Reno Bike Project

TTT-NT-WT: Bianchi Alfana. Bianchi was founded in Italy in 1885. Milan, Italy. Edoardo Bianchi, a 21-year-old medical instrument maker, started his bicycle-manufacturing business. Bianchi did a lot of work, pioneering the front caliper brake, making both wheels the same size, using a drivetrain, pneumatic tires, etc. Tons of very early bicycle stuff. In 1895 he built a bike for Queen Margaret, Margherita of Savoy. Margherita Maria Teresa Giovanna di Savoia. She became Queen by marrying her first cousin Umberto. As queen, Margherita worked to protect the monarchy against republicans and socialists, and she gathered a circle of conservative intellectuals and artists known as the “Circolo della regina” (Circle of the Queen) in her famous literary salon known as “giovedì della regina” (Queen’s Thursdays), where she benefited artists and writers. Among her circle of artists were the notoriously democratic and republican poet Giosuè Carducci, who famously wrote an ode to her when she became queen, and Marco Minghetti, who functioned somewhat as her guide in cultural circles, as well as her confidant. Now I know what you are thinking, Margherita, Italy, and yes, the Margherita Pizza was named after her. There is also the “Margherita Hut” named after her that is the highest hut in Europe. Not to be confused with the “Margarita Hut” in Little Elm Texas. As a nationalist, she did not hesitate to support the First Italo-Ethiopian War in 1896, in contrast to Umberto, who was hesitant. As a central figure of the conservative forces, she supported the repressive actions toward the rioters in Milan in 1898, which led to the Bava Beccaris massacre. In 2011 some of her jewelry was auctioned off at Christie’s, I was trying to check it out but also in 2011 another Queen’s jewelry was being auctioned off at Christie’s, and Dame Elizabeth Taylor will not play second fiddle. Hollywood’s Crown Jewels dominated all of the headlines, breaking records for the auction house. Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor, RIP. Bianchi Alfana, 56cm, $200. Come down and take it for a spin.

TTT-NT-WT: Mt Shasta Tempest. Mt Shasta (the bike company) was a subsidiary of GT and they made a variety of bike between 1990 & 1993. Mt Shasta (the mountain) is a potentially active stratovolcano in the Cascade Range in Siskiyou County, CA. More importantly it is associated with many legends and theories about aliens, lost civilizations, and other paranormal beings. According to local indigenous tribes, namely the Klamath people, Mt Shasta is inhabited by the spirit chief Skell, who descended from heaven to the mountain’s summit. Mt Shasta has also been a focus for non-Native American legends. Writing in 1858 Philip Sclater published one of the foundational texts of biogeography, the science that studies the distribution of species and ecosystems across space and time. But there was one little primate that didn’t neatly fit into Sclater’s division of the world into six biogeographical realms. He had found fossils of lemurs in both Madagascar and India, even though those places belong to two wholly separate realms. (In today’s biogeographical parlance, those would be the Afrotropical and Indomalayan zones, respectively.) So he did what other scientists of the day did when faced with similar disconnects: He proposed a vast land bridge that had once linked Madagascar to India. And he gave that hypothetical continent, now swallowed by the Indian Ocean, an appropriate name: Lemuria. In 1870, German biologist Ernst Haeckel suggested that Lemuria could be the ancestral home of humanity, as a way of explaining “missing links” in the fossil record of early humans. In the 1880s, Lemuria graduated from scientific hypothesis to pseudoscientific fact when Helena Blavatsky, the founder of theosophy, integrated it into her esoteric, proto-New Age belief system. Building on Haeckel’s theory, she proposed that Lemurians were the third “root race” of humanity. In the American imagination, Lemuria became most closely associated with Mt Shasta in CA, which according to Frederick Spence Oliver was the last refuge of the survivors of sunken Lemuria, who lived there in a jewel-encrusted underground city called Telos. Al Wegener would disagree. See S17 E4 of Ancient Aliens for more.

RBP’s shop manager, Manny, has been putting together a bike education series for the shop staff in order to provide them with some professional development opportunities, and to keep RBP up to date with industry standards. In our first two classes, Casey with .and.go.slow taught our staff the ins and outs of building bike wheels! We spent one night learning how to lace a wheel, and the second night how to tension and true a wheel. Casey made it look a lot easier than it was, but through trial and error we all came out with a (mostly) built wheel, and are excited to try it again. Come through the shop if you want to talk spokes and rims with the mechanic educators! Thanks .and.go.slow for the great workshop!

