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. There are many nearby restaurants for snacks and lunch and also the Sunnyvale Farmers Market.
The bike tubes we supply would otherwise have been TRASH. We are turning them into TREASURE instead by fixing them to be reused as functional bicycle tubes again or turning them into bungee cords.
Many thanks to the following local bike shops who are helping support this event: Walts Cycle, The Bicycle Outfitter, Sports Basement Sunnyvale, and Got Bikes? Always support your local bike shop!
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 a tube they fix home with them as well as some 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 bike repair event and we will not have tools to remove wheels from bikes. For that please see the monthly bike repair events at the Sunnyvale Public Library.
3) Yes we take bicycle tube donations!
We supply:
Tube fixing instructors
Patches
Vulcanizing Cement
Sandpaper
Bike Pumps
Misc tools (scissors, pounders, squeezers, etc)
Bags & boxes to hold tubes
Rubber bands
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
– a chair, blanket, or cushion to sit on (otherwise just sit on a step or the ground)
– tubes you want to fix
– strong functional rubber bands you do not need (formerly used to hold asparagus, broccolli, etc)
You get:
Camaraderie
Knowledge about how to fix tubes so they are as good as new
The joy of helping others
A fixed tube of your choice (in addition to any you bring to fix)
Some tube bungee cords (if you need any)
Worker Bee: Happy to learn and help fix tubes. We need lots of happy worker bees.
Tube Fixing Instructor: Are you a Jedi Master 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 pound/squeeze it.
Vulcan(izing) Master: A tube fixing instructor who will manage the glue station where they verify the tube was properly sanded and where glue is applied — not too much, not too little.
