BIKE PIRATES, 457 Bathurst, www.bikepirates.com Rating: NNNNN
Bike Pirates ‘ basement is a treasure trove for cycle-building do-it-yourselfers. Tires and wheels hang from the low ceiling over milk crates loaded with seats, brakes and forgotten frames from fendered cruisers and sporty mountain bikes.
All that stock has been donated by other cyclepaths who believe in the Bike Pirates cause: to offer newbie mechanics the space and instruction they need to create a personal two-wheeler. Five to 10 volunteers are available every Thursday and Saturday to help you tune up.
The one-and-a-half-year-old storefront grew out of the U of T’s Bike Chain repair shop, and it’s best known for its ghost bikes, whitewashed cycles commemorating fallen riders. This spring, the Bike Pirates team will be installing more ghost bikes around town and offering Sunday guerrilla workshops to reclaim public space and offer pedal tinkering tips.
Pike Pirate picks: The shop runs on a pay-what-you-can basis, but $50 is the suggested price for a second-hand ride tighten up your brakes for quick stops for $5 a full tune-up costs $20, about a third of the usual shop fee.
Look for: Bike Pirates is actually looking for you to join its volunteer team.
Hours: Thursday and Saturday noon to 5 pm.
