WEND Magazine + Bikes To Rwanda

If you haven't had a chance to read the piece about BTR, written by staffer Anna Brones - it's in the newest issue of WEND magazine, a Portland-based adventure/outdoor/epic/chill/real-people type of periodical edited by our good friend Ian Marshall, then you should check it out on newsstands right now. You can find them online here. And pick them up nationally at these fine retailers.

Also, if you subscribe to this amazing read and use the code "BTR", Bikes To Rwanda will receive $ for each subscription! Thanks WEND.

Hope everyone is well and enjoying whatever weather mother nature is throwing your way. We're racing cyclocross out here in Portland and enjoying some sunshine. So go for a ride, surf, ski, skate or just take a walk for a change and read a good magazine when you get home.

Cheers,
Tom

Reno Poker Run - This Weekend!!

Walden's Coffee House in Reno, Nevada
is hosting a fundraiser for BTR this Saturday, October 25!

Chalk full of exciting activities from bikes to coffee to beer and music!

Thanks to Joey and Tony and everybody at Barefoot Coffee.


Walden's Coffee House
3940 Mayberry
Reno, NV 89519

12noon - 5pm, this Saturday.


If you are in the area, hope you can make it. Should be a great event!!

Bikes to Rwanda & Ira Ryan Cycles at Oregon Manifest

This great event is bringing some of the most incredible handmade bicycles from around the area and beyond. Including BTR's good friend, Ira Ryan of Ira Ryan Cycles. We hope to see you there. We'll be sharing the BTR story and raising some money with all the enthusiastic bike geeks in attendance.

Event is Friday, October 10 & Saturday October 11
Leftbank Greenroom 1618 N Vancouver & Weidler
10am - 7 Friday, and 10am - 6 Saturday.

Other activities for the weekend include:
Friday night Kickoff part at Weiden & Kennedy

Saturday night Rapha Roller Races at the Left Bank Building (NE Vancouver & Broadway/Weidler)

Sunday - Cross Crusade

Benfit Happy Hour, Film Screening

Greetings all!
Been out of touch, getting things cleaned up after returning from my trip.
So begins the Fall/Winter event push to raise the dough for coffee farmers in Rwanda.
Those of you in the greater Portland area...
We'd love to see you!

Check out the details here.

This Thursday!
Plan B, Portland, Oregon
5pm-8pm Happy hour
8th & Main SE
*pic - coffee seedlings at the Coopac Washing Station, Lake Kivu, Rwanda

Time for Action - Karaba Update

Had a great first week. Working with Simeon Ngendahayo, Agronomist from SPREAD that has been a great help as liaison with cooperatives in the bike program, and Douglas Mutabazi parts and distribution contact for Project Rwanda - we started at Karaba, spending most of the day visiting with cooperative management, the bike shop/loan manager Safari, and included four coop farmers to provide their assessment of the bikes as owners.
General feedback brought us a great picture of what needs work and what is going very well as the Karaba bike shop reaches its
1 year anniversary in business!

Things are going very well. The mechanic that is dispatched for serious repairs works at a nearby village, making a trip in to the cooperative when needed. Safari is keeping separate accounts for parts and loan repayment, this seems to be the best scenario. Parts revenue is used to maintain parts inventory, and the loan repayment has been going well. In the past few months they have begun bike repossession on those loans that are in default. These bikes will be refurbished and sold at a discounted price.

Wear is showing that the rear wheels on these bikes are taking a beating. The weight being transported on the back rack is wearing down brake pads faster than perhaps anticipated. Farmers need to be aware that if pads are not replaced regularly, damage will occur to the rear rims and this will ultimately require replacement of the wheels.

This message is being distributed to farmers, and we are ramping up the availability of these replacement parts. The education and increased inventory proves to alleviate this issue.

Attended a preliminary planning meeting for a SPREAD sponsored Health Program that will be rolling out in coming months. I am interested to see if BTR can't be involved somehow. More to come.

Planning Day

Working with SPREAD staff today to line-up details for this weeks activities. I'll be spending a good amount of time collecting data from all the cooperatives that we have pledged to and have already worked with. Starting tomorrow with Karaba. Our introduction into the bike program, it will be great to assess the progress/issues with not only the bikes themselves, but the bike shop at its one year anniversary.

