Bike Maintenance Workshop - Women and Gender Diverse People

This 2 1/2 hour workshop is an interactive, hands-on bike maintenance experience. It includes demonstration and explanation of bicycle maintenance essentials, and opportunities for participants to practice on their own bikes. For 13 year-olds and upwards (teenagers to be accompanied by an adult).

We know that women and gender diverse people are underrepresented and often face unique barriers when it comes to bike riding in our community. Recent research in Melbourne has highlighted many of the barriers women face, with knowledge and confidence in bike maintenance skills one of the key concerns. These sessions aim to upskill Merri-bek women and gender diverse people in basic bike maintenance to help address some of these concerns and create an inclusive environment to empower more women to ride.

Last year we upskilled 67 women and gender diverse participants through these workshops. 96% said they felt the workshop increased their abilities and confidence, 72% said that the workshop being for women & gender diverse participants encouraged them to sign up, and 77% said they’re likely to ride more often after the session. You can read more about the sessions last year here.

This course is commissioned by Merri-Bek City Council and delivered by Bike it Better.

Who is this session suitable for?

Any women, trans and gender-diverse people interested in learning to maintain and perform basic repairs and safety checks on their bike or their kids' bikes.

Participants must live, work or study in Merri-bek.

Who will be running the session?

The session will be facilitated by Cazz Clarke (she/they) @bikeitbetter
Cazz is a passionate bike rider and educator, facilitating sessions around Melbourne and beyond for more than 10 years. In terms of bike maintenance, Cazz is mostly self-taught through trial and error over many years, spurred on by less-than-satisfactory experiences when taking their bike to shops and feeling patronised or disregarded. They hope to share this knowledge with you, so that you can either work on your bike yourself, or at least know enough to "talk the talk" with a bike mechanic and hopefully get treated better!
Cazz particularly enjoys working with groups who have been historically under-represented, under-served and marginalised in the general bike space: such as LGBTIQA+, women and gender diverse, neurodiverse, and CALD people; and recognises the common intersectionality of these groups. Cazz strives to create and hold an inclusive learning space, and openly welcomes people of any age, sex, culture, religion, gender, sexuality, neurotype and ability. They invite participants to make known any accommodations that they could make to ensure each and everyone has the best possible learning opportunity.

When not busy with work, Cazz enjoys getting out in nature mountain biking, hiking, and camping. Their favourite place to visit and ride is the Castlemaine area.

What does the session cover?

Welcome and introduction.

ABCD check: the essential safety check before every ride. Participants practice on own bike.

Bike fit: how to set your seat at the correct height, and other adjustment related issues.

Inner tube replacement: what to do when you get a flat tyre, what essentials to carry when riding.

Brakes: how to adjust brakes, replace worn brake pads, and know when to take it in for repair.

Chain replacement: what to do if your chain comes off during a ride.

Chain/drive-train clean and re-lube: how to clean and maintain your chain and gears, and when to take it for a service. Chain lube: what type is best, how to correctly use it, and how often.

Puncture repair: how to patch a punctured tube (better for the environment). If time, opportunity for participants to repair own punctured tube(s) along with instructor.

General maintenance demonstration and parts identification.

The workshop will finish with an open time allocation for participants to work on your own bike, ask questions, and get assistance and advice regarding maintenance issues.

Session notes will be provided to participants via email before the session.

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Host or Publisher Merri-bek Libraries