Bike Kitchen chefs up learning and volunteer work

As the new semester gears up, many college students could benefit from low cost transportation to and from campus. Bicycles are a cheap and fun alternative that a lot of Bobcats resort to during the fall. But what if you don’t have access to an affordable bike? What if the bicycle you do own is having mechanical issues that you need to resolve on the fly? 

Luckily, one local shop is here to help: Bozeman Bike Kitchen.

According to Kara Gratzek, Bozeman Bike Kitchen’s shop manager, the organization's goals are simple. “We’re an all-round kind of do-it-yourself bike shop and education center. Our mission is to make the use of bicycles accessible to all for both transportation and recreation,” Gratzek said.

Bozeman Bike Kitchen makes it their goal to get as many people as they can out and riding bicycles at an affordable cost. The organization is a non-profit cycling hub that offers refurbished bikes both for sale and for charitable donation to those who would otherwise be unable to afford a bicycle. They also provide opportunities for rewarding volunteer work along with thorough and instructive do-it-yourself bike maintenance.

One crucial part of this effort is their community bikes program, where older bikes can be donated and refurbished to be sold or given away. This is where many of the volunteers are put to work disassembling old bikes and salvaging parts. Gratzek explained how the majority of what is taken in for the program comes from small local donations.

According to their website, Bozeman Bike Kitchen works with multiple social organizations to arrange a voucher program, where organizations provide individuals in need with vouchers that can be exchanged for free bikes at the shop. Some of these groups include the Gallatin Valley Food Bank, Love Inc, and the HRDC. Bozeman Bike Kitchen makes it their goal to give away as many of these refurbished bikes as possible.

“First and foremost, our mission is to give away just as many bikes as we are selling. Last fiscal year, we gave away 53% of the bikes that left our doors with a new owner,” Gratzek said.

So far this year, the organization has engaged 110 volunteers who have collectively donated approximately 1,300 hours of their time to the Bozeman Bike Kitchen. The organization has managed to send 477 bikes out the door for low or no cost, according to Gratzek.

Volunteers also may become eligible for Bozeman Bike Kitchen’s Earn a Bike Program if they complete enough volunteer hours. In exchange for eight hours of volunteer work, the shop will assist you in building up your own bike from scratch using old parts stripped from donations — completely free of charge.

“Volunteering for the Bozeman Bike Kitchen can benefit both us and yourself,” Gratzek said. “I think our Earn a Bike program is something that college kids would be very interested in.”

Getting involved is easy. All those interested in volunteering can drop in during Tuesday and Thursday evenings sessions from 6-8 p.m. and be put to work. Everyone ranging from seasoned bike technicians to inexperienced hobbyists are encouraged to participate. These time windows also provide a great opportunity to stop in with your own bike and utilize their open shop space.

Gratzek stressed that Bozeman Bike Kitchen is not your run-of-the-mill bike repair shop, but rather an education center. You cannot simply drop your bike off for a general tune-up and get all the work done out of sight and out of mind, according to Gratzek. The organization takes a more involved approach to bike maintenance.

“What I often say is, come in when you have the time and the willingness to get dirty, because you're going to get dirty. And a volunteer or staff member would love to check out your bike with you, run through what the appropriate repairs are that need to be taken, and then build an action plan from there,” Gratzek said.

According to Gratzek, the purpose of the education program is to inspire confidence in Bozeman’s cyclists, many of whom might feel intimidated by bike work and only require some positive encouragement.

“I want to lessen that barrier to entry, to show everyone that they can do these things themselves and that really all you need is a few very simple tools and you can get most things on your bike done yourself with very minimal effort,” Gratzek said.

Anyone looking to donate an old bike can drop it off on the bike rack at their storefront located at 2104 Industrial Drive.