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UCLA Recreation

Bike Shop

Do-it-yourself Workshop

Due to state and city mandates regarding COVID-19, the Bike Shop is closed until further notice. In the meantime, we welcome you to send us your questions about bikes, repairs, and riding using the below form.

Ask a bike mechanic!

The UCLA Bike Shop is a Do-It-Yourself Workshop established as a partnership between UCLA Recreation and UCLA Transportation to encourage transportation by bicycle among current members of the UCLA Community (i.e., students, employees, and members of UCLA Recreation).

Workshop location:Northwestern corner of John-Wooden Center

Outdoor tools, workstand, and air pump:Just outside of shop

2131 John Wooden Center
Los Angeles, CA 90095
310.206.7219
bikecenter@recreation.ucla.edu

Public Workstations

Public workstations are located in many places around campus, for your convenience. Most of them have a workstand to suspend your bike in the air, a pump to inflate your tires, and a small selection of tools for repairs. Here is a map of their locations and here is a list of them:

UCLA Bike Shop: Just outside the UCLA Bike Shop

Strathmore: In front of the Strathmore Building on the west side of Westwood Plaza, just north of the Police Station

Covel: Adjacent to Sproul and Covel Halls on the Hill, behind Drake Stadium

LuValle: In front of Dodd Hall, south of LuValle Commons

PS9 (pump only): Across Charles Young South from the Center for Health Sciences, south of Parking Structure 9, and on the northernmost inverted-U-bike-rack

100 Medical Plaza: West of 100 Medical Plaza, south of Reagan, and just east of the stairway between Reagan and 100 Medical Plaza

Sunset Recreation: In front of the turnstile at the main entrance, next to bike racks

Schoenberg: East of Inverted Fountain, south of Schoenberg Hall

Hammer Museum: Enter the parking structure from Westwood Plaza and proceed as though you are going to descend to the second level of underground parking; the pump/stand is on the ramp between the two levels.

Please feel free to ask us questions about your repairs:

Ask a bike mechanic!

Routes for Rides

We often get questions from aspiring and active bicyclists about how to ride to campus from various parts of the city. In response to these inquiries, we've mapped dozens of routes that we've found useful over the years:

Routes to campus from the East

Routes to campus from the North and West

Routes to campus from the South

Special-Event Routes

You may also plan your route to campus using tools like Google Maps'Bicycling-Directions (click "Get Directions," then click on the bike icon).

Also, we invite you to request custom routes for your particular commute:

Ask a commuting expert!

Fixing Flats

Types of Flats:

Here is an illustrated overview of the many ways in which an inner tube can become damaged to cause a flat tire. Many people's first inclination when they get a flat tire is to immediately install a new inner-tube. However, the first step we recommend is attempting to determine which of the following types of flats has occurred. This determination informs the repair and increases the likelihood of its success. It's not fun to go to the trouble of replacing an inner tube, only to get the same flat afterwards. This common pitfall can be prevented by a better-informed approach to the repair.

Preparing a Tire for Installation:

Here is an illustrated, step-by-step guide to how to check your tire for common issues. Lots of flats are caused by problems with the tire itself. Screening for these problems and addressing them as needed is a critical part of addressing a flat tire. Sharp objects (e.g., thorns, wires, glass) laying on the ground often lodge themselves in the tread of tires when we run over them on our bikes. These objects sometimes penetrate the tire and poke a hole in the tube inside of it. Afterwards, they can stay in the tire. A quick installation of a tube--without checking the tire--can leave these sharp objects in the tire. The result is that the same puncture occurs again.

All about Rim Strip:

Rim strip is among the most under-appreciated safeguards against flats. Using this illustrated guide is a great way to become acquainted with their role in flat repair.

Tire Installation:

Once the cause of a flat has been investigated, the tire has been prepared for installation, and the rim strip is in good shape, it's time to install the tire. This illustrated guide has key tips to successfully install even an extra-tight tire.

Please feel free to ask us questions about your repairs:

Ask a bike mechanic!

Cables and Housing

Cutting Cable Housing:

Cables and the housings in which they travel are the key to shifting and braking on most bicycles. Cables are generally anchored in the shifting mechanism(s) or brake lever(s) at the handlebar of the bicycle. They relay actions taken at this command center to the mechanisms on the bicycle that implement these commands, such as shifting gears or applying the brakes. In order to effectively relay these commands, cables and housing must be in solid shape. If they are damaged in any way, their function will be compromised. In some cases, they need to be replaced to achieve proper function. This illustrated guide shows how to cut cable housing and post-process it to yield the best results.

We welcome you to ask questions about your repairs:

Ask a bike mechanic!

Parts for DIY Repairs

We maintain a carefully-selected, value-oriented inventory of new parts that are available for purchase. Sales on our new parts are final (i.e., returns/exchanges will not be accepted and refunds will not be issued).

We also gather used parts that may still be useful or contain useful pieces; they are available free of charge. We do not offer any kind of guarantee on used parts; we recommend that they be inspected for integrity and tested for function prior to use.

Please feel free to ask for guidance about finding replacement parts:

Ask a part expert!

Employment

If you are interested in working at the UCLA Bike Shop, we encourage you to familiarize yourself with our offerings by using our DIY services and perusing our website. Eligibility requirements to be considered for employment include being a current student at UCLA and not being in one's final year of studies here. Once you have a good sense of what working here involves and whether you're eligible, we invite you to complete our online job-application.

Tips

As demonstrated by UCLA's Gold designation in the Bicycle-Friendly University program, UCLA is committed to supporting your bicycle-commuting endeavors.

Videos

Bikes for All is an inspirational video filmed by a UCLA student. Bike-U-mentary, produced by UCLA Transportation, documents two bicycle-commutes to campus. Sharing the road can be challenging when everyone's in a hurry, so Watch for Bruins.

Locking

Most thefts can be deterred by securing the bicycle frame with a U-lock to approved parking-infrastructure (e.g., a bicycle rack). We recommend this humorous video about (in)effective locking produced by BikeUCLA Films, The Bike Bandit.

Riding

The League of American Bicyclists recommends the following guidelines for a smooth commute: 1) Follow the law; 2) Be predictable; 3) Be conspicuous; 4) Think ahead; 5) Ride ready; 6) Keep your cool. These videos about how to ride on the road provide guidance, too; for more information, we recommend our Smart-Cycling Classes.

Links

The following links are provided for informational purposes.

A sampling of On-Campus Organizations and Resources:

A sampling of Bike Shops, DIY Workshops, and Bike-Rental Services in LA:

A sampling of Rides, Events, and Classes in/near LA:

A sampling of Governmental and Non-Governmental Bike-Programs: