What is the Durham Bike Co-op?
The Durham Bike Co-op is a membership-driven, consensus-based organization, located in the Bull City Headquarters at historic Little Five Points, 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).

When are you open?
Open shop hours (volunteer mechanics on hand) are Sunday 1-6pm.

Do I have to be a member to use the co-op?
•Sundays are open to everyone.
•At additional times, the shop is open to members only (during member hours, there are no volunteer mechanics on hand; however all the shop tools are available, as are several repair manuals).

What are the benefits of being a member?
•Access to shop on additional days (see above)
•Ability to vote for board members, and ability to elected to the DBC board.
•Ability to participate in the board/meeting consensus process.
•Waiver of suggested "per-use" donation during open shop hours.

How can I help out at the shop?
There are many ways to help. Here are some:
•Volunteer mechanic (help others/teach others how to fix up their bicycle)
•Clinic Organizer (teach a specific bicycle skill)
•Shadow a mechanic (watch and help to learn, also help find tools and parts)
•Organizational (sort/file/label parts/strip parts of bicycles)
•Greeter (staff the door, handle donations, answer questions, make sure people sign waivers, make sure people sign in. The greeter role is a great way to get into the space and help out, even if you don't know a lot about bicycle repair).

Do I have to be a bike mechanic to join?
No.

Can the co-op help me get a bike?
There are 2 ways to earn a bike:
•5 hours time volunteering (which earns a membership) or purchase a DBC membership, and then work with a volunteer on a bike
•donation (time or money), based on the quality of the bike, for a finished (working and safety-checked) bike.

Does the co-op barter/trade?
In general we will trade time volunteering for membership dues and bicycle fees. Parts and frames have to be considered on a case by case basis.

Why are you a co-op and not another bike shop?
•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 a volunteer), turn the wrench, get some grease on your hands, and in the process learn about bicycle repair! For those that already feel confident working on bikes, you can just use our selection of tools.
•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.

Can I buy bike parts/lube through the Co-op?
Since we don't have a business license, we do not sell anything. We do have some new parts available (new tubes, bearings) for which a donation is highly encouraged! For a complete selection of new parts see a local bike shop (ie, The Bicycle Chain by Whole Foods).

Why are you open only on Sundays?
We need more volunteer mechanics!

What kinds bike repair projects can you help with?
As listed under "Why are you a co-op and not..." we don't repair bikes for the public.
•Volunteers work with the individual to fix up their bike, so that skills can be learned.
•Some examples of projects we have done in the past: Changing out tires/tubes. Patching a flat tube. Adjusting derailers. Adjusting brakes. Adjusting seat height. Rebuilding hubs. Rebuilding bottom bracket. Rewiring shifter and brake cables. Trueing wheels. Building wheels.

Does one have to become a member to earn a bike?
yes. and this can happen through either monetary donation or volunteering around the shop.

Is there a difference between the requirements for kid bikes and adult bikes?
yes, kids bikes are exempt (does require a permission slip signed by a parental guardian and an adult supervisor)

How do we handle the very nice bikes that we have received as donations?
priced by at least two key holders.

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