Back-in-Gear, a local initiative focused on restoring donated bicycles for affordable resale, is inviting community members to take part in a free bike mechanic workshop on July 15 and 17, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The workshop is open to 10 prospective volunteers interested in learning bike repair skills while giving back to the community.
The workshop, led by Dan Weinert, senior volunteer bike mechanic and passionate cyclist, aims to train participants on essential bike maintenance and repair.
“The volunteers are at varying levels of skill and experience,” said Weinert. “I’m offering training to help them take it to the next level.”
Weinert’s love for cycling has shaped both his lifestyle and his community involvement. A certified bike mechanic, he and his wife use bicycles as their main form of transportation in Cochrane.
“We try to cycle everywhere in town,” he shared. “It’s healthier, gets more vehicles off the road, and for most locations, especially downtown, it’s just easier.”
Weinert was first introduced to Back-in-Gear at the Angry Hawk Festival, where he met organizer Cody Alba, who was seeking volunteers for the newly formed Bike Cochrane initiative. He joined forces with Tim Lomenda, owner of Big Hill Cycling, to help restore donated bikes to safe, functional condition.
To date, the program has restored 20 bicycles, with 10 already sold at affordable prices to members of the community. Volunteers typically meet three times a week — Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday — and work in small groups for two-hour shifts.
“Some bikes take a full session or more depending on the condition, while others are quick fixes,” Weinert said. “If each volunteer can restore even one bike per night, that’s a great pace.”
However, with the end of the school semester and summer scheduling challenges, volunteer numbers have declined. The team still has about 60 bikes in need of repair, and Weinert says additional help is critical.
“The benefit of Back-in-Gear is that people get a safe, working bike at a low cost,” said Weinert. “But we need qualified volunteers to make that happen.”
The upcoming workshop will cover the basics of bike maintenance, including:
- Adjusting gears and brakes
- Changing tires
- Replacing chains
“It’s going to be basic mechanics,” explained Weinert. “These are the skills that help our volunteers safely restore bikes and contribute meaningfully to the program.”
Those interested in volunteering and registering for the workshop can email: [email protected].
To see Back-in-Gear’s available bike inventory, visit their Instagram page: @cochrane_back_in_gear.