I will be combining the data collected with that of SPREAD and putting together a detailed assessment of the program when I return. Looking forward to having this litmus test more formally available for our contributors, partners and anyone interested in our project.

The weather is mild, overcast with a slight breeze. I hope for some sun this afternoon.

*market in Butare.

Saturday in Butare

Arrived Friday evening into Butare. After nearly 42 hours of travel, happy to be in one place.
Awoke this morning to a warm breeze, the Rwandan haze in the sky that I have a hard time describing. Spent a nice quiet morning getting settled in and unpacked. The Schillings are my hosts, Butare will be home base.

We went into town to look for some clothes and shoes. The market is an adventure. I really enjoy the saturation that is present for all five senses. The thick smells of dirt, soap, baby powder and many bodies in the sun. As we walk through, it isn't uncommon to have a mysterious hand stroke your hair, hand, clothing. I didn't find this at all intrusive, just curious. When I am here I often try to remember how well my expectations of a small African city held up to what is really here.

Setting down with the calendar to map out the next two weeks, the route, priorities.
Looking forward to some great productivity.
As with last trip, having difficulty uploading pictures. Working on a solution.

Dogs love BTR!!

Meet Midori, 12 year old super model. Looks like she approves of these cedar stuffed dog beds.

A new partnership from SoCal. Green Beds - creates dog beds out of burlap green coffee bags. I was contacted by these lovely folks who are looking to donate a portion of their proceeds to BTR with the sale of each of these one of a kind bags. Thanks Jenavieve, looking forward to this partnership.
Check out their site... inexpensive and totally rad!

Have bike, will donate??

It is fairly often we are asked about bike donations. Unfortunately our program does not have the capacity to accept, refurbish and ship used bicycles to Rwanda, however...
there are options for you the motivated used bike owner. CHECK IT OUT:

1. You could sell the bike, donating a portion or all of the proceeds to us. We'll take that money and funnel it into our programs. Give that old bike a new home here in the states and help the farmers in Rwanda get new bikes and bike shops.

or

2. Check these people out... International Bicycle Fund
they are motivated to refurbish your bike and send it out into the world to be used
in developing countries in dire need of transportation resources.

3. Village Bike Project, also totally great people working mainly in Western Africa, Ghana.

EVERYBODY WINS!!!

Canadian teens bake for BTR!

During the months of April & May, the 11th graders in Sharon Kemble's homeroom class at West Point Grey Academy in Vancouver, BC set to holding bake sales to raise money and awareness for BTR.

"...we've struggled in the past looking for a project that we could dedicate ourselves to, and we truly feel that we have found a great organization to help..."

And help they did!
We received a great letter of their plans to continue this on next year an a check for $1462.79!

"...a program which encourages the economy and more importantly raises the standard of living of the world's poorest should be our number one priority."

We are eager to continue to work with these passionate young adults from Vancouver.
Thanks again for all your efforts!

BTR, Ritual, MTV!!!

Back in the saddle, lots of work to be done!

Officially raised just over $2,000.00 dollars on the 1st annual BTR Road Trip!
Thanks to my co-hort Sarah Allen board member and editor of Barista Magazine for all her help, fantastic reporting from the field, and for putting up with me for over a week! Hee hee

We had a great time, made new friends, spent time with some old friends and in the end - spread the work of BTR across the NorCal countryside.

Thanks again to our sponsors, Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Crema Cafe & Bakery, Barista Exchange, Chris Baca, Lava Java, Dog River Coffee, Coffee Plant, The Albina Press, Brewed Behavior, The Fresh Pot, Verite Coffee, Espresso Parts, Chris Davidson and Leanne & Steve Allen.
(Sarah's parents)

Carl Brown of Courduroy Media came to the Ritual Ping Pong event, check out the piece he put together on the think.MTV site... pretty rad!

I heat up, can't cool down...

It is 100, at least here. Whew!!!

I have been a little short on the blog entries since our departure. Old little laptop.

Thanks to Sarah for keeping up on her end. you can read much much more at www.baristamagazine.com/blog/

Looking forward to a comprehensive summary of the whole trip soon.


