Sound advise

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how to start a bike collective

This is from my talk in Oaxaca Mexico about how to start a bike collective:

Hello,

My name is Momoko Saunders.  I live in portland OR and 5 years ago, a group of friends and I started the bike farm. We were just a bunch of idealist mid 20 year olds, realizing there was a need in our city for a bicycle collective. A bicycle collective is a place where you can learn to fix your bike.  

The idea was not new, San Francisco and LA had the bike kitchens and bikerowave, Seattle had the bikery. These bike collectives where in every major cycling city, it only made sense that portland should have one too. So we gathered up a list of interested friends, and we stared to have meetings to talk about how we were going to make one of these in our city. The process was quick. We divvied up responsibilities, some people made a tool list, of all the tools we'd need to run the shop, and other contacted bands they knew and asked if they'd put on benefit shows so we could fund raise. Another group of people set about writing letters to all the bike shops in town, asking for donations of tools or used parts. In a month, we had 3 parties, and raised about $1000. We had about 5 donated bikes, a bucket or two of used parts, and permission to use a friends garage for our shop. We had a work party, painted the walls fresh, and put up our tools. We had our first official meeting on September 7th and by December 1st, we were open and helping people fix their bikes.  

Our beginnings were slow, we helped maybe 20 people in the first month and made all of $97. But every month was better, and now we've been running for 5 years and thousands of people have fixed their bike in our shop.

I tell you this not because I think this is some recipe for creating a collective, but rather to inspire the idea in you that anyone can. I want you to understand that the hardest part about building a collective is showing up. But the reality is, if you show up, and you have tools, you can help people get on bikes. And it's not just helping them fix a flat, it's empowering them, it's saving them money, it's helping your city with it's pollution or crowded streets. It's doing your part to make the world a better place.  

cultural tourism

Going on bike tour is kinda like acceptable slumming.  or "slumming it"

This statement is obviously controversial; its not always the case for sure.  But this morning, as I woke up from a bed, drank from my cafe au lait, and began typing on my computer, I thought to myself, "man living in civilisation is nice."  Maybe it's because class has been on my mind since entering into SF.  I thought deeply about what I had just said.  About how yeah, when I'm camping and riding my bike, I'm kinda pretending like I live outside, like I'm homeless? like a wanderer, drifter.  I'm seeking to shift my world perspective, by removing myself from my comfort zone, I'm hoping to grow from experiences that are out of my day to day.  The same can be said for someone who is "slumming it"

I like this definition best from urban dictionary, especially the reference to pulp's "common people"

Young-ish, wealthy parasites feeding off the lifestyles of the urban working classes in order to appear cool or hard. These hypocrites typically hang with their new poorer friends for a while, find out the daily grind isn't exactly what they had envisioned, get bored or scared or tired of having to actually work for once, and then return to their trust funds. For the quintessential example of slumming, listen to Pulp's album A Different Class, and their song "Common People".

I'm going to be honest for a moment. When I lived in Portland, the years 2008-2009, I believe I was in fact slumming it. Oh I feel like a shit to say this.  Of course, there was other things going on. I can justify to my conscience's content, but I purposefully lived underneath my means to "grow" myself: my work ethic, my appreciation of objects, and my ingenuity.
 

And it worked well actually.  While I never denied my privilege, I did feel like I wanted to hide that part of myself from the people I casually met because I did not want them to judge my actions based on my father's money.  I started to realize what I was doing towards the end of 2009.  I resolved to stop denying/running away from my privilege.  I resolved to use it for the betterment of society.  Because to be given/born into such resources, and to squander them or make no good use of them, that is an even bigger insult to those who do not have then to live in your wealthy society oblivious to the plight of the less fortunate.  

But this is not the point I actually want to make.  I'm thinking about how bike touring is just another way to slum it.  Especially when one thinks of the expense of bike touring.  One must have the ability to take time off work, as well as pay for expensive gear.  And then one goes out into the wild, to show how hard one is, to experience the rough life, and then when you've had enough, pop back to the "real world", wash off the grime.  I do remember when I was in Japan touring that I felt connected to the homeless population there, because we slept in the same places, stayed warm in the libraries together, and were shunned by the rest of society.  But of course, I had credit cards.  (I was also a foreigner and not confined by japanese societal rules, so my life was really nothing like the homeless population...)

