Since we started in 2006, we’ve operated out of backyards, garages, and the Rubber Gloves space on Sycamore St. We’ve always worked outside, and our parts and volunteers have weathered the elements, all year round. In one sense, working outdoors connects us directly to the world and many fantastic days. In another sense, the brutal heat and shivering cold can wear down dedicated volunteers and hardy parts.

Starting January 1st, 2012, we’re growing up and expanding indoors. This week, we signed a lease with the SCRAP (based in Portland, OR) nonprofit for a garage shop space on Cedar St, just off the Denton square. SCRAP is opening this Denton location for their recycled art-supplies, and they’ve graciously agreed to sublease the shop space to us. While much cozier in size than our existing shop, the new location has a roof, bathrooms, classroom, and a mailing address. Why’s the mailing address important? Because it helps us qualify for a wholesale parts account, so we can continue to repair donated bikes with quality tools and replacement parts.

Why the square? It’s the historic, beating heart of Denton, and it’s where everyone wants to be. The new landscaping and wide sidewalks on Cedar St make it an unbeatable opportunity, and an incredibly pleasant place to be. There are restaurants, coffee shops, record stores, and a myriad of nearby destinations. It’s a neighborhood we love and are flattered to join.

Here’s the shop door for the new location, on Cedar St between Oak and Hickory:

We are happy to also announce our Rubber Gloves location will stay intact, as we’ll be hosting internal shop days there in the much larger space. We overflow with gratitude towards Rubber Gloves and the owner, Josh Baish, for our two years of $1 residence, and we look forward to continuing the cohabitation.

What can you do to help? Volunteer time, donate money, donate bikes and parts. All of those things help us operate and pay the bills, so we can focus on our goal: helping people repair bikes. We welcome use of our shop for working on your own bike, but we ask that you repay the kindness by volunteering 30 minutes of time or a few dollars. With the shop expansion, our costs go up, and your donations will be even more helpful than before.

Will there be a party to reopen the new shop?

Yes.

Tired of hunching over into drop bars? Come get some flat or townie bars, we have a few different styles you can try. Cheap.

Local women’s cycling social group, the Vaginees, is hosting bike maintenance and repair classes every Tuesday night of February from 5:30-7:30PM.

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FEBRUARY 1ST:
“Washing our frames, cleaning our chains and Bike 101″
Come to this shop and clean up your bike if your brakes are squeaky and if your chain crunches when you pedal. We will also be introducing the names of the parts of the bike and the tools used to work on a bike.

FEBRUARY 8TH
“Pump it up!”
We’ll be patching tubes, changing out tires and talking about adequate tire pressure for easier biking.

FEBRUARY 15TH
“Ride smart.”
Learn how to adjust your brakes for a quick stop and learn how to true (make straight) a bent or wobbly wheel. We’ll also be talking about safety signals and “sharing the road” aka “how to not get hit by a car.”

FEBRUARY 22ND
“Dress it up!”
Wrap your handle bars in some new grip tape, add a bell or put some cards in your spokes. Whatever you want to do, it can be done. After shop we’ll have our “Monthly Cycle” and show off our newly cleaned and tuned bicycles on the streets of Denton.

8PM, Banter Coffee.

If you want to volunteer or need help repairing a bike, please come visit us between 3-5PM on Saturdays.

Check the weather and dress accordingly, since our shop is outdoors.

We’re so excited about our Shop Opening Day on December 4rd. But before we open, we need your help! Please join us for our upcoming work days!

Volunteer Work Days:

• Wednesday, December 1st @ 3pm-8pm
• Thursday, December 2nd @ 3pm – 8pm

Volunteer Tasks:

• painting
• lifting and moving items
• organizing bikes and bike parts

Hope to see you! And thanks for supporting the Querencia Community Bike Shop! For more info about the work day: contact info@qcbs.org

Querencia’s New Shop Grand Opening
Saturday, December 4th @ 3pm – 6pm

We will have our Qurencia Community Ride @ 2pm @ Emily Fowler Library, we’ll ride the town for an hour and end the ride at our New Shop Grand Opening Celebration!

Join us as we celebrate this HUGE step for Denton’s only non-profit community-run bike shop – having a public shop space for you – the community!

We have an inventory of bike tools and parts, and many many bikes of all shapes and sizes. In our new shop space, we have indoor parts storage, indoor tool storage, color-specific tool sets and lots of room to work on bikes and teach others how to work on bikes!

We can’t wait to see you!