A series on making de-car-ing a sexy and viable travel solution for Angelenos.

So I carefully set my alarm for 6:30 to make it to LA Works Day on time — and woke up at 9:30 am cuz I’d idiotically set it for 6:30 pm. I’m a bad, bad volunteer –

On the upside, I had time to check out BikeRoWave, a new lil DIY bike shop of sorts in Santa Monica. If you’re familiar with the east side’s Bicycle Kitchen, BikeRoWave’s like its west side counterpart.

For just $5 an hour, you can drop in to use all the bike tools and equipment in the place, maybe even find salvaged parts at a bargain, and work on your bike with guidance from one of BikeRoWave’s volunteers.

Guidance was what I needed. In fact, I was a lil embarrased to drop in because my bike needs were so banal: I wanted to learn how to put air in my bike tires, and how to oil things — as well as figure out what needed oiling when. Basic maintenance stuff I had no clue how to do.

But I went — and a volunteer called Dan not only showed me maintain my bike, but scavenged a used reflector for my front wheel that’d broken off a while back.

He even found a problem of sorts with my front brake — only the left metal thing was moving while both are supposed to move, is the best way I can describe the problem — and we fixed that, which was sort of fun.

And all for $5! It’s a real DIY place, since the point is to help people fix their own bikes; you’re encouraged to do as much of the hands-on work as you can.

Now I feel a bit more empowered — I won’t have to go around with slightly flattish tires! I’ll be less squeaky! I don’t think I could repeat the brake fixing thing on my own, but hopefully I won’t need to. If I do, I can go back to BikeRoWave.

BikeRoWave’s a bit tough to find. On Berkely, just south of Nebraska, you’ll see to your left a BikeRoWave sign (pic left). Turn right at the second alley (pic right), and you’ll see a buncha bikes out front.

One more odd thing ’bout BikeRoWave: The hours are v. funky — Mon. and Wed. evenings, Sat. afternoons. So plan ahead. For more info on the nonprofit, read the recently feature in the Santa Monica Daily Press (PDF).

BikeRoWave. 1816A Berkeley St. Santa Monica. Mon & Wed., 6:30 pm – 10 pm; Sat 1 – 5 pm. 12255 Venice Blvd., Mar Vista (as of Aug., 2009) Mon – Thur, 6:30 pm – 10 pm; Sat, 1 pm – 7 pm; Sun, 1 pm – 5 pm.

Update, 10/17/08: StreetFilms put together a short film about the 3 bike co-ops in the LA area, including Bikerowave.

Update, 8/1/09: Bikerowave moved! Address updated above.

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