Couchsurfing.org in Boulder

Standard Bike Repair Offers a Place to Stay for Travelers

If you need a place for up to three nights, please email or call Ryan at bikes@standardbikerepair.com & 720 – 837 -8984

Couchsurfing.org Work Exchange Program for Bike Shop
Forest strums the guitar on a windy Saturday night.

Why does Standard Bike Repair offer Travelers a Place to Stay

According to Nicki, a Couchsurfing.org host in Boulder, given the relatively low amount of hosts to travelers in town, there are not a lot of couches in the Republic of Boulder. Standard Bike Repair does not own a couch either. We have military-style cot and a blow-uppable full size air mattress.

In exchange for a night’s stay, Ryan Kelley, the owner and live-in mechanic, asks for help around the shop.

CouchSurfing Rules:

Ryan is a very particular guy. He is happy to open his home and bike shop as long as certain boundaries are allowed.

Running the shop cost money and uses resources. Thus, the policies are in place to sustain the life of the bike shop.

  1. Please give Ryan 24 to 48 All too often, people email the “day-of” needing place. Needing a place now is not ideal. Ryan needs to psychically prepare and clean the place up for guests.
  2. Stays start at 1 night for 1 hour of work. Second night is two hours, third night is three hours.
  3. You are not guaranteed a second night.
  4. Sunday is an off day. No access to the shop from 10am to 5 on Sundays.
  5. Guest bags stored neatly and out of the way. We are a business by day and a Bed and Breakfast by night. You can stay in the parts room or the main store.
  6. Laundry loads are $4 per cycle. Includes 60 minute dryer run and soap.
  7. Showers are $2 per shower.
  8. Use of the kitchen requires cleaning the kitchen and something extra like cleaning the fridge.

What Kinds of Help are Needed at the Shop?

Forest, pictured above playing guitar on a Saturday night, built the shelving system below in exchange for three nights stay. Using recycled wood from the shop yard and his skills as a carpenter, he cut, nailed and drilled in a useful storage area. We need more shelves built so we can carry more stock. Summer 2014 is around the corner. A Major Winter Project for SBR is increasing the Available Inventory Space. We all know, that if you don’t have it, people won’t buy it.

Used Bike Parts For Sale in Boulder

How much Labor is Required Per Night of Stay?

Two hours per night is requested. Between the skills of the globetrotter and daily needs of the shop, the visitor and Ryan will come up with a plan of action for the stay.

Did you know that it is free to bring your recycling directly to Eco Cycle?

Eco Cycle supplies Single Stream bins and offers various plans to empty them on a regular basis. Rather than pay that monthly bill, we have opted to use the bins as temporary storage till the plastic gets a ride to the recycling joint. Keeping overhead low is key to Standard Bike Repair’s survival. We choose to bike our bags of re-usables via bike trailer and large backpacks to their venue on 63rd and Araphaoe. Below is Quinn and Maya getting ready for an afternoon ride.

Trading Services for Bike Repair

Parts Organization is Key. Thousands of Bike Parts Constantly Moving Around The Shop.

Pictured Below is Jim and Brooke. We took parts from outside, put them in the Ultrasonic Parts Cleaner and then they landed in the various labeled bins. Knowing where the product is located is essential to selling a bike part to the customer who says, “I need a 26.4mm seat post”.

Besides Parts Organization, Cleaning the Shop and Building Shelves. What else can a Sightseer Trade With?

If the backpacker has certain skills like website development, bookkeeping, organization, sales or wheel building, then the “What can I trade to stay at the shop” discussion can go in any direction. Especially techie stuff, Ryan loves learning new things about the internet and how to use his computer.

What about Food? We hear Ryan Likes to Cook. Is Food Free?

Food is free if you cannot pay for it. Ryan likes to share food with people. In his soul searching meandering 20’s, he traveled the country cooking at different vegetarian and traditional restaurants. A donation of $4 per meal is graciously accepted.

And the Showers and Bathroom. Will Guests Have Access like a Youth Hostel?

Yes, if you would like to use the facilities which include showers, you are welcome. I would like to charge for showers, but it feels weird. Plus I have been told that it is definitely a bike shop bathroom, so it is ludicrous to ask for money or have the surfers clean the tile.

This Sounds Like a Work in Progress. Is the Couchsurfing Labor for Night’s Stay a Perfect System?

The Standard Bike Repair Couchsurfing program is a new thing. Everything is up for negotiation. Ryan feels that it is necessary to set clear boundaries that promote the long term health of Standard Bike Repair. Living and working in a bike shop is a dream. He will do everything possible to improve and grow SBR.