What is the Durham Bike Co-op?
What makes you a Co-op and not another bike shop?
How can I donate parts or bicycles?
How can I learn how to fix bicycles?
How can I volunteer at the shop?
Do I have to bring my own tools?
Do I have to be a member to get help at the co-op?
What are the benefits of being a member?
Do I have to be a bike mechanic to join?
Can I buy new bike parts through the Co-op?
Why are you open only on Sundays?
What kinds bike repair projects can you help with?
Also - take a look at the getting help and getting bikes flowchart
The Durham Bike Co-op is a membership-driven, consensus-based organization, located in Durham NC. The main goals of the DBC are bicycle skill-share (learning to fix a broken bicycle), bicycle recovery and redistribution (earning a bicycle), and functioning as a nexus of the Durham bicycle community (by organizing events and rides, leading clinics, providing a community bicycle workshop).
- A regular bike shop offers a service of dropping off a bike, paying a fee, and getting it fixed by an expert mechanic.
- At the co-op you will instead work on your bike (with the help of volunteers), turn the wrench, get some grease on your hands, and in the process learn about bicycle repair!
- Whereas most bike stores are privately-owned, for-profit businesses, the Durham Bike Co-op is a non-profit, member-owned, and democratically-operated community bicycle workshop.
Please drop off any parts of bicycles at the shop during our main hours (see above). If pickup is needed, please see the Contacts page. See our Wish List for items that we are especially interested in getting donated.
Come by the shop on Sundays, and you will get grouped into 2 to 3 person "mechanic team". No previous mechanic experience is necessary. Also, we have aprons, but please wear "working-clothes" as fixing up bikes tends to involve grease and dirt.
- Organizing (sort and label parts)
- Strip Bikes (remove parts)
- Mechanic team (see above)
- Assist Greeter (help staff the front door)
Non-members are asked to contribute one hour of volunteering or $7 per visit.
- No donation asked for Sunday Shop time
- No donation asked for used parts (for in shop projects)
- A regular bike to fix up or credit towards a nicer bike
- Can vote in board member elections
- Can participate in monthly meetings
- Knowing you are helping support the Durham Bike Co-op!
5 hrs volunteering at the shop, or $35 donation. See the Membership page for online options.
After obtaining a membership (see above), you may pick a regular bike out from the back pile, and then work with a mechanic team to tune it up. Inside are several nicer bikes that are priced higher (and we ask for additional volunteer or $$). Please see the flowchart.
If you are volunteering to get a bike, we have a limit of 1 per year.
We try to reuse as many used parts as possible, but sometimes new parts are needed. We have some new parts available (tires, tubes, cables, bearings, brake pads, brake noodles, cotter pins, and axle nuts), that are priced. For a full selection of new parts and accessories, please see a local bike shop - The Bicycle Chain by Whole Foods
Changing out tires/tubes. Patching a flat tube. Adjusting derailers. Adjusting brakes. Adjusting seat height. Rebuilding hubs, bottom brackets, and headsets, Rewiring shifter and brake cables, Trueing wheels, Building wheels, ...
- 10/29/2006 - First Meeting
- 03/25/2007 - Opened up at 723 N. Mangum St.
- 07/08/2010 - Moved to 715 Washington St.