TTT-NT-WT: GIANT RS950. Giant was established in 1972 in Dajia, Taichung County in Taiwan (now part of Taichung City). A major breakthrough came in 1977 when Giant’s chief executive, Tony Lo, negotiated a deal with Schwinn to begin manufacturing bikes as an OEM, manufacturing bicycles to be sold exclusively under other brand names as a private label. As bike sales increased in the U.S., and after workers at the Schwinn plant in Chicago went on strike in 1980, Giant became a key supplier, making more than two-thirds of Schwinn bikes by the mid-1980s, representing 75% of Giant’s sales. Taiwan’s history is marked by a series of foreign conquests and migrations, and the island has been ruled by several different powers over the centuries.The indigenous people obvi have been there for thousands of years and are still there. The Dutch East India Company established a colony in Taiwan in 1624 and the Dutch ruled for about 40 years. The Spanish established a colony in 1626 but were defeated by the dutch in 1642. The Qing Dynasty annexed Taiwan in 1683 after defeating the descendants of Koxinga. Japan acquired Taiwan in 1895 after the first Sino-Japanese War. The Republic of China (ROC) took control of Taiwan in 1945 after Japan surrendered in WW2. In 1949 Chinese communist armies defeated Nationalist forces on the mainland and established the People’s Republic of China there. The Nationalist government and armies fled to Taiwan, again resulting in the separation of Taiwan from China. In the ensuing years the ROC claimed jurisdiction over the Chinese mainland as well as Taiwan, although in the early 1990s Taiwan’s government dropped this claim to China. The Chinese government in Beijing has maintained that it has jurisdiction over Taiwan and has continued to propound a one-China policy—a position that few countries in the world dispute. There has been no agreement, however, on how or when, if ever, the two entities will be reunified.

TTT-NT-WT: BRIDGESTONE RB-2. In 1906 as a seventeen year old, Shojiro Ishibashi took over his family clothing business in Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture in Japan. Shojiro’s ambitious dream was to dedicate his life to contributing to the nation of Japan. His list of accomplishments is impressive, including: specialization in tabi Japanese traditional socks, reform of the apprentice system, use of a standardized pricing system, creation of Jika-tabi (socks with rubber soles used as work shoes), development of the rubber shoe business and overseas production. Using the capital accumulated from Jika-tabi and the rubber shoe business, Shojiro decided to make tires, which was an industry that didn’t exist in Japan at that time. He believed in the future of motorized transportation in Japan, and he was adamant about producing tires domestically. In 1931 the Bridgestone Tire Co. was established. Originally the tire division for the Nihon Tabi Company. In 1934 full-fledged production of tires began. In 1935 full-fledged production of GOLF BALLS began. Anticipating the future potential of tires for passenger cars and the international development of the business, founder Shojiro Ishibashi used an English translation of his surname for the name of the company. In 1937 the head office moved to Tokyo. Then WW2 came to town. Wartime regulations were in effect throughout Japan, which resulted in nearly all of the company’s output being used to satisfy military demand. Although 1945 saw the end of armed conflict, the company had been directly impacted by the war and faced a challenge to rebuild its business operations.The Bridgestone Tokyo Headquarters building was destroyed during an aerial bombing raid, and all of its overseas assets were lost. Fortunately, the plants in Kurume and Yokohama escaped unscathed, and the company was able to restart production immediately after the war ended. The Asahi plant (Saga Prefecture) moved its production from aircraft tires to bicycles in the aftermath of the war, and this led to the establishment of the Bridgestone Cycle Company. RB-2 59cm $500.

This summer, our Mechanic Educator, Quinn Lucas competed in a series of races called the California Enduro Series, and won first place in the Expert Men (18-29) category! The California Enduro Series is made up of six races in total that span all across California. The final race was in Ashland, Oregon on September 28th. At each race there were anywhere from 5-6 stages (courses) for the racers to ride— and while they had to climb to the top of these stages, only the descent was timed. This forces the riders to be fit for climbing and racing in multiple stages, and have the skill to race hard technical stages at high speeds. Each race is a mix of everything that pushes riders to their limits in a variety of facets. Quinn’s overall performance and results in each of these races earned him first place overall for his division, and we couldn’t be prouder! Congrats !

