The Earn-A-Bike Program


Earn yourself a bicycle (to keep) while learning how to fix it! We go for fun bike rides, learn a lot of bike mechanics and bike safety, and explore some environmental issues. You don't need any experience with mechanics, and we've even had students who've never ridden a bike before. Our instructors will work with you every step of the way to make this fun and easy to learn. Our bike rides spend most of their time on bike paths in the parks near us, and once everyone has learned their skills we'll deal with riding on the street.

You pick out a bike (choose from mountain, road, or BMX bikes), we teach you to rebuild it, and then you keep it! These courses are for ages 12-18. We run Spring, Summer, and Fall courses for girls and boys, and some courses will be girls-only.

Contact Elijah Evans at 617-522-0222 x101 or elijah@bikesnotbombs.org

2010 Fall EARN-A-BIKE

Currently accepting applications!

Course times:

  • Monday – Thursday
  • 3:30 – 6:30PM
  • September 13, 2010 – October 14, 2010

There are a limited number of spots available. Applicants are chosen based on application date, and the applicant’s availability and willingness to commit. To qualify for enrollment, BOTH the application (filled out) and payment (cash, check or money order) need to be submitted. If you (student) are not accepted into reason, you will be notified and your program fee will be returned.

Please mail or deliver the application & fee to: Bikes Not Bombs, 284 Amory Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

If you have any questions please contact Elijah Evans, Youth Programs Coordinator, at 617-522-0222 x101 or email elijah@bikesnotbombs.org

2010 Summer EARN-A-BIKE

This course meets each week Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 2:00-6:00 pm. These courses are for girls and boys ages 12 to 18. Both of our summer Earn-A-Bike courses are filled and we are no longer accepting applications.

Session 1: July 7 - July 23
Session 2: July 28 - August 13

What is Earn-A-Bike?

This is a pre-employment training program that young people love and come to voluntarily! Earn-A-Bikers, age 12 and up, each enter into a contract with us, selecting a bike that s/he will rebuild, and agreeing to a "price" to be paid in hours worked at the Center. One fifth of those hours are community service work, the rest are spent studying bicycle safety and mechanics, and repairing the bicycle.


Volunteer to Teach in Earn-A-Bike!

We'll give you a course in bike mechanics, and then you will help teach young people to rebuild and earn a bike to be their own! Go on fun rides and teach safe riding and environmental issues. Female and male volunteers needed. Spanish language skills or youth work experience are helpful, but no experience required. For more information, see the Volunteer Teacher page.

Training Manual

We make our training manual available for people wanting to run youth bicycle programs in other places. This is the mechanics manual we use to train the volunteers who will become assistant teachers in Earn-A-Bike.

Download the entire manual as a 3 MB zipped archive of pdfs, created on a Macintosh.

OR, download the chapters and cover as individual pdfs:

Cover
Chapter 1: Instructor Contract
Chapter 2: Tires
Chapter 3: Bottom Brackets
Chapter 4: Basic Tools
Chapter 5: Hubs
Chapter 6: Selecting A Bike
Chapter 7: Bike Safety
Chapter 8: Headsets
Chapter 9: Wheel Truing
Chapter 10: Braking Systems
Chapter 11: Cantilever Brakes
Chapter 12: Rear Derailleurs
Chapter 13: Front Derailleurs