In the few short weeks since I started triathlon training, I have learned so much. A lot of that has come on the bike. One lesson, bikes, and bike maintenance, can be costly, but the free bike services Sacramento has to offer are a huge help.
I’m not new to the bike, in fact, I learned how to ride a bike more than 3 decades ago. Plus I’ve been taking spin classes regularly for a couple of years. I should be good to go, right?
Well, let’s just say there is a little more to learn the ins and outs of road biking than I first assumed.
Enter Sacramento Bike Kitchen
For those in the Sacramento area that are learning to bike, or already love to bike, the Sacramento Bike Kitchen is place is the best resource out there.
It is located at 1915 I Street in Midtown Sacramento, and it is on a short alley. Their hours are perfect for those of us with standard 8-5 jobs. Tuesday- Thursday they are open 6 pm- 9 pm, Friday 10 am – 2 pm and Saturdays they are open from noon to 4 pm.
The place is completely run by volunteers. Their mission? Well basically, to make biking easier for everyone. From the person who rides their beach cruiser a few times a year all the way to the avid cyclist.
And one way they do this is to promote self-sufficiency through knowledge of bicycle maintenance.
This is what brought me to Sacramento Bike Kitchen last week. After a 45 minute ride, I noticed I had a goathead (aka thorn) in my rear tire.
I had just bought a bike repair kit, but I had no clue how to use it. Plus, despite the appearance of this ugly goathead, it didn’t look like my tire was flat.
Knowing that I had a 50-minute bike ride schedule two days later, I called around to local bike shops. It was almost 7, so most were closed, but a really friendly guy at Sacramento Bike Kitchen answered the line.
He let me know they could check out my bike, and if I had a flat they would TEACH me how to fix it.
This is exactly what I was looking for. Because what good does it do me if some guy at the local bike shop knows how to fix my flat?
When I get that inevitable first flat, I’ll be the one stuck on the side of the road. Not the bike repair guy.
I needed to learn. And that’s exactly what happened.
I headed to Sacramento Bike Kitchen and an hour later I left with a bike pump that mounts to my bike. Plus learned how to pop my wheels on and off, patch a tire, and pump up a bike tube.
And on top of all that, the person helping me even road my bike and explained how to better use my gears.
I’m in love with this place.
And the total cost? Five dollars for the used bike pump. Yep, that’s it.
I did make a donation, even though the friendly people that helped me never once hit me up for one.
So here’s the rundown: They only have used parts, which are donated. Most parts are under $5. There is also a $5 charge if you want to use the tools in the shop.
But the lessons, the help, and them not making you feel stupid for the dumb questions (that would be me, asking how I know when to switch gears) are completely free.
It’s that simple. The goal is accessibility and education about bikes so everyone can get out of their cars a little more, and get on those bikes a little more.
So Sacramento, if you haven’t been by, definitely check it out!
And if you have an old bike or random bike parts, bring them down to Bike Kitchen. This great organization deserves all the love and support our town has to offer!
