Public Bike Repair

Notes From a Bike Parking Nerd: Public Bike Repair

June 14, 2016

Fixits

Public bike repair goes with quality bicycle parking like a smile while riding your favorite two-wheeled steed. Riders never know when they’ll need to make a minor adjustment, whether it’s tightening brakes, pumping up tires, or adjusting seatpost height. Bike repair amenities like our Fixit and Tool Kits are at home in nearly any setting–secured bike rooms, city parks and trails, covered bike shelters, college campuses, and private businesses. Both the Fixit and Tool Kits include all the necessary tools to perform basic repairs and maintenance, and they’re securely attached using aircraft grade stainless steel cables and tamper-resistant fasteners. Also check out our crowdsourced map with locations of nearly 900 public Fixit stations around the world.

Differences between Air Kit 2 & Air Kit 3

We offer two heavy-duty air pump models to accompany your public bike repair. The Air Kit 2 and Air Kit 3 were both designed from the ground up by Dero engineers, are constructed from quality steel tubing, and require minimal upkeep to maintain (more on this later in the post). The primary differences between the two models are: Air Kit 2:
  • -Both Fixit-mounted and freestanding options
  • -Smaller footprint
  • -No pressure gauge

Air Kit 3:

  • -Freestanding mount only
  • -Larger footprint
  • -Includes waterproof, anti-fog pressure gauge
Step 3b

Pump maintenance 101

Our Air Kit pumps both feature lots of moving parts. And like the components on your bicycle, worn out or abused parts occasionally need to be replaced to keep them functioning optimally. The most common maintenance you will perform on your Air Kit is replacing the hose and/or pump head. Fortunately for you, we have detailed video and print instructions that walk you through this process for replacing the pump head and hose on an Air Kit 2. Additionally, nearly all of the replacement parts for our Air Kits (and Fixit stands) can be easily ordered on our website. Pump-stop1

Pump Stops

Pump Stops are the most unassuming product in our bike repair lineup.Not everyone has a kickstand, so we designed it to accompany our Air Kit pumps. A Pump Stop holds your bicycle upright so you can easily fill your tires with air, without risking it falling over in the process. If you need any further assistance with planning or maintaining your public bike repair amenities, please feel free to reach out to our customer service department by calling (888) 337-6729.
News

Dero Through the Years: Boxes and Bullwinkles

August 25, 2015
If you walked away from a fruitless job interview in college, would you expect to be working at that company as their Director of Marketing a decade later? Bri probably didn’t think so. In this installment of Dero history, she tells us about her custom touring bike and what it was like to interview with Dero during the company’s infancy.

How long have you been at Dero?

Since June 2013…just over two years now.

Do you ride bikes?

Yes!

Where is your favorite place ride?

I’m falling back in love with the Gateway Trail. Earlier this spring I was exploring with a friend and we found the connector trail to Stillwater. It was so great to ride 99% trails from my home in South Minneapolis all the way to Stillwater.

What is your favorite bike to ride?

My favorite bike was my blue Dawes commuter/touring bike that I had built in Australia and shipped back home, but it was stolen last fall. We had so many adventures together – touring solo in Tasmania, Bicycle Film Festival in Sydney, 30 Days of Biking in Minneapolis. But our engineer Joel made me a new, custom steel bike (via Clockwork Bikes), it’s my new favorite! It was designed for commuting and touring, so it has stable handling and comfortable geometry for long rides, as well as all the necessary braze-ons for racks and fenders. The color I chose is inspired by my trip to Thailand earlier this year. I’ve only taken it on a few long rides so far, and I can’t wait to take it on a multi-day adventure.

What sets us apart from other bike rack manufacturers?

The majority of Dero folks are avid bicyclists, so we make sure our products provide solutions for people on bikes. We only make products that we would like to use. Also, Dero has a strong history of advocacy and continues to support organizations all around the country. It’s great to work for a company that gives back.

Favorite rack, and why you like it?

Currently, the Cycle Dock is my favorite. It looks amazing – sleek and refined.

Do you have any funny stories from working at Dero?

During my interview I had a moment of déjà vu when Andy mentioned that Dero used to be located above Bullwinkle’s. Back in college, I had an interview for an admin position for a bike rack company above a bar. I remember climbing the steep stairs to the office. It had tons of boxes everywhere, and not much else. I honestly thought it was a front for laundering money or something, but that was Dero! (I did not get the job.)

Why do people love Dero racks?

People love the quality of our products and our customer service. Our goal is to make our customers and their bikers happy.    
News

Dero Through the Years: If You Build It, They Will Come

July 10, 2015
Travis, our National Accounts Coordinator, is a man of many talents. On top of being a bike parking expert, did you know he also plays in local psych-folk band Lovely Dark? Today we take another look back at Dero’s history, this time through Travis’ words.

How long have you been at Dero?

Six years this July.

Where is your favorite place ride?

Next to friends.

What is your favorite bike to ride?

Surly Crosscheck.

What sets us apart from other bike rack manufacturers?

Our racks are designed by riders for riders and our main engineer is also a frame builder. With many avid bike riders on staff, we try to design our products to help cyclists. We’re a business but we believe in the “Field of Dreams” approach where good infrastructure is what leads to more cyclists and more work.

Do you have any funny stories from working at Dero?

In the old space, we would have to shut down occasionally from squirrels chewing through our exterior wires. Our old owner Rolf owned a few model ship websites and we used to field the occasional random call regarding the specifics of model ships. This was not divulged at the beginning but quickly we figured it out. The ships are long since gone but I still have the infamous Swedish ship, the Vasa, perched in my living room.

