2024 Mechanic Classes
BBP is holding a 2024 mechanic class series! These classes are built to help you become more familiar with your bike, its components, and maintenance that will help it run smoothly for years to come. Our goal is to empower you to be more confident in your bike mechanic skills. Classes are open to all skill levels- we just that you come excited to learn more about your bike! There are a few changes from our 2023 classes:
Classes are FREE to members (learn more about BBP membership here)!
Non-members are welcome to attend one class free of charge. (Additional classes will be a $10 charge each, paid in-person on the night of the class.)
You will not receive a BBP apron, but they’ll be available to purchase for $20.
Classes may not go in the same order as previously, and class topics may be repeated occasionally within the 9 weeks.
There will be a 15-person cap per class.
Sign-ups (see calendar below) for each class will open on Thursday morning at 9:30 am the week before the class. For example, the sign-up for the class on March 13th will open at 9:30 am on March 7th. Class sign-ups will remain open until filled.
Each class will be held from 6 pm to 8 pm every Wednesday for 4 x 9-week segments, January 17th through October 9th. No classes will be held in between segments on March 20th, May 29, or August 7th.
If you have any questions please feel free to call the shop at 208-429-6520 or email Matt, our Lead Mechanic and Educator, at matt@boisebicycleproject.org. We look forward to teaching you more about your bikes!
During the class on May 1st we’ll be covering cables and housing! In this class, we will teach you how to check your cables and housing for kinks and obstructions and replace them if needed. Everyone will leave this class with smoother cable system!
FEM NIGHT
FEM Night is a “Femme Empowerment Mechanic” class for Femme, Trans, Women, Non-Binary, and Two-spirit people. This is a FREE class that happens the first Friday evening of every month from 6:00 - 8:00pm. You don’t need to register or sign up, all you have to do is show up! Each month a different mechanic or maintenance topic is covered, and each class is a hands on learning experience. Bring your bike and wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty.
Our goal with FEM Night is to create an empowered and diverse network of participants within our organization and the Boise cycling community. Our vision is to see Boise become known for its femme-dominated, inclusive cycling spaces, and femme leaders on bikes.
The History of FEM Night
In spring 2022, Boise Bicycle Project started a monthly “Femme Empowerment Mechanics” night to provide a social & educational space for Femme, Trans, Women, Non-Binary, and Two-spirit people. Named “FEM Night”, this monthly class gained traction and more attendees began showing up each month to learn how to work on their bikes and meet fellow cyclists.
Employees Anika, Roxy, Joleen, and Matt realized Boise was in need of more gender-specific spaces in cycling, and sought a connection between already existing organizations supporting diverse identities. Anika applied to open a Boise chapter of Radical Adventure Riders (RAR), a national organization with 20 chapters that hosts spaces centering for Femme, Trans, Women, Non-Binary, Two-spirit, and people of color on bikes. The application was accepted and the FEM Night team is now faciliating out-of-shop social rides for RAR.
Currently, FEM Night provides in-shop mechanic training, where Boise RAR events are out-of-shop joy rides and outdoor adventures. Our team at BBP envisions a Boise where at least half of the fellow cyclists & bike shop mechanics in our community are FEM identifying.
FEM Night Leaders