Update for everyone who planned to volunteer over the course of the next few days! The next truckload of Burning Man bikes will most likely not arrive until Monday or Tuesday. That means that we DO NOT NEED TO MOVE OR WASH BIKES TOMORROW (Sunday). If you planned to volunteer tomorrow, thank you so much!! But take the day to rest and reach out again if you’d like to volunteer in the coming week. For now, we will plan to meet at 635 E 4th St at 9 am on Monday (9/9), but we will update you all as things change. Thanks for your flexibility, and for supporting us. We really could not wrangle all of these bikes without you. Shoutout to everyone to came out to help today, we got through a ton of bicycles!

Over the next few days, RBP is going to be receiving truckloads of Burning Man bikes that have been left on the Playa. All of these bikes need to be moved, washed, and put away in our 4th St shop, so we’re hoping to get as many hands on deck as possible! If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering, then you can stop by our shop at 635 E 4th St tomorrow to Tuesday (9/7 - 9/10) starting at 9 am! Feel free to reach out to [email protected] with any questions. Any help for any amount of time is really appreciated!

Burning Man is creeping up on us, and Reno Bike Project employees have been hard at work refurbishing bikes and preparing for our annual Pop-Up event!

HUMAN PLAYA VEHICLES FOR SALE: RBP is selling refurbished bikes at an affordable price for Burners! Our team has been working all year to collect and fix up over 1500 bikes in preparation for the event. We still have a number of bikes available for reservation on our website (link in bio), so if you or anyone you know is in need of a bike for that week, check us out! We have classic bikes for $110, and cruiser bikes for $150.

**Note for Burners: it's best to plan ahead and order a bike before rolling into Reno. Bike shops typically run out of bikes early in the week, if not before. If you show up to the event without a bike reservation, you are not guaranteed to find a bicycle in Reno!**

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: RBP runs our annual Burning Man Pop-Up event from 8/20 to 8/26, 10 am to 10 pm. This is where Burners come to pick up their bikes, purchase additional accessories, and get their cycles tuned up before rolling out to the desert! We have a number of dedicated staff and volunteers who will be working long hours during the event, but we are seeking even more folks to help out! If you've been interested in getting involved with the community and/or RBP, you can sign up to volunteer on our website (link in bio)!

Volunteers do not need prior bike experience, and can tap in for a few hours or for a few days. Any and all time and effort is appreciated, and we provide food and t-shirts! It's a chaotic week, but it's also incredibly fun!

Reach out to [email protected] with any more questions. We look forward to seeing you at the event!

Reno Bike Project has joined the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA, ).

We are a no pressure, good times team focused on access and exposure to the wonderful world of Mountain Biking. All costs are covered by the Reno Bike Project, with the mission to provide access to mountain biking for youth aged 11-17 who would otherwise not have access to the sport. We are kicking off the season with a couple of FREE try-it-out practices. We had our first practice last Tuesday, and everyone had a blast! Our next one is tonight at 5:30 at Rancho San Rafael park if you’d like to give mountain biking a go!

Thursday July 11th from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at the Wilbur D May- Rancho San Rafael
Tuesday, July 16th from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at the Sierra Vista Bike Park
Thursday July 19th from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at the Wilbur D May- Rancho San Rafael

If you are a 6th-12th grader and would like to try out the sport but aren’t sure about joining the team, we would still love to have you at our free practices! We welcome all ability levels.There is no pressure to ever race or even join our team. We provide the bikes, safety equipment, water bottles, and instruction by NICA certified Coaches. Please wear closed toe shoes and be prepared to be outside for a couple hours.

If you would like to sign up for a practice or have any questions, please contact [email protected]. We are excited to see you out there!

What is Reno Bike Project?

At our shop, we're all about bikes, community, and making a difference. Here's what you need to know:

Donations Accepted:
- We welcome bikes, bike parts, and accessories in any condition during our open hours.