We are in Santa Clara/San Jose with our buddies at Barefoot for the night.

Tomorrow its off to SF to Ping Pong it up at Ritual on Valencia.

1st Annual BTR Road Trip

Hey Sarah...
are you ready yet?
we're packing up the Prius,
we'll be blogging all the way.

BTR 2008 Road Trip
Episode 1... Norcal
we have an exciting trip ahead, check it out...

J U L Y 3
Portland to Eureka
pass the night Eureka

J U L Y 4
Eureka to Fort Bragg
Mendocino 4th of July activities, Thanksgiving Coffeetour
pass the night Fort Bragg

J U L Y 5
Breakfast event, Mendocino Bakery, hosted by Thanksgiving Coffee
Lunch Healdsburg, Flying Goat Coffee
to Napa
pass the night Napa

J U L Y 6
Ritual Napa event
pass the night Napa

J U L Y 7
Napa to Taylor Maid Farms
Ecco
pass the night Santa Rosa

J U L Y 8
Strauss Family Creamery
to SF
pass the night SF

J U L Y 9
Blue Bottle
4 Barrel
Ping Pong for Rwanda, Ritual, Mission
pass the night SF

J U L Y 10
Pacific Bay Coffee, Walnut Creek
Davis for burritos
to Sacramento - Temple, Ride On event, bike poker run
pass the night Sacto

J U L Y 11
to Roseville, java J's

...head home! **drawing done in Minneapolis at Cafe Imports party

It's hot! So was the action at the auction yesterday!

Thanks to all that came out and took part in the action on the
hottest day of the year!
The final dollar amount is not yet in, however we are pleased that nearly half the work sold, and that we were able to be a small part of the Cycle Seen mission.
Frantically getting ready for the NorCal road trip.
All the details to follow.
We're gonna be all over, spreading the word and having a blast!

Eat a popsicle, ride your bike!
Love,
BTR

*photo, 'Kay Bike', Mark Toal

Benefit Silent Auction

Support Bikes to Rwanda and the
Portland Bicycle Culture in one stop!

Saturday, June 28 4-6pm
Photography exhibition
Silent Auction

Stumptown Division Cafe
4525 SE Division Street

Hope to see you there.

For more information, check out www.cycleseen.org and www.bikestorwanda.com

Efforts and Funds from all over!

The masses are in full force this Spring raising awareness and funds for BTR in nearly every corner of the US.

Since the beginning of the year, check out what's been going on...

February -
MidAtlantic Barista Jam at Cosmic Cup in Pennsylvannia - raised $2500
Thanksgiving Coffee Roasters effort for Musasa Bike Shop - raised $3000

March -
Western Regional Barista Competition, hosted by Pacific Bay Coffee - raised $3000

April -
Octane Bike Race and Rwandan Coffee event in Atlanta - raised $1500

May -
SCAA & USBC in Minneapoilis, Barista Guild - raised approx. $1000

...now we're looking to the Summer and all the activities we have planned.

Stay tuned for information about 2008 BTR Road Trip - Norcal Style!
July 3 - 13
Sarah Allen & Clara are taking it on the road!

THANKS TO ALL FOR YOUR GREAT SUPPORT!
If you would like to support BTR, contact us, info@bikestorwanda.com
Woohoo!

Short trip - big action #1

I hope to spread this over-due update over a few posts. Finally back in the land of fast and reliable internet. As said before, the Musasa shop, while not totally complete is on its way and will do great in servicing the region it lies in.
Three other projected locations for shops this year - Bufcafe, Bukonya (Rusenyi), and Gashonga. Each with their unique challenges, we hope to begin the rollout on these withing the next 2-3 months. I am quite excited about this increased action on BTR's part.
Each region proves to be excited and eager for bikes, parts and of course, the shop.

pics: Musasa shop, May 21 - nearly complete, inventory of tools Rich & I with coop managment.

Musasa Bike Shop Update

Not knowing what I would find when I arrived, I am pleased to say that the Musasa shop is well on its way to completion. We ran into some accountability issues with the budget, but after some stern negotiating, the cooperative and BTR came to an agreement about how to finish the shop and get it up and running, stocked with tools and parts.
You may notice the shop is quite a bit larger than the one at Karaba (our first shop)...
this was part of the issue. We will be helping out a bit more financially, but the coop will take most of the responsibility to complete the structure.

