This "How To" area, is a key area for Re~Cycle's current work.
The aim is to make it easy for people to set up and run bike projects, with:
- download able "best practice" or "what we've worked out so far" (in sections, see below)
- forums to find out more detail and ask questions, (e.g. 'this worked well', 'thinking about trying that, any suggestions?'...), so existing projects can improve, as well as support new projects
- feed back into updated versions of the down-loadable "How To"s
"How To"s include;
How To set up and run a collection point in the 'west':
Main advice is to get people to help, and don't say you're collecting bikes for charity until you've got space and a plan for the bikes.
- set up (first get people to help!)
- premises
- volunteers - find and organise
- fund raising
- funds generation
- source bikes, parts and tools
- find recipients in Africa (if not going through Re~Cycle) - pack a container - get quality feedback from recipient groups - run basic mechanic training course, as well as advanced
- How to load a container with bikes, Re~Cycle uses 40-foot high cube containers which are 1-foot taller, so we can get 3 layers of bikes in
- Other people's ideas on this;
- liaise with bike clubs, bike shops (charity collection pots and flyers, donation of tools as and when they're worn out by 'developed world' standards)
- ...
How To set up a bike refurbishing project in Africa:
- sourcing bikes
- clearing customs
- refurbishing bikes
- run basic mechanic training course, as well as advanced
- training the trainers
- ...
How To make tools from 'dead' bikes:
- DIY bike trailer - the project which kind of started this project started off!
- electricity generation, (2 types, bike converts to and from, or permanent device - can no longer use as bike) eg.:
- water pump - our American counterparts have some designs here
- drill
- Misc designs at Maya Pedal here
- ...
How To make Bike Art out of dead bikes and parts:
So that local groups can make things from their waste for sale, decoration and demonstration of reuse
- furniture eg. tables here and here, chairs here and here, clocks here
- tools eg. bottle openers here and here
- art - Picasso made a bull's head from a saddle and handlebars here! And there are scupltures of lizzards etc
- Moving work of art, wind powered, Radford Mill Farm shop in Bristol
- Misc art here
- ...
How To make clothing and related items dead bikes and parts:
So that local groups can make things from their waste for sale, decoration and demonstration of reuse
How to do a sponsored ride for Re~Cycle
- What bike
- Kit
- How to raise money
- Specific ride info, including
- Lands End to John O'Groats info
- London to Canterbury (Tour de France)
How to run a Bicycle Treasure Hunt
- Treasure hunt / orientation course
- teams, on bike,
- solving puzzles, collecting tokens, taking pictures, to score points
- With or without GPS
- Fee to join
How to run a bicycle valet parking and sell raffle tickets
As in the Bicycle Film Festival
How to look after your bike
- http://thebikeproject.wikispaces.com/Manual
- http://thebikeproject.wikispaces.com/tool-use-guide
- http://www.bikesnotbombs.org/EarnABike#manual
Making bike workstand: here
Bicycle safety ideas
Lights
Reflectors
- old CDs, suggestions of best ways to attach them please...
These documents will be free, for anyone, for ever (like free software). If you'd like to be part of Re~Cycle, or work with Re~Cycle, or just do your own thing, its all good with us :)
Re~Cycle is looking at ways to expand in Africa at the moment, contacts welcome.