Freeride Begins
On human-powered steeds and to the fanfare of their own handle-bar trumpets, the Freeride Community Bike Shop opened its doors with a market-day ride. Our pedal-powered parade wended its way through the streets of downtown Montpelier, swung through the farmer’s market, and returned to the Freeride shop for an afternoon of welcoming cyclists, signing up new members, and helping the simply curious find their way to the delectable baked goods and ice-cream donated by Vermont Milk Company. We hope you’ll join us for a future ride!
We welcome enthusiasts, collaborators and bike-tinkerers of any skill level to become Freeride members. As a member, you’re encouraged to use the open shop, the tools, and the assistance of Freeride’s Fleet of Super-Hero Mechanics (all-volunteer, of course). When mechanics aren’t helping members, they’re fixing bikes for sale. In keeping with Freeride’s social and non-profit mission, bikes and memberships are affordable; sliding-scale costs and work-exchanges ensure that anyone, regardless of financial situation, will be able to own and maintain a bicycle. As a co-operatively managed community space, any member may become involved in steering the Freeride project. And as a part of the local landscape, Freeride hopes to embody an empowering and human-powered path toward a strong, perpetuated community.
Presently, the shop focuses on maintaining regular shop hours for community members to drop in, refurbishing donated bicycles, and developing programs for schools. In the future - and the nearness of that future depends on volunteers! - we plan to host Bike-In Movies for summer evenings, after-school programs, summer programs, mechanic classes, and bike-advocacy and safety organizing. Perhaps most importantly, we’re continuously striving to make bicycles more affordable and bike knowledge more accessible. We look forward to coordinating with any and all organizations with an interest in working toward these goals, and we offer our assistance and shop-space to whomever can benefit from it!
-note shift times have changed, see freeridemontpelier.org-
The shop currently hosts three shifts a week, and as we gain more interested mechanics, we’ll be open as much as possible. Our hours are Tuesdays, 6-10pm; Wednesday evenings (specific times TBA, but generally the after-dinner hours); Fridays, noon - 3pm; and Saturday, 4 - 7pm. Shift times are always posted on the door. If you-re unable to make any of these shifts, please call us, and we’ll try to make accommodations. We take bike donations any time: please leave parts, materials or bikes in front of the Freeride doors, and try not to block our neighboring businesses.
We’re located at 89 Barre Street (near the old beverage redemption center), in the rear. Freeride may be contacted at: freeridemp@riseup.net, (802) 229-2758, or www.freeridemontpelier.org. We host a list-serve to update members and interested individuals on events and shift-hours updates. Feel free to drop by any time!
