Chef Tasks and Responsibilities:

  • Indicate intentions on the HBK Event availability Spreadsheet (bit.ly/HBK_Availability) – this generates the calendar entries that others can see on the Upcoming Sessions page and also sends out reminder emails.
  • Remember if there are no chefs listed no calendar entry is created and no session advertised, in which case we advise people not to come. We don’t want people coming if there is no chef, and we don’t want you coming with no people.
  • Opening, Closing and Securing the site
  • Opening:
    • Position sign on roadside, sign-in booklet on pavement, rubbish bin and donation box outside shed door at start of session.
    • Identify yourself as a chef. We have several aprons and nametags – use them! It helps newcomers work out who to ask for help.
    • Encourage others to set up work-benches and bike stands in the area between pavement and gardens.
  • Triage incoming donations. You can tag bikes with ‘Ask a Chef’ if it needs further assessment or may be a candidate for auction. Incoming bicycles are usually placed alongside the container. Donated parts can be sorted when time allows or placed in the To Be Sorted (TBS) tub.
  • Make newcomers feel welcome. Call out behaviour that doesn’t fit the HBK Values.
  • Encourage others to assist with small things in return for the help / bike they’ve received. E.g. Sorting/patching tubes (good vs patched vs gone), storing wheels in wheel alley, sorting parts, stripping identified ‘goners’, putting tools away, “step-fixing” bikes up from missing parts to being complete and ready to go. Just to name a few!
  • Closing:
    • Let people know closing time is approaching (a callout 30min before closing works well) and ask people to help tidy up before they leave.
    • Bring the HBK sign back in off the street, pack everything back in the shed, ensure the workbench is clear. Ideally all bikes will go onto the racks.
    • Email the HBK GoogleGroup (hobartbikekitchen@googlegroups.com) if tools/equipment/supplies need replacing, the bins need emptying, or a clean-up day is needed.
  • Securing:
    • Do a final check that everything tidied away, no rubbish left outside the shed.
    • Lock the shed as well as any project bikes
  • Enjoy! Your contribution is helping those in need.
  • General Principles / Operational Notes:
  • If you aren’t confident with how to repair/tune a component, ask another chef. We also have repair manuals under the benches.
  • Try to match riders to bikes, taking into consideration:
    • Physical size; Riding style & location; Frequency of riding
    • (e.g. Fixies not great for West Hobart; For some riders, a Huffy might be a good fit)
  • Try to match parts to a bike, e.g. Deore XT on a Kona, not on a Huffy.
  • Try to “step-fix” bikes toward completion rather than “cannibalising” / stripping parts off functional bikes.
  • Reuse parts where-ever possible. Adult gear cables that are frayed at the end may be perfectly suitable for a childs bike. Used cassettes on used chains – can advise of what would be best (new) vs what will likely work fine (used) and what to look for (skipping).
  • We don’t ‘sell’ bikes or parts, that is what local bicycle shops are for. We do have some new parts available. For these, we actively encourage donations, e.g. Cables (A single cable will cost at least $5 online, we buy them bulk for about $1 each).
  • The Chef cabinet is used to store expensive, unique, and new parts. Only Chefs should access these. Top to bottom:
    • General. Cables & Disc Brake components
    • Shifters, Derailleurs, Brakes
    • Seat posts, Seats, Bars, Stems
    • Cassettes, Chain rings, Chains, Bottom Brackets, Electrical
    • Box on top: Cranksets
  • If people are leaving projects, they should be stored on the nearest rack. This can be locked by chain. Emphasise that we do not guarantee the bike will still be there. Most likely it will, but we occasionally have visitors and break-ins. Avoid storing bikes in the shed.
  • Tags should be cable tied to identify projects, with both name and date. After two openings when the date hasn’t been updated (i.e. the 3rd open weekend since the date on the tag), the bike becomes available again.
  • We occasionally see instances of ‘bike hoarding’. Encourage people to repair additional bicycles for others first (or to enable easier final repairs) before building a second for themselves. You can only ride one bike at a time!