On my first bike tour, I sewed into my panniers, "I will learn how to be a graceful drifter"

I wanted to know personally, what it feels like to sleep on streets. But I will never know because "when you're laying in bed at night, watching roaches crawl the wall, if you called your dad he could stop it all" oh, i'll "never be like common people, never know whatever common people know"

I don't know what to do with this thought.  Stop bike touring? No!  try to lesson my cultural tourism? Yeah, in certain ways that's happening, bike touring is actually becoming more of a literal form of transportation, a means to get from point A to point B.  The next bike tour, from Chicago to New Orleans, it won't be about self learning, it will be about a fun way to get from Chicago to New Orleans.  It will be about the people I'm riding with.  

I think that is what a lot of people see tour as.  So I'm not saying everyone is doing what I did.  And I did start this conversation by saying that bike touring is an acceptable form of slumming it.  Because it doesn't exactly hurt anyone, I don't think?

Ah, this isn't well thought out or written, but it's just something I'm thinking about.  SF has got me thinking politics. And the last two years has been me coming to terms with my privilege, and owning it, and then making something productive out of it, i hope.

End in site

Man, a lot has happened since 2010. But it doesn't feel that long ago. It started with bike tour in Japan, and now the end of this bike tour is in site. A lot of the past three years had been in preparation for this ride. And I purposefully didn't think about plans beyond this.  But now, uncertainty washes over me. I bike long days with nothing but my thoughts, and sure, I have a few things figured out. 

I know what I want. I have no idea how I'll get it. But experience tells me that knowing what you want is the most important part. Still. This mind of mine needs a plan. One week left. Plus a few days. And then it back to working so hard there's no time for thought, and the carrot that this ride has been for me. It won't be there. 

During the hard times of the last two years, and yeah, there have been fucking hard times. I'd lie in my bed and say, alaska, soon I'll be riding my bike and nothing you've said will matter. I will be happy and I will be strong. 

And I have been happy, and fucking amazingly strong. And the words of self doubt roll off my back. 

But I don't feel free. What needs to get done is hard to realize. That probably means its the truth. 

Ok. I'll do it. I always do what needs to get done. 

The road to Newport.

Two nights ago, I stayed with two wonderful warm showers hosts in Corvallis, Mary Ellen and Dennis.  They told me about a back route to the coast, and where I could avoid the crazy traffic of highway 20, and also ride the Yaquina Bay Rd, which had to be some of the most beautiful riding I've ever done in Oregon.

Corvallis is a little gem, that i really had no idea existed.  A cute town, with the Willamette gushing through, it seem like it would be a lovely place to raise a family, or spend some nurturing quiet time during for college.

I've got a lot of thoughts in my head at the moment, I've had a lot of good conversations.  mostly about community building and how enriching it is, and how in dire need we are of it.  Currently, it's 8:14, and I know I must get on the road to avoid the bulk of the 101 traffic.  sometimes bike touring is hard this way, always pushing.  Since I have a hard set date in LA, I'm contemplating taking it a bit more easy, and taking a train to make up the difference.  I just want to write more.  Somehow, I'm not finding the time.

I will find the time.

  

Beautiful Rickreall

I was amazed and awed by the beauty of Dave and Rachel's wedding. I can only hope that if/when I get married, that I will be part a love so rich and whole. I love them both and I'm so excited for what they do with their life together. Mmmuh!

Yay cooking in a kitchen!

First century!

My ass is on fire! Ha! 100 miles, finally done it. I wasn't thinking I would when I woke up this morning, but after the cycling gods have me 20 miles of glorious down hill and great tail winds, I had to go with it.

I'm celebrating with a beer and a motel room! Oh fuck the budget tonight! I dollar for every mile :) yeah, I feel good. Really fucking good. A meal and a shower is going to make this all wonderful!

