auspices of Seashore Family Literacy:  http://www.seashorefamily.org/

Because of other obligations my training has really gotten off course this week.  Hopefully, I'll get out for 3 or 4 hours tomorrow.  If my daughter's bike is not too tall for me I may be able to ride a bit while I visit her in Colorado for about 10 days; otherwise, I'm going to have a lot of catching up to do when I get home!

Green Bike Program in Waldport

Tonight I drove down to Waldport, OR to hang out at the Green Bike Program in Waldport.  This is a terrific program that fixes donated, generally abused, bikes to put out into the community on the "honor system".  Many of the bikes go to homeless people or students who otherwise could not afford a bike.  Other bikes are painted green and placed in different locations around Waldport to be used and returned by whoever wants to borrow them.  The program also offers a platform for young people to learn the skills necessary to repair bikes.  When I am in town I try to go down there at least once each week to learn bike mechanics.  Next week, Rick Hill, who is a volunteer extraordinaire, and the person who makes this program so successful, is starting a 3 week class for women to learn bike mechanics.  I am really looking forward to this class, and feel it will add to my confidence to take off on a cross country bike ride.  The Green Bike Program operates under the umbrella of Seashore Family Literacy.  For more information see the Seashore Family Literacy website: http://www.seashorefamily.org/green-bikes/