Spring has sprung and it is time to get your bike tuned
There’s a hidden gem on the corner of Gordon Street and South Ring Road, and it’s called the CSA Bike Centre – a ‘do-it-yourself’ not for profit bike repair centre that serves Guelph students and community members on a donation basis.
As the snow melts and five months of salt and sand is washed away from the city roads and trails, Guelph’s expansive bike path network will slowly become repopulated with bikes of the road and mountain variety.
After a sedentary winter, your bike is likely lacking the necessary oil, grease, and patchwork necessary to perform at its maximum capacity, and this is where the CSA Bike Centre comes in.
“The CSA Bike Centre is a ‘Do-it-yourself’ bike repair shop. We provide all the tools, equipment, and knowledge you need to fix your bike yourself,” said Lilia Clarke, the Central Coordinator for the Bike Centre. “We have tons of volunteers – that’s basically how this space functions. You don’t need to know anything about bike repair, you’ll learn just by volunteering. I actually didn’t know anything about bike repairs before I started working here.”
For even a regular biker, learning how to fix mechanisms or functions on your bike is important – you never know when you’re going to experience a flat tire, a broken chain, or a loose break pad. The one-on-one atmosphere that the Bike Centre provides is the perfect opportunity for cyclists to become familiar with basic repair and the setup of their bikes.
Moreover, while you can easily pay $40 to $50 for a tune-up at a bike shop that charges flat rates, the Bike Centre operates purely off donations – from parts, to frames, to the change in your pocket.
“Because it is donation based, you are not paying for a tune-up. You come in and we’ll see what your bike needs, help you out to oil your chain, and whatever else you need for a spring tune-up,” said Clarke.
Once your bike is road-ready, the importance of a quality lock cannot be understated, and I am speaking from personal experience. Last summer I had a $1000 bike stolen from a bike stand in downtown Guelph, from what I thought was a cut-proof lock. Not only does a stolen bike mean you’re out a mode of transportation, it means you now have to invest in a new bike.
“I use a kryptonite lock, it’s like a big ‘U’ shaped lock and you can’t cut through it,” said Lilia, who works and rides frequently in Toronto and has heard a fair share of bike theft horror stories.
This spring, make sure you protect your investment by learning about it, and no matter where you’re riding, if you leave your bike – even for a minute – lock it up.