Progress

Arrived at Williams lake after a long, hot day in the saddle. First good long day on my own. I didn't drink enough water and got a head ache, duh momoko. But I will be better. I got a late start, that's always a bad sign for me. So to make up for it, I pushed thro with short breaks. But I made it, here, before sun set, enjoying? an rv camp.

Sakura's supposed to come, I hope that happens.

I'm tired and salty, but strong. Tomorrow starts with a hill, and probably more of the same rolling hills like today.

Solo riding makes me blog more.

Shit finally got good

I'm eating so many blueberries!

The sun has finally come out.

Meat flavored chewing gum

So many fucking mosquitos!

And really, there were more. You can only see the ones resting on the tent, there's maybe double buzzing around.

Boya lake

So beautiful.

Exhausted!

On to the cassiar highway!

Forest fires

Yum, whiskey and hot coco

The pocket shots finally come out, we needed these after a day of thunder showers and two closed camp grounds in a row. First night of wild camping. Not so bad on a bed of moss.

And then it rained

And thundered and lightening, and head winds, oh the head winds.

My therma rest has had enough of me

It's popped!

Quinoa and dried mushrooms

We survive because of this:

They wait for me as I sleep. Literally 100's

Yukon, leaving destruction bay

These were epic days.

In white horse

Yukon!

My ride!

Lake love. (dead man lake)

Beautiful road!

Yay Canada

Good day of riding

Birch lake, 65 miles out of Fairbanks. We're heading west and south. Into Canada in a few days.

To Nennana

It's like banana.

The roads been crazy flat and beautiful. Warm, dry, and pretty uninhibited.

Tomorrow Fairbanks. Yay!

Denali

Blog, 

Do I force writing?  No. 

When I have something to say I will.  Till then, a mild account of my comings and goings, just for the record

We set off a day late from anchorage on July 2nd. The mileage has been mild since we have a new tourer on the trip. This is proving to be difficult as Alaska is a rough terrain. 

First night just out side of wassilla, next night talkeetna, then Byers lake, and cantwell on the 5th, Reilly's creek in Denali national park, wonder lake and then Reilly's again tonight, the 8th. The last two days have been rainy and cold, but before this the weather has been amazing. 

We got to see Denali mountain, which apparently is pretty rare. It is three times the size of most of the mountain range that surrounds it. It stands as a giant amongst peaks that still reach 8000 feet. 

It feels magical to see it, but somehow, I feel less than I thought I would. Not less about the mountain really, when it first came into view I was giddy with excitement. But the park itself, it might be the weather. It might be that this park is best enjoyed as a backpacker, and if I really wanted to enjoy it on my bike, I ought to be camping off the beaten path.  Not in standard camp grounds even if they are still remote. 

We took our bikes on the bus to wonder lake, thinking we might ride them back 60miles to the next camp ground. But it started to pour and freeze and with gravel road and over 5000 ft of climbing, we opted just to take the bikes back the next day on the bus. I'm not sad I didn't ride, but i feel a little empty about the experience. 

The bus ride was nice, tho long. 6 hours. I saw 9 bear, a heard of caribou, a moose, a hawk and an owl. Other people seemed to be more entranced than I. It's got to be the weather, if it were sunny and warm I'd be much happier. As Erin says, I'm solar powered. 

So there, I didn't really want to write much cause I knew it'd be kinda downish. But I did it anyway, and y'all will just have to deal. 

I can't wait to start riding hard. Tomorrow to Nennana. 70+. I'm excited to sweat. 

Wowee! Denali!!

Zoom in! Better pictures to come! This is the best my phone can do but peter's got a real camera!

The day is beautiful, and the mountains rise ahead

Looking forward to biking through that mess up there.

I approve

Gardettos nutella sandwich!

Alaska

I'm trying out mobile posting. So posts might be small but frequent.

I'm in Alaska, I've decided that grape fruit is a new favourite touring food. After a few weeks of Luna bars and cliff, I'm done with processed sugar and constantly feeling my mouth is pealing from the inside. Graphic I know, but this is what it feels like.

