Cyclists for Cultural Exchange - Cuba
During their recent trip to San Francisco, Josh & Adam had the pleasure of spending time with cycling advocate and fellow LCI; Tony Le. Tony was the first LCI to offer Mandarin Chinese to help bridge language barriers during certifications, and has an extensive background working with groups around the world.
Tony asked if we might share some information regarding an upcoming trip to Cuba with Cyclists for Cultural Exchange (CCE). More details can be found on their website and in the attached links, but the stories shared of these adventures are truly inspiring and have the potential to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The Cuba trip is coming up quickly (January 31 - Feb 8), so if this one is too last minute, we encourage you to keep CCE in mind as you plan future cycling-focused trips or vacations.
2026 CCE - Cuba
https://www.cyclistsforculturalexchange.org/cuba-2026
Tony L2025 trip
https://www.cyclistsforculturalexchange.org/travel-report-cuba-2025
2025 Free Wheels 4 Kids
This year was a good year for FW4K. We gave away 214 bikes to kids, FOR FREE !! As well as our local orgs, this year, one of our volunteers, who lives in Doyle, took a whole fleet of bikes to Herlong giving 30+ bikes to kids. Creating a whole slew of child bike gangs, roaming the hills. We couldn't be happier. We would like to thank all of the volunteers, and money donors that keep this program afloat. We have some extra bikes this year so if you need some kids bikes email [email protected] and we will hook you up.
Upcoming Thursday Workshops!
Kick off the new year by sharpening your bike skills! Starting this January, we’re excited to begin offering weekly Thursday workshops, each taught by one of our experienced RBP mechanics. These hands-on classes focus on practical, ride-ready skills — from emergency fixes to seasonal maintenance — and are great for riders of all experience levels.
Whether you want to learn the basics, tune up your commuting routine, or deepen your mechanical know-how, there’s a class for you.
Upcoming Workshops
Thu, Jan 8, 6:30–8:30 PM — Introduction, Tools, and Bicycle Anatomy
Focus on getting familiar with the parts of a bicycle and how they work together. Learn essential tools, workspace setup, and perform a simple pre-ride safety check.
Members: $15 / Non-members: $45
Thu, Jan 15, 6:30–8:30 PM — Flat Fix & Tire Care
Practice removing wheels, taking off tires, and fixing flats (clincher or tubeless). Learn to identify punctures, set proper tire pressure, and get a free pair or tire levers and a patch kit/tire plug kit.
Members: $15 / Non-members: $45
Thu, Jan 22, 6:30–8:30 PM — Rim Brakes
Understand how rim brakes work and how to adjust, center, and replace brake pads. Troubleshoot common issues like squealing or weak braking.
Members: $15 / Non-members: $45
Thu, Jan 29, 6:30–8:30 PM — Winterizing Your Ride
Learn how to prepare your bike for cold and wet winter conditions by cleaning, protecting, and lubricating key components. Understand tire choices, fender setup, rust prevention, and simple maintenance habits that keep your bike reliable all winter long.
Members: $15 / Non-members: $45
Thu, Feb 5, 6:30–8:30 PM — Disc Brakes
Learn the basics of mechanical and hydraulic disc brakes, including pad alignment and rotor rub fixes. Replace pads and understand when hydraulic service is needed.
Members: $15 / Non-members: $45
Join us to learn new skills, meet fellow bike enthusiasts, and keep your rides rolling smoothly all year long. Spots fill quickly — we’d love to see you there!
Volunteer Tool Time!
Join us every Monday for Volunteer Tool Time at 635 E 4th St, where community members come together to keep RBP rolling. From 10 am–2 pm, volunteers jump in to repair kids’ bikes, strip bikes for parts, and support our mission of making cycling more accessible for everyone.
No experience, no problem. Whether you’re a seasoned mechanic or brand new to bikes, you’re welcome here! Our team and expert volunteers will guide you, teach you, and work alongside you, making sure you leave with new skills and a sense of impact.
We also host a special evening Tool Time on every first Monday of the month, from 5–7 pm, for those who can’t make it during the day. Come get your hands dirty, learn something new, and help us support our community!
FutureCycle Program Update
After a competitive application process, we're thrilled to share we’ve officially hired four outstanding applicants: Nina, Hudson, Samim, and Brian.
They’ll be kicking off their 10-week paid internship on January 12th, followed by a 5-week externship, gaining hands-on experience, building skills, and deepening their connection to the bike and nonprofit worlds. We’re incredibly excited to welcome this talented group and can’t wait to see the energy, curiosity, and growth they’ll bring to the shop and our community. Congratulations to our newest FutureCycle interns!
New RBP Service Cards
We’re excited to begin rolling out RBP Service Cards, a new perk for select bikes sold in the shop! Bikes built with newer components, such as a fresh drivetrain, fork, or other parts, will now come with a service card included at purchase.
Each service card is good for two free tune-ups within one year of the purchase date, helping riders keep their bike running smoothly long after it leaves the shop. It’s our way of adding extra value, supporting long-term ridership, and making sure your RBP bike continues to perform at its best!
Major Impact
Our Major Taylor Program helps coordinate opportunities for youth and adolescence throughout the city as they safely exercise their freedom and independence. We ensure everyone who rides with us is equipped with the knowledge to understand bicycle safety, build confidence, and grow their skills.
In some cases, the program has the capability to provide bikes for participants to practice with while away from school or their riding class. Recently, we had the special opportunity to do just that for a young student who had the desire to improve, but not the means. Thanks to the support of our wonderful community and partnerships, we were able to provide them with a bike-and help encourage paths to new possibilities!
Our Major Taylor Program wrapped up another wonderful year, directly impacting more than 200 young riders and logging nearly 4,300 miles in 2025. While we fell short of our 5,000-mile goal, we're coordinating a few new partnerships and hope to add another week of riding during our Spring Break camps. Over the past few months, we've noticed a real spark with our regular groups- it's been increasingly challenging to get them off their bikes at the end of classes and sessions. In a world seemingly dominated by screens and the continued rise of AI, witnessing this joy and connection has been incredibly meaningful. The passion radiating from our MTP participants has filled our cups time and again, reminding us of the simple pleasure of riding a bike.
We hope you had a wonderful holiday season and wish you all all the very best in the year ahead. We look forward to seeing you out on the trails, roads, and in the shop in 2026. Keep on riding, and stay safe out there!
RBP - Pro-Tip of the Month
Hello, Tom here. It is a cold world out there, and instead of letting yourself get frosty as well, this months pro-tip is to try to keep you warm and keep you riding. LAYERS! I know that everyone always says "wear layers" but what does that mean? It is actually that simple. You don't need cycling gear like Rapha or Pearl Izumi (unless you like it of course), all you need is multiple breathable layers. Tights under your pants, or even two pairs of pants. A tank top, T-shirt, long sleeve button up, two hoodies. Winter coats like ski or snowboard gear usually gets too hot, with enough layers even in the rainiest windiest days a light jacket will suffice. Shed accordingly. Glove up, mask up, and I will see you out on the streets.
