Month: May 2012

May volunteer orientation

On Friday, May 18 there will be a new volunteer orientation where we’ll tell you all about you ever wanted to know about volunteering at the Flat!
The orientation will take place at the Flat (3480 McTavish, SSMU Building B-02), start at 5:30 pm sharp and take approximately one hour. Please send us a quick email if you’re going to attend. Cookies or snacks will be provided. No prior bike fixing or volunteering experience necessary!
If you know anyone else who might be interested in volunteering at the Flat please send them a link to this post.

Spring Workshops!

After a very long hiatus, the Flat is again offering workshops!

Note the schedule change:

Wednesday, 23 May:

5 – 6.30 How to Fix a Flat

7 – 8:30  All You Ever Wanted to Know About Brakes (and then some)

How to fix a flat

Fixing a flat is the most common problem cyclists encounter, but it is not necessarily the most straight-forward!  We’ll start from the beginning and cover removing your wheel, patching, tube sizes, tire pressure, and plenty more.

All you ever wanted to know about brakes (and then some)

We will cover the various kinds of brakes, brake pads, and cables and housing.

Everyone is welcome to attend, and there is no need to reserve a spot.  Workshops are, as always, free to attend.

We will announce future workshops as they are scheduled.

Is there a workshop you would like to see offered?  Email us at theflat.bikecollective@gmail.com

Women and Trans Folk–Queer Night at the Flat, May 9th!

                  Women and Trans Folk *    * Femmes et personnes trans

      Queer Night at the Flat *    * soirée queer au Flat

 Every 2nd Wednesday of the Month *    * le deuxième mercredi du mois

                   Starting May 9th *    * commençant le 9 mai

                  5.00-7.30 *    * 17h à 19h30

(**Le français suit l’anglais**)

The Flat now hosts WTF night, for people identified as women and/or trans, on the second Wednesday of every month. While The Flat’s goal is to always be a welcoming and positive environment for fixing bikes and learning about bike mechanics, sexism, gender discrimination, and patriarchal BS can still happen. WTF night is about trying to eliminate(challenge?) those dynamics and about empowering more people to learn bike repair and use The Flat’s space, tools, and resources to their advantage.

That said, trans folk and women are also encouraged to work on their bikes at the Flat during regular hours.

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS to help! If you have a bit (or a lot) of bike mechanic experience or want to learn from experience, let us know.

e-mail us at theflat.bikecollective@gmail.com with WTF in the subject line.
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L’atelier de vélo, The Flat, situé sur le campus McGill, organise maintenant sa soirée FPT (pour Femmes et Personnes Trans) le deuxième mercredi de chaque mois.

Bien que l’objectif de l’atelier a toujours été d’être accueillant et accessible à toutes et à tous, le sexisme et la discrimination règnent toujours dans notre société, et surtout dans les ateliers de vélo–espaces souvent dominés par le machisme. La soirée FPT cherche à démanteler ces systèmes d’inégalités, et donc invite les personnes s’identifiant comme femmes ou trans à utiliser l’atelier, les outils, et toutes les autres ressources disponibles.

Cela dit, toutes personnes s’identifiant comme femmes ou trans sont toujours encouragées à travailler sur leurs vélos pendant les heures régulières de l’atelier (Lun, Mar, Jeu de 17h-19h30)!

**NOUS AVONS BESOIN DE BÉNÉVOLES!** Si tu as un peu (ou beaucoup!) d’expérience en mécanique de vélo, ou aimerais apprendre, fait le nous savoir! Envoyez-nous un courriel à theflat.bikecollective@gmail.com, avec comme object ”FPT\WTF”