Bike Root

The Bike Root
Website	http://www.bikeroot.ca
Email	info@bikeroot.ca
Founded	2008
Location	Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Campus	University of Calgary
Language	English;
Services Offered	DIY Repair Services; Mobile Repair Services; Bicycle Valet Services; Group Rides; Bicycle Advocacy;
Mission Statement	To foster community through promotion of environmental sustainability and healthy lifestyles.

The Bike Root is a bicycle collective in Calgary, Alberta. We are focused on providing the services to students, staff, faculty, and community members from the University of Calgary campus.

Contact Info

Email

mailto:info@bikeroot.ca

Shop Address

 Loading dock, Arts Parkade (NW corner)
 Enter from University Drive NW by taking the Entrance #3 at University Gate NW
 Calgary, AB
 Canada T2N 1N4

Mailing Address

 251 MacEwan Student Center
 Box 102
 2500 University Dr, N.W.
 Calgary, AB
 Canada T2N 1N4

History

In 2008, the Bike Root opened in a disused loading dock in the centre of campus. A fully outfitted bicycle lending library was opened soon thereafter. In the summer of 2010, the Bike Root lost the use of their space on campus. The shop was briefly run out of a shipping container on the edge of campus. Sometime thereafter, the entire bicycle library (and bike stock) was stolen from Campus. In 20(??), the Bike Root reopened in the Arts Parkade loading dock one or two days a week and in 2016, the shop hours were expanded by the new board to 5 days a week. The Bike Root maintains open hours 5 days a week as of May, 2016.

DIY Repair Services

Services Offered

DIY Shop

The Bike Root is typically open many days each week (current schedule at http://BikeRoot.ca). We have 6 stands available and a very comprehensive set of tools and speciality tools. There is a good stock of new and used parts for most bikes. Bike part and bicycle donations are accepted at any time during open hours. Membership is $10 annually and can be renewed for a year at any time.

Mobile Repair

The Bike Root does not regularly offer mobile repair, but often is asked to attend events and demonstrate how to repair attendees bikes. This is usually done in a hands on fashion, unless the attendee states that they have the competency to use the tools at hand.

Normally the only small repairs are performed which includes

pumping up tires
adjustments to dérailleur and brake limits and barrel adjusters
size adjustments
quick cleaning
lubing of chain.

More complex adjustments and repairs and deemed to risky, in the past we have found ourselves not able to reassemble what we disassembled even when we had much experience with the procedure simply because we did not carry spare parts or more complex tools.

Bicycle Valet

Since the summer of 2010, the Bike Root has been offering a regular bicycle valet service to our local farmers' market in Hillhurst-Sunnyside. Normally two volunteers are at hand to serve those with bikes entering the market. The service is by donation and normally brings in approximately $20-$30 a week.

We own 3 portable and collapsible high quality aluminium bike racks. Normally a tent is erected to shelter the volunteers from the sun or rain and the area is roped off to discourage people from entering.

A tagging system is used to mark the bikes. Large tags or varying colours and with varying images were made in duplicate, laminated and small clips were attached to each. The volunteer will take the client's bike, clip a tag to the bike and give the client the duplicate. The system work much in the same way as does a coat check.

Group Rides

Infrequently the Bike Root offers group rides.

Former Services Offered

In the summer of 2010, the Bike Root lost the use of their space on campus. At that time the following additional services were offered

Bicycle Library