The final General Meeting of 2020 is next week! We’ll be gathering virtually on Wednesday, December 2nd at 7:15pm to discuss shop updates, upcoming events, and much more. We’ll also be joined by Jesus Lopez from CESTA, who will be sharing updates from their community bike projects in El Salvador.
Winter riding doesn’t have to be intimidating. It just takes planning and some preparedness to ensure you’re rolling safe and warm. In need of some gear to protect yourself from the elements? Visit our Winter Cycling section on the webstore to see our selection of items for your bike and your body. Looking for something special this holiday season? Check out some of the great items we currently have on the Treat Yourself or Someone Else section! We have deals on a number of our higher end road bikes (and a tandem!), along with some ways to support our community of riders that are part of our local donation program.
Buying a bike online poses some challenges, so Working Bikes staff put together some helpful material for folks shopping on the webstore. Check out the videos below to get some tips for finding your correct bike fit! Still have questions? Send us an email at [email protected].
Just because we’ve had a snowy April doesn’t mean we still can’t celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day! All throughout the week of April 20th, folks can virtually attend the One Earth Film Festival. Working Bikes will be tuning in for the screening of “Why We Cycle,” a film about Dutch cycling culture at the personal and city-planning level. Following the Friday evening film, Working Bikes and other attendees will participate in a brief Zoom discussion.
RSVP for the screening and the post-film discussion here! We’re looking forward to (virtually) seeing you!
UPDATED FEBRUARY 2021: Working Bikes is closed to the general public. If you are interested in purchasing a refurbished bike, our full inventory of bikes, along with new accessories and gear, is available on our online store. Our Service Department will also be open for drop-off repair services and curbside pick-ups. Contact the Service Department with questions, or schedule an appointment to drop off your bike for service. Send questions to: [email protected], (773) 977-7138.
Working Bikes wants to keep you all rolling, and we’re doing it with the help of the world wide web! Our webstore is up and running, and though it used to be focused on the hard to find specialty bikes and parts around our warehouse, we will be adding some of inventory of the affordable refurbished bikes Working Bikes is known for, along with some parts and accessories everyday cyclists need. If you are looking for used parts, please email [email protected] or give us a call at (773) 527-2949. Folks interested in purchasing items from the webstore can schedule a curbside pick-up at our home base. Contact us with questions or to schedule a pick-up! [email protected]
Working Bikes is open to receive donations Tuesday-Friday between 12pm-5pm and on Saturdays between 11am-3pm. Please give us a call or text us when you are outside so we can be sure to receive your donation! You can also check our list of partnering drop-off locations for a donation site that might be in your area.
We believe in bikes as tools of empowerment, and through our local donation program we provide individuals in Chicago the transportation to access community resources. However, to keep people safe and to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 we will be changing up our Cycle of Power program and putting a temporary halt on having recipients into the warehouse for a bike pick-up and helmet fitting. We are working to find the best way to meet the needs of the people in Chicago who need transportation. One avenue we are exploring is donating bikes in service of delivery. Working Bikes is looking to collaborate with community groups and social service organizations who are working to deliver goods and medical supplies to folks who are homebound. If you have any suggestions for how we can best support people here in Chicago email us at [email protected].
We’ve reopened to volunteers but are requiring folks to sign up ahead of time. You can sign-up for a shift on the Volunteer Portal. Contact [email protected] with any questions. We also encourage folks that have at-home workshops to take a bike or two home to repair remotely. If you are interested in taking bikes home to repair on your own, contact [email protected].
We love bringing folks together at Working Bikes, but now is not the time for gathering. All in-house events have been cancelled. However, we will still host our General Meetings remotely, with an option for electronic participation. We anticipate participating in several collection events this year, but will respond according to any updated safety guidelines. Please refer to our calendar for updates regarding upcoming bike drives.
We are so thankful for the amazing community of volunteers, patrons, donors, and staff that make-up Working Bikes. We will continue to keep everyone updated, but don’t hesitate to reach out to us with questions. Be sure to follow-us on Facebook and Instagram for updates.
Stay well, wear a mask, and look out for one another.
In order to ensure the health and safety of our community, Working Bikes is cancelling all weekly Volunteer Sessions and events through the end of March. Starting today (Friday, March 13th), Brandon’s will not be open to regular drop-in volunteers or groups. Our event Global Impact Stories scheduled for Sunday, March 29th has also be postponed until further notice. Best practices with regards to COVID-19 evolve daily, so please be sure to keep an eye on your inboxes, our website, and our Facebook page for up to date announcements. We will be sure to let you know if anything changes, but for now greatly appreciate your support and understanding.
In the meantime, we want to try and keep wrenching on bikes as much as possible! That is why we are offering member volunteers the option to take home a bike to work on while Brandon’s is closed. If you are a member volunteer and have the necessary tools, please contact [email protected] and we can coordinate getting a bike to you for refurbishment. Not sure if you are a member? Get in touch with us!
The service department and shop will remain open with regular hours, but again be sure to check for updates in case the schedule changes.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions.
Peace + Bike Grease,
The Working Bikes Crew
[email protected]
773-657-8419
Happy 2020! As we look forward to this new year, it is fun to think back to the early days of WB to consider how much we’ve grown! It so happens that we’ve recently discovered a hidden treasure trove of videos that were put together by news outlets, volunteers, and WB fans! Check out some of our favorites below, and pay special attention to how the WB warehouse transforms over the years! Also, be sure to check in at Working Bikes in the News page to see featured pieces about the work we do!
