How it works: This is a casual event to chat and socialize while fixing black butyl rubber bicycle tubes to give to individuals and organizations who need them. It is like a sewing bee for fixing bicycle tubes. If you sign up, please come for at least an hour. The leaders will be there the entire time.
The bike tubes we supply would otherwise have been TRASH. We are turning them into TREASURE by fixing them to be reused as functional bicycle tubes again or turning them into bungee cords.
Many thanks to SPORTS BASEMENT SUNNYVALE for supplying punctured tubes for fixing! The following local bike shops also help support this event with tubes to fix and our connections to Schwalbe for tube recycling: Walts Cycle, The Bicycle Outfitter, Live in Peace Bike Shop, Calabazas Cyclery, and Got Bikes?
Support your local bike shops!
This is a great opportunity for everyone to learn how to fix a bicycle tube as well as improve their flat fixing skills. Everyone who helps may take some patched tubes home with them as well as tube bungie cords.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
1) this patch event is for classic black butyl rubber tubes only. It is not for TPU tubes or tubeless tires.
2) This is NOT a general purpose bike repair event. For that please see the monthly bike repair events at the Sunnyvale Public Library.
3) Yes we take bicycle tube donations!
4) This event is done outside on the plaza outside Sunnyvale Public Library next to and in conjunction with a general bike repair event but our tube activity goes a bit longer. You may wish to bring a hat since it can be sunny and warm on the plaza.
We supply:
Tube fixing instruction
Patches
Vulcanizing Cement
Sandpaper
Bike Pumps
Misc tools (scissors, pounders, squeezers, etc)
Bags & boxes to hold tubes
Rubber bands (donated by freecyclers or hand crafted by volunteers from fat tubes)
Tubes that need fixing (donated by local bike shops and others)
You bring:
Yourself
A ball point pen
A desire to learn or help others
Snacks and drinks for yourself
Optional but helpful:
- friends
- a bike pump
- tubes you want to fix
- strong functional rubber bands you do not need (formerly used to hold asparagus, broccolli, etc)
You get:
Camaraderie
Knowledge & practice on how to fix tubes so they are as good as new
The joy of helping others
Some fixed tubes of your choice (in addition to any you bring to fix)
Some tube bungee cords (if you want any)
Roles:
Worker Bee: Happy to learn and help fix tubes. We need lots of happy worker bees.
Tube Fixing Instructor: Are you an excellent tube fixer? Come help others learn! Show people how to find their hole, mark it, sand it, apply glue, wait to dry, apply patch, and apply pressure.
Vulcan(izing) Master: A couple of tube fixing instructors who will manage the event as well as provide expert tube fixing instruction.