July updates!

Bike world is still pretty chaotic but there’s some excellent news- shipping times have greatly improved across the board! Unfortunately parts availability is still making things difficult and I’ve had some van struggles at the same time- turns out parts shortages are real in the auto repair world as well as the bike repair world!

New repairs inquiries are steady, but starting to cool off a bit- I’ve met so many amazing new customers and this makes me happy! Still, I’m keeping my waiting list towards the end of July for tune ups and bigger jobs so I can catch up in the give back bike realm.

Unfortunately I missed many weeks of my target 1 bike per week- bike world has been *that much*. That said, I’ve got 3 going out this week and another 3 next week to make up the difference.  The waiting list for give back bikes is long long long which is great- I’m excited for the demand! I’m trying my best to manage the difference between the ‘first come first serve’ waiting list (of which I now have 2 with some outreach help) and pushing out bikes that are really close and don’t need much to get out. It just doesn’t make sense to have a bicycle sit unridden if it only needs 30 minutes of work vs those that need 4+ hours. Further complicating things is the lack of inexpensive consumable parts for these bikes! Of course with these give back bikes, I have to make sure I’m keeping my customers (and my family) happy at the same time- I am doing my best, it just takes more time than *any* of us would like.

(BTW, If anyone would be able to gift some scrap metal removal to help out in the process, please let me know.)

I’m starting to see the Stage Fort Park vendor space as a thing again soon, at least maybe 1 day a week- but I’ve got to get caught up first and see how things play out.

The best way to reach out is via text 334-BIKES-34 or Facebook Messenger. I do my best to answer phone calls and emails when I can, but often I cannot. If you want instant voice to voice contact or instant email replies to arrange a repair, please consider trying one of the other shops on our island, you might be happier! Hopefully this will change as things settle down, but that’s how it is for now.

Thank you for understanding and for your support. 🙂

BMB operations in 2020!

So sorry to leave the lovely bicycle people of Cape Ann hanging-
I’m back in business, in fact I have been for about a month, but here’s the rub – without school and without free babysitting from my awesome off-island at-risk ma, my time is more limited than it has ever been.

I am doing my best to keep up with everyone who has reached out and asked for service, while trying to fit some give-back bikes in at the same time. I’ve had to leave a lot of customers unread as I try to fit everything in – it’s safe to say things like communication and task-switching are not my strengths, and these types of things have been seriously exposed during our new normal! I really appreciate everyone’s understanding and patience with these difficulties!

Unfortunately supply chain and shipping issues have made things extra difficult as orders are taking longer than ever to arrive *and* as demand has exploded across the nation (yay!), those orders are only being partially fulfilled.

With all these things considered I’ve had to make the difficult decision to raise prices. 😦

+ Tune ups for 2020 start at $80 – Tune ups are preventative maintenance for bikes that are in good working order. They include cleaning, lubrication, adjustments, minor wheel truing, etc to total approx 1.5 hrs of labor. If you don’t have that kind of money to spend (trust me, I *understand*,) or simply don’t want your bike cleaned, I offer a quick tune rate of $45 that includes approx 30-45 minutes of work with a focus on the most important things first (i.e., piecemeal adjustments where needed most: like I’ll true tf outta that wobbly rim (no tacos BTW,) get those brakes adjusted and make ya ride safe, but ya derailer might rub a little and ya spokes still got those cobwebs in ’em.) I just cant put 4+ hours into a $65 “tune up” anymore and be able to break even (not the least of which pay myself.) I’m sorry.

+ For the first time ever I’ll actually have to consistently enforce my $25 minimum mobile service charge.

+ I may have to raise prices on certain parts. My most commonly used chains are up 50pct from the last time I ordered them! I will always do my best to stock only nickel-plated chains to help keep the rust at bay in our salt-water drenched community- for now most chains are still $20. Tires may also become a concern- last week I ordered 14 hybrid tires split across 2 distributors, only 4 arrived! As of now all tires are still $25 each – to keep things simple and to keep the costs distributed amongst all – This may need to change to something like $22 for kids tires, $28 for adults, we will see.

+ Free used parts and 20% off all new parts and labor for those on SNAP/EBT, free school lunch, disability, or those who are recovering from addiction (or tryin’) still applies! The school-based give back project has been put on hold for obvious reasons, but I am still repairing and giving out free bikes to those who qualify- just one by one and very very slowly as I try to work everything in.

+ There will be no bike rentals at BMB for 2020, but Cape Ann Electric Bikes is still operating, so call them instead! It seems likely the Stage Fort Park pop-up space will be shelved as well, but I am still holding out hope to resume at some point in the future.

+ Of course social distancing protocols have been quite easy to follow with the mobile model! I also disinfect surfaces with isopropyl alcohol upon return.

Thanks for reading my long-winded official announcement, stay healthy, and keep on pedaling!

Temporary *pause*

Hey there, I just wanted to drop a quick update that Big Mike’s Bikes will be on pause due to the current ongoing public health issue. As everyone else, I am hoping this will be very short and I will update as things progress. Stay safe, everyone, and keep on pedaling!

 

— Mike

Chirp, chirp, say the birds from my window …

It sure feels like spring today, aw yisssss!

My target opening date for Stage Fort Park setup is Thursday April 16th! In the meantime, mobile appointment calls are coming in FAST- call or text 334-BIKES-34 to get your bike ready for 2020!

Great news for 2020!

I want to drop a YOOGE THANKS to the awesome folks at Awesome Gloucester for selecting and awarding the BMB Bicycle Rehabilitate and Redistribute project last week! That $1000 is going to help rehab a LOT of bikes! Got something awesome to offer to our community? Give ’em a look and maybe they can help you out as well!

The next focus for this giveback project involves the Veteran’s Memorial elementary school- if you’ve got any kids bikes that you’d like to dispose of, please reach out and I’ll make sure it’s put to good use.

FULL DISCLOSURE: My stated goal is to eventually find a partner or two to help organize and open a full brick & mortar non-profit bike shop here on the island. As this is a lofty goal, until I can find more teammates, Big Mike’s Bikes is and will remain a for-profit corporation. The Repair And Redistribute project is considered a giveback, *not* a registered charity organization.

The terms of this project are : any bicycle given to me personally to help this project will be repaired to strict safety minimums and given away free of charge. No bicycle collected will be sold- If any of the bikes are unrepairable they will be stripped of usable parts and recycled. These parts will be added to my personal cache of used parts and used parts are always used first to repair bikes for this project.

I am gifting my time/labor through BMB and offering a steep discount on new parts when needed to make these repairs. Going forward the bulk of the money I’ve received from Awesome Gloucester (and a small amount from friends so far) will be used to purchase new parts, helmets, locks, and lights from Big Mike’s Bikes at a 10% over cost markup (to cover shipping) plus sales tax. Depending on demand for these giveback bikes, I may reserve a small amount (~$300) to cover storage costs if needed OR to arrange a non-profit used bike parts library for the community. I am building slowly, as time allows, and hope to see this project evolve over time!

The first giveback was a total of 7 bikes and helmets fully repaired and given away at The Heights Of Cape Ann Apartment complex. The cost for these repairs was approx $115 including the 10% over cost markup and sales tax. Approx retail value of these repairs with new parts, labor, and helmets would have been over $1000. Thank you for listening and for your support!

 

— Mike