By explaining that this model will be used at cooperatives all over Rwanda - we
were able to have these farmers show some pride in getting the thing open. We left tools tools of the most necessity. Rich Whitekettle from Chris King made this visit with me, helped out a ton. Thanks Rich!

After this meeting, SPREAD contact, Simeon and I have decided that there should be two sizes of shops (one to handle larger coops with more bikes and the Karaba model). By having this standard, with budgets, hopefully we won't have as many surprises.

Pictures to come, connection is scarce and a bit weak.
Best to all!

BTR on the move...

Attended the Specialty Coffee Association of America's annual trade show in Minneapolis at the beginning of the month. It was a great trip, building relationships with coffee retailers, roasters and other industry leaders. We are excited to report that Bikes to Rwanda is making friends and spreading the word about economic development for coffee farmers in Rwanda.

Barista Magazine and BTR will be taking a road trip early July to continue the crusade of involving communities here in the US with this community development project in Rwanda.

Currently on route to Rwanda. I'll be doing my best to keep everyone updated about our progress building the Musasa bike shop, scouting the next three bike shop locations, and witnessing the harvest for the first time. Very exciting stuff.

Stay tuned!

Re-Use

If you've been assembling any of that fancy, flat-packed Swedish designer furniture lately you may have ended up with a handful or drawerful of hex wrenches (Allen keys) in a number of various sizes-2,4,5,6,8mm. Coincidentally, they are the same sizes that we use to assemble and repair the BTR bikes. So, put them in an envelope or small box and mail them to us so that we can get them on their way to Rwanda! You get to clean out that junk-drawer and farmers get a set of hex wrenches to do on-the-fly maintenance and repairs.

Bikes To Rwanda
4110 SE Hawthorne #406
Portland, OR 97214

P.S. We should have some drop boxes throughout the city soon to make this a little easier. Refer to yesterdays post about bike shop tool donations, if you have a shop and want a BTR drop box email: info@bikestorwanda.com , "Tools" in the Subject line.

Awesome Tool Donation from Bike n Hike Supports BTR bike shop

A big THANK YOU to Jens Schrader and Bike n Hike owner, and 2007 BTA Alice Awards winner, Kevin Chudy for their support of Bikes To Rwanda!

Bike n Hike service manager Jens Schrader had a job to do, it was time to update the service center at their downtown Portland store. Jens, a local cross racer and long-time bike mechanic in Portland had a thought... "I should do something with these tools, maybe I'll donate them to Bikes To Rwanda to help stock one of the new bike shops they're building in 2008." Well, Jens had great timing. Those tools, which we picked up earlier in the week are now on their way Rwanda to be a part of BTR's newest bike shop at the Musasa co-op.

Thanksgiving coffee is on their way to Africa for a source visit, and eventually they will be in Rwanda to begin the process of building the bike shop they've been fundraising for over the past month. More on that soon.

It's synergies like these that support Bikes To Rwanda's mission. We feel that the support and cooperation of our local and national partners are what will make BTR successful long into the future.

If you are a bike shop employee or owner in Portland or the continental U.S. and are interested in helping Bikes To Rwanda in this way please contact us at: info@bikestorwanda.com and write "Tools" in the Subject line.

Cheers,
-BTR

BTR Bike Shop, NEW Photos

Here are a couple of photos from Tim Schilling of the Karaba co-op bike shop, up and running. Thanks Tim.

Bikes To Rwanda at the NAHBS!

Come by the Ira Ryan Cycles booth at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show in Portland, OR the weekend of February 9-10 and chat up BTR's executive director Clara Seasholtz or technical director Ira Ryan himself! Ira will have a number of amazing new bikes to show and will be taking orders as well. He will also be selling his awesome hand-sewn(Caroline aka "Little Package") , hand-screened hats(Ira), and NEW t-shirts. If you want a little info on BTR we'll have some literature on hand as well as t-shirts, stickers and buttons...and maybe even some cookies!
Hope to see you THERE!
xoxo,
BTR