Shop Hours:
- Tuesday to Saturday: 10am - 5pm (Thursdays and Fridays open until 6pm)
- Closed Sunday and Monday

What Happens to Donated Bikes:
1. Tune-Up and Resale: Bikes are fixed up and sold at affordable prices in our shop.
2. Programs: Donated bikes are used in our various community programs.
3. Salvage: Parts not used for resale are salvaged for repairs or sold to customers.

Our Programs:
1. FreeWheels 4 Kids: Providing 350 bikes per year to kids in need.
2. Bicycle Repair Class: Learn to overhaul bikes over four weeks, with bikes going to our commuter program.
3. Biggest Little Commuter Program: Subsidized bike ownership for those in need.
4. FutureCycle: Paid youth internship teaching job skills.
5. Major Taylor Program: Safe cycling in schools, cycling camps, & a new mountain bike team.
6. Public Workstations: DIY bike repairs for $3 per 30 minutes.

Special Events:
- Pop-Up Shop: Before Burning Man, get bikes for the Playa.
- Workshops: FTWN-B Night for non-cis-men, Tune-Up Tuesdays open to all.
- Annual Events: Tri-Lab and Pancake Feed

Membership Tiers:
- Pedaler: $25/year (includes sticker)
- Velo: $50/year (includes unlimited time at Public Workstations)
- Commuter: $100/year (includes t-shirt and lower tier perks)
- Randonneur: $250/year (includes discount in shop and lower tier perks)
- Lifetime Membership: $2,500 (includes recognition and perks of all tiers)

Volunteer Opportunities:
- Join us in the shop, at events, or with our programs. Volunteers are the heart of our community.

Ready to roll with us? Come on down and be a part of something special!

Location: 216 E. Grove St., Reno, NV. 89502
Phone: 775-323-4488
Website: renobikeproject.org
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

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This Saturday is Tour de Pizza, Reno Bike Project's group bicycle ride and fundraiser!

We will start at Reno Bike Project at 216 E. Grove St. at 11:30am.

This ride is free to Commuter ($100/yr), Randonneur ($250/yr), and Lifetime ($2,500) Members or $30 for a drop-in donation.

We will be stopping at Eclipse Pizza, Sizzle Pie and Wild Garlic. Pizza at each stop will be provided by RBP.

We will be rolling at a slow pace so all ages and cycling abilities can participate. The ride is approx. 10 miles on mostly flat terrain (260ft elevation gain).

Join us!

Mark your calendars and come roll with us! Reno Bike Project is hosting a Tour de Pizza group bicycle ride and fundraiser. We will meet at 216 E. Grove St on Saturday, April 27th at 11:30am and pedal to THREE delicious local pizza places. This event is free to Commuter, Randonneur and Lifetime Members. Anyone can join for a $30 drop-in donation.

You can expect a family-friendly, 10-mile slow roll.

If you're thinking, "I don't have a bike" or "My bike has a flat tire" then bring it on in and for $3 per 30min you can use our Public Workstations to learn to make the repairs yourself!

Cruise into spring on this little pink cutie! Brand new tires and freshly tuned all over. Priced at $100, good for anyone under 5'2"

Home | Reno Bike Project Our Mission Reno Bike Project (RBP) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community bicycle shop and resource, which advocates for a sustainable cycling community through education, collaboration, and accessibility for everyone in the Truckee Meadows. Learn More Discover Programs View our latest programs that b...

Transforming Lives, One Bike at a Time!

Meet two incredible individuals whose journey is a testament to the power of second chances and the impact a simple act of kindness can have. We're thrilled to share the inspiring story of how our bike subsidy program brought together two friends, both navigating the challenging path of reintegration.

About a year ago, we had the privilege of serving one resilient individual, determined to rebuild his life. Little did we know that this act of generosity would set off a ripple effect of positivity.

Fast forward to today, and we find our first recipient not only employed but also paying it forward. His friend became the latest recipient of a subsidized bike. The joy captured in the photo of them together, bike in tow, speaks volumes about the camaraderie and support within our community.

What's even more remarkable, they have turned their gratitude into action. They have volunteered with us, using their skills to maintain bikes and encourage others to be a part of our supportive community. It's a beautiful example of how the cycle of generosity and empowerment keeps turning.