Favorite rack, and why you like it?

Ultra Space Saver. I have a set in my garage and they protected my bikes when it was broken into.

Why do people love Dero racks?

We’ve been around for a long time. We’re not going anywhere and there’s a lot of quality and history that goes into our racks. We can also help people realize almost any bike rack and they can be comfortable knowing that it’s going to work.
Advocacy

Ideals to Action: Climate Ride 2015

July 8, 2015
We believe bikes are not just a form of recreation but an integral element in a path toward more sustainable systems of transportation, public space, and consumption. At the end of May, our LA regional Sales Rep Greg participated in the California North Coast Climate Ride, a 5-day supported tour that promotes environmental stewardship and education. Below are Greg’s reflections on his experiences during the ride and how his work at Dero cultivates an active approach to advocacy. (All photos by Greg).

  1.       Why did you participate in the Climate Ride?

I participated in Climate Ride because I wanted to raise money to support the work of the LA County Bicycle Coalition. Having been a volunteer for a number of years now, I’ve seen firsthand the effect of their advocacy work to make safer streets in Los Angeles. I’d also never participated in a long-distance trek like Climate Ride, so I wanted to see if I could handle the physical task of 320+ miles. On the ride, I competed my first 100-mile “century” day, traveled the fastest I’d ever gone (41 mph!) and saw/rode through the Redwoods for the first time. Greg-LACBC

  1.       Who did you ride with?

I rode with Team LACBC – the largest and rowdiest group participating on the ride. Together, we raised a total of over $110K! This money will go towards supporting LACBC’s education and advocacy efforts to make LA a healthy, fun and safe place to ride a bike. You can still make a donation here if you’d like.

  1.       What kind of preparation did you do before the ride?

Armed with blissful optimism and the sophomoric knowledge that I bike every day, I only did a couple training rides before we left for the trip. I’d say the biggest hurdle in prepping for a 5-day bike trip was packing the right kits since I’m used to sunny SoCal weather. After this trip, I’m now the proud owner of some very toasty arm warmers, and I love them. Greg-redwoods

  1.       What did you learn about sustainability and active transportation from the ride?

On the first day, we stopped at a place called the Solar Living Institute and learned about the great work they’re doing to support solar training and sustainable living education. On other nights, we got to hear from Grid Alternatives, Corrine Winter of the Silicon Valley Bike Coalition, Amelia Conlen of Bike Santa Cruz County, Renee Rivera of Bike East Bay and LACBC’s own Education Director Colin Bogart. It was amazing and inspiring to hear about all of the current efforts being made by these and other groups all over the country. More and more, communities of people are beginning to realize the numerous benefits of cycling. Not only is it healthy for people and the environment, but it’s good for businesses too.

  1.       Why do you support bicycling advocacy?

I’m a person on a bike in Los Angeles because I hate sitting in traffic. I support bike advocacy because some people don’t have access to alternate forms of transportation and the streets should be safe for everyone. For cyclists who are just starting out, it can be very intimidating to get on the road and share the lane with cars. Better infrastructure has to take first priority and I’m really proud to see that the City is on it’s way to having Great Streets.   Greg-goldengate

  1.       How does Dero support cycling advocacy?

I see Dero’s products as an integral part of cycling advocacy. No matter where or what you ride, you always need to find a safe place to park. Whether it’s a new Fixit Station, Cycle Stall or Hoop Rack, Dero is helping to provide a more rich cycling experience for the residents of LA. It’s great to witness the drastic changes that have taken place in this city over the last few years and I’m so excited for what’s to come. I also want to say thank you to Dero for supporting and helping me reach my Climate Ride fundraising goal. It’s a great feeling – getting to work for a company that’s just as passionate about cycling as me.
News

Dero ZAP 2013 Year in Review

January 23, 2014
Looking back at 2013, it was a great year for Dero ZAP. We’ve come so far since 2009. We’re proud that our system has made it possible for universities, cities, and schools to track and incentivize bicycling around the country and the world. We now have a total of 48 readers spanning Minneapolis and St. Paul. There are also readers in Oregon, Texas, California, Washington, New England, and even Canada and Holland. A total of 310,000 rides were recorded in 2013, which puts us over 450,000 zaps since Dero ZAP’s inception (see infographic above, stats do not include Boltage readers). Dero ZAP came to be because the University of Minnesota (U of M) wanted to be able to track its bike commuters automatically, so it could reward those bicycling to/from campus. The U of M began its Zap program in January 2012 and at the end of 2013 it tagged its 2,500th Gopher ZAP user! This is a major milestone for ridership at the U of M and is one of the many reasons why it’s considered one of the “great colleges for cyclists” and has a Gold level Bicycle Friendly University designation from the League of American Bicyclists. They even have annual spring and fall Zap challenges where teams compete for prizes, as well as the coveted first place. Another trailblazer, ZAP Twin Cities is wrapping up its pilot year of running programs for downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul commuters. New riders were rewarded with a bike light after logging their first 10 zaps, with over 400 riders receiving one in 2013. This growing program continues to reward its bike commuters with prizes, such as home storage bike racks, gift cards, and bike tune-ups to increase people on bikes and decrease single occupancy motor vehicles on our roads. But many bike riders don’t need more of an incentive than the “beep” they hear biking past a Zap reader! We’re delighted that more and more organizations understand the need to increase and support cycling in their communities and that Dero ZAP can help them achieve their goals. More biking helps to lower our footprint on the environment, improve our health, and build a sustainable future for everyone.