By the way, did I mention I'm in Alaska? I've met up with my three fellow touring partners, we're staying at the lovely house of Linda and Angie, nested against the eastern mountains of anchorage.

The sun sets at 1am and rises at 3am. I feel I'm in perpetual summer, it's beautiful. Cotton wood spreads seeds gently floating thro the air. Magical.

We set out for Denali in two days.
A bounty of pictures to come. Till then, I'll leave you with the view from the plane. It shocked me when I saw it. Preparing for landing, I look out the window to the most magnificent sight and it wasn't till this moment that I realized the grandness of Alaska and what I'm about to do.

There is a nervous bubble in my belly. I'm tingly. I smile to myself at every moment of reflection. This is going to be wonderful.

it's started

ok

so i'm going to blog!

so much thought is pouring through my head, an outline?

bikebike, i rode to bikebike! ~400 miles, from portland to Vancouver BC

(it was amazing)

shall i just tell the story? i never feel like i know what to say.  We left portland on friday the 15th, four new friends, Darren, Taylor, Marjorie and myself.  I was the hub, having met all these people before, (Darren being a long time friend and past housemate) but for everyone else it was a new beginning.  

we gelled, even with a bike break down occurring with in the first hour (Taylor’s derailer hanger broke in half) and a two hour late start, we laughed and road and got to know each other.  

hmm, i just can’t write this way, sorry y’all, it has nothing to do with my feelings towards the story, only my complete inability to capture it.  hopefully some pictures will help...

did you get it? do you feel the love? do you feel the wild beautiful weather and green landscapes.   There are these roads of trees too, shaded roads with bits of light streaming through, pollen floating through the air, and if the breeze caught you, and you happened to have the right song playing, the world went slow mo, and i glided.  

and luckily you can’t see too close, in the pictures of me reaching the tops of hills, i’ve got too many photos of that.  when people ride harder than you, they reward you by cheering you on as you reach the top, they snap a photo of you in your moment of exhaust, is that sweat or tears momoko, i can’t tell.

We rode 6 days, an average of 65 miles a day.  As we got closer to bikebike/vancouver, the magnitude of what i said i would do started to weigh on me.  I picked up my computer and 3 video recorders in Bellingham, i got an international data plan, i got ready for bikebike!

and yes, i’m excited, but the ! at the end of bikebike! is actually just part of the name. 

at this moment, i’m slightly drained. 

bikebike! is the most magical thing i’ve ever seen.  why, because there is so much energy, life, and love.  Four days long, it starts with a party, then 8 hours of workshops, then a party, then another 8 hours of workshops, then a bigger party, then a breakfast no one can wake up for, workshops that are hung-overly attended, and a circular discussion of what has happened and where it will happen again next year.  

it’s complex and beautiful, multi cultural, multi national, and for the most part, it’s all done with volunteer work and love.  people say things like “bikebike! is my favourite vacation” while they are elected to a minimum year long commitment to be a working group for bikebike!  this is the place that your community bike project get it’s rejuvenating juice.   Like zelda’s magic potion, but this is where all the fairies come together and ooze.  

and it’s funny for me, this is probably a place where i am the most sober.  I barely drink despite surrounding debauchery, i don’t want to miss anything.  i want to remember every conversation.

talking about how bike collectives are like organism, and the process of existing, and struggling is much like an evolution/survival of the fittest, and so, if we make a start up kit, and we fund new shops, we run the risk of denying the collective the opportunity to grow and develop and possibly even come up with some new way of organizing that makes them stronger and more resilient.  Cause we talk constantly of organizing ourselves, of not reinventing the wheel, but it makes me wonder, what if the wheels not done being thought about, it’s not perfect, maybe we ought to reinvent at every moment to have a chance of achieving something better.  

but re-invention without and understanding of the past is often wasteful, and there is a philosophy that thinks through “how to run an effective collective” and that philosophy is not that much different for collectives of any kind, or businesses, or homes, or relationships...

and i could talk about this for hours, and guess what, at bikebike! i do.