Their story is just one of many, illustrating the transformative power of our Biggest Little Commuter Program. With your support, we can continue providing means of transportation, fostering friendships, and helping individuals rebuild their lives. Every donation, no matter how small, contributes to these tales of triumph and hope.

Donate today! Together, let's pedal towards a brighter, more inclusive future! 🌟🚲💙

https://form-renderer-app.donorperfect.io/give/reno-bike-project/one-time-or-monthly-donations-copy

Home | Reno Bike Project Our Mission Reno Bike Project (RBP) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community bicycle shop and resource, which advocates for a sustainable cycling community through education, collaboration, and accessibility for everyone in the Truckee Meadows. Learn More Discover Programs View our latest programs that b...

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Reno Bike Project

Getting Bikes to Members of our Community with Transportation Barriers

We believe every individual regardless of age, gender, race, or class has a right to afford, maintain, and enjoy a bicycle. Our Biggest Little Commuter Program is at the heart of this endeavor. Generous community members donate bikes, our dedicated volunteers give them a new lease on life through our Bicycle Repair Class, and low-income folks gain access to reliable transportation.

Now, to keep this cycle of kindness in motion, we need your help. Each bike overhaul, including new parts, helmet, lock, instructor time, and post-inspection by our mechanics, costs us $250. Our goal is to get 35 bikes out on the road annually, ensuring that people have a sustainable means of commuting. We're reaching out to you because we believe in the power of community, and together, we can create a more accessible and eco-friendly future.

Our fundraising goal is $17,500, covering the program's costs for the next two years. Whether you're a bike enthusiast, an advocate for affordable transportation, or just someone who believes in the transformative power of community initiatives, your donation can make a real difference. Donate today and be a part of the journey.

Reno Bike Project Reno Bike Project (RBP) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community bicycle shop and resource, which advocate

Reno Bike Project will be closed today, Thursday January 11th. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Freewheels for Kids volunteer night tonight!

The fun starts at 6pm at 635 E. 4th St.

We're still taking anything bicycle related in any condition as a donation but especially kids bikes

Reno Bike Project has a program called FreeWheels4Kids. This program involves collecting kids bikes donations, hosting tune-up volunteer parties and then getting those tuned-up bikes to kids who otherwise wouldn't have a bike.

We try to give out 250 kids bikes during the holiday season including fulfilling orders to other non-profits that serve low income families.

We scheduled six volunteer nights (four more remaining 11/29. 12/6, 12/9 & 12/13) and we have a huge turnout of wonderful volunteers giving their time to repair kids bikes!

The problem we've run into...we've repaired all the kids bikes we have!

We will have to cancel our volunteer night scheduled for tomorrow, Nov. 29th starting at 6pm if we don't get about 20 more kids bikes between now and then.

If you or someone you know has access to unused kids bikes, in any condition, consider donating them to us!

Please help us spread the world and get more kids bikes.

Happy from Reno Bike Project! We are raising money for a new (to us) van and we need your help. Every dollar gets us closer to transporting youth to different mountain bike opportunities!

Foxy Frame Friday with Faces!

Check out this vintage Montagna Six Chromoly Mountain Bike in eye catching yellow. Priced just right at $125, no sales tax. Come take it for a test ride at 216 E. Grove before 6pm today!

Putting the project in Reno Bike Project!

Our friend Ralph Bell did the wonderful restoration on this old English beauty. It is almost unrecognizable from when it was donated.

The bike is about a 1959 and features early Reynolds tubing and plenty of chrome that shined up really nicely.

This bike is unfortunately not for sale, but we have many others at our Grove St shop. If you have a project of your own, feel free to stop in to our public workstations and use our tools, space, and knowledge for $3/half hour.

Rainy days mean wrenching!

Come on down this week and winterize your ride, or tackle that project you've been putting off. Our Mechanic Educators are happy to help you out with whatever you've got going on.

Reno Bike Project is hiring! Check out the posting and share with any bike mechanics. Pay DOE $15-$22 per hour, full-time with benefits.

Mechanic Educator - Reno, NV 89502 - Indeed.com Reno Bike Project

https://conta.cc/3ZLMtxV

RBP April Newsletter Check out the latest addition of the Reno Bike Project Times!     Monthly News & Updates April 2023   April at RBP Despite the wildest winter that any of us can remember here in the Truckee Meadows we