Classes and Open shop for women/trans/femme/non-binary folks

Bike Walk’s Shift Program is all about shifting the narrative of who can work on and ride bikes! Our goal is to create an inclusive space to help foster more FTWN-B folks wrenching and riding. Check out our programming below! Questions? Email claire@bikewalktompkins.org

Shift Open Shop: paused for the winter (will restart April 2, 2026)

Join us on the first Thursday of the month from 4-7pm! Bring your bike in for a repair, fix that weird noise that it always seems to make, volunteer on a project, and connect with other cyclists in the community! We offer tune-ups, free access to tools, used parts, refurbished bikes for sale, and a mechanic on-site to assist with any bike-related issues.

Monthly CLASSES (View all and REGISTER HERE)

Pre-registration is required for all classes. There is a $20 suggested donation for each class. We never turn anyone away due to lack of funds; If the financial barrier would prevent you from participating, you may use the code FREERIDE to waive the fee. We trust that folks will self-assess if this is what they need in order to participate.

February 5: Cycle-CNY Trailside Maintenance (REGISTER HERE)

This class is specifically geared towards women, trans, femme, and non-binary members of Cycle-CNY! We’ll spend the evening talking about basic trailside maintenance for before and during your ride including checking for brake wear, suspension adjustments, how to fix a dropped chain, and simple derailleur adjustments. The focus will be specifically on mountain bikes and participants are encouraged to bring their own bikes.

February 19: Winter Bike Maintenance (REGISTER HERE)

Join us this winter to learn tips and tricks to keep you and your bike happy during the winter riding season. Whether you are a cold-weather commuter or all-season cyclist, we’ll discuss chain and frame maintenance, winter riding clothing, post-trip care, and tips for staying well-lit. Participants are encouraged to bring their own bikes.

March 5: Bottom Brackets Explained (REGISTER HERE)

This class is for folks with some basic understanding of bike mechanics (i.e. comfort with fixing a flat or have worked on your own bike to some degree). Please be in touch if you are unsure if this class would be a good fit for you. We’ll go over types of bottom brackets, how they work, and how to make adjustments. Participants are encouraged to bring their own bikes.

March 19: Finding the Right Seat/Saddle (REGISTER HERE)

If you experience seat discomfort while biking, this is the class for you! Join guest teacher and bike fit expert Eva Stillwell to talk about saddle fit and what can make riding more comfortable. Whether you are a daily commuter, a road racer, or just like to go for the occasional ride, take an in-depth look at body anatomy, seat fit, and different types of saddles. Afterwards, browse our Bike Seat Library, or get a library card and try out one (or a few) seats! Participants do not need to bring their own bikes, but may if they want to try a new seat.

April 16: Wheel Truing (REGISTER HERE)

Sst, sst, sst.. Do you hear that sound coming from your wheel when you bike? Are you curious about what exactly all those spokes do?? In this class we’ll go over the different parts of the wheel and spoke, spoke tension, and the basics of wheel truing so that your wheels are perfectly balanced. Participants are encouraged to bring their own bikes.

May 21: Fix A Flat (REGISTER HERE)

This in-depth class will walk you through all the steps of fixing a flat on your bike. We’ll talk about bike anatomy, practice taking off the wheels, patch a tube, and assemble it all back together. Participants are encouraged to bring their own bikes.

June 18: All About Chains (REGISTER HERE)

Has your chain ever fallen off while you were riding and you didn't know what to do? This class will prepare you for what to do next time and how to prevent this from happening again (via limit screw adjustments). We’ll also check for chain wear, learn about chain sizing, learn how to replace a chain, and talk about general chain maintenance. Participants are encouraged to bring their own bikes.

More classes later on in 2026… Stay tuned!

All programming will take place at the Bike Walk Tompkins office: 803 Cascadilla St. Ithaca, NY 14850 (behind the Enterprise Car Rental office).