News & Updates

BUCK Midsummer Update

By Jay Diengott June 18th, 2025 in Bicycling, General

Happy Juneteenth and happy Solstice, friends! This summer has been much busier so far than imagined. You all listened when we suggested that you bring your in-depth projects. We've been doing dual tire swaps, rebuilding bottom brackets, and overhauling drivetrains left and right. So much so that your fearless PQ needs a little break. To that end, the BUCK is reducing its hours from now (mid-June) through mid-August.

Look for us at 1019 Tuesday and Wednesday from 2-7pm and Thursday from 8am-2pm. Coffee will continue as normal from 8-11 on Thursdays, and 11-2 will continue to be appointment only. You may continue to walk in on Tuesday and Wednesday OR book a slot to make sure a stand is available for you.

We also have TWO events coming up to close out Pride month!

Saturday, June 28th, 10am- 1pm. Big Gay Pride Ride. Meet at the BUCK for a ~10 mi, party pace group ride. Helmets required, and please also bring sunscreen and water bottles.

Sunday, June 29th, 12:30- 5pm. Babes Bike Boston 2025. Start at the BUCK, end at Somerville Bike Kitchen (Properzi Way, Somerville). This is an alley cat for and by women, trans, and non-binary cyclists. Ride as fast or slow as you choose for a variety of prizes.

Starting next Tuesday, and every other week following, from 6-8pm, the BUCK will be hosting work nights to restore bicycles for a program in conjunction with the Somerville Bike Kitchen. Come by and help us out!

Thanks for your patience and understanding. In the meantime, get out there and RIDE!

Summer 2025! Bike Room Closures and more.

By Jay Diengott May 22nd, 2025 in Bicycling, General

Tomorrow, Friday May 23rd is the last day to park at Warren Towers Bike Room. Due to construction, there will unfortunately be a gap in parking availability at Warren. Folks may park instead in the bike shelter at the corner of Cummington Mall, or in nearby CCDS.

All remaining bike room access expires May 31st! Please renew your access HERE if you haven't. Bike rooms will be audited June 2-6, don't risk getting your lock cut. Park outside your usual bike room, make sure to attach your approved bike sign, or stash your bike in West Campus bike room. In case the worst happens though, contact us at the BUCK and we'll get your bike back to you.

Now, if only it would stop raining.

Whatever the weather, the BUCK will be here to support you all summer. BUCK is open Tuesday- Thursday, with the ability to book appointments nearly any time we're open. You may still walk in if you need something casual such as registration, lights, a helmet, or air or lubricant for your chain. Appointment slots booked? Feel free to drop by anyway, but you may have to spend some time enjoying our couch and library. You may notice a few dates don't have any available slots- those are days PQ is out of office. The BUCK should still be available for casual walk ins, but more in depth repairs may not be available. Thanks for understanding.

As for summer events, got any requests? May was incredibly busy, so we don't have anything planned yet, but keep your eyes peeled. Want to learn to ride a bike? Email bikes@bu and schedule some time. Pre-BUCK rides? Lets do it. Deep dives into your lesser maintained parts? Come on in. Volunteer to help us rebuild some bikes? We'd be thrilled.

It’s Gonna Be May

By Jay Diengott April 26th, 2025 in Bicycling, General

Winter, which felt 1000 years long, is finally over, and exam season is here. While Saturdays have been pretty consistently rainy, the rest of the week has been gorgeous. If you haven't taken your bike out since Thanksgiving, swing by the BUCK to lube your chain and air your tires, so you can make the most of the next few weeks. And just because the end of the school year approaches, doesn't mean the BUCK stops here.

BUCK is open Tues- Saturday with its current hours, until the end of May. After that, from June-August, we will be open Tues-Fri for all your maintenance needs. If you're going to be here for the summer and want to use your bike, you'll need to renew your bike room access, which expires for everyone on May 31st. Howard Thurman Bike Room closes on April 30th; West Campus Bike Cage and Racks at Nickerson and Claflin will be unavailable starting May 11th.

Going home for the summer? Want to leave your bike on campus? Leaving campus? Don't just ditch it on a random rack or some bike room- it's likely to get impounded. Instead, check out SaSS, our Storage and Surrender Service, for summer storage at a low cost, or to give your bike a new home.

In the meantime, we've cooked up a few more events to get you through the end of the semester:

The Events

5/3        Saturday     10:00AM-Noon
Plant Swap
With BU Zen; got some cuttings you want to trade? Leaving for the summer? Moving out of the dorms and into an apartment? Office feeling lonely? Leave or take some plants today!

5/10        Saturday     11:00AM-2:00PM
Olm-Steady Ride
Exams are done and you deserve a break! Take a deep breath with Project Leafcare and the BUCK. Leaf your worries behind and enjoy the sight of fresh greenery on the city's Emerald Necklace. This party pace group ride will be about 8 mi long.

5/16        Friday     7:00-9:00AM
Bike to Work Day
Boston Bikes to Work! Join a group ride from your area to City Hall Plaza for free breakfast and a celebration of micromobility.

Thursdays:

now with two reasons to visit.
Coffee: 8-11 am
Appointments: available 11-2
For those longer, more in depth repairs that need individual attention, or group workshops. Schedule in advance by email, or come for an assessment during other open hours.

Surrender and Storage Service (SaSS)

Bikes: Reminder: do not leave bicycles or scooters in BU bike rooms over the summer. Unauthorized bikes left in bike rooms will be impounded.

Any bikes or scooters left in these spaces after the above dates will have their locks cut and they will be impounded. Summer bike room use is only for those living or working on campus over the summer (email bikes@bu.edu for details).

For those who wish to leave their bike or scooter at BU over the summer, the BU Cycle Kitchen offers a Storage and Surrender Service (“BUCK SaSS”).

• Bring your bike or scooter to Booth Theater Plaza (820 Comm Ave) on one of the following dates:

• • Friday, May 2, from 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.

• • Saturday, May 3, from 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.

• • Friday, May 9, from 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.

• • Saturday, May 10, from 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.

• Pay $50 via credit card

• Pick your bike/scooter up on September 5, 6, 12, 13 and receive $25 back

If you’re not returning to campus, surrender your bike at the same days and times and the BUCK will make sure it gets put to good use. Visit the BUCK SaSS page for more details.

Ringing in Spring

By Jay Diengott April 4th, 2025 in Bicycling, General

Just like that, it's bike riding weather! If you haven't yet, swing by the BUCK to clean and lubricate your chain, pump up your tires, and just generally look at your bike if it's been parked all winter. Expect April to be on the rainy side, so come see us for help installing fenders or tightening up brakes so stopping feels easy instead of scary. Speaking of which... If you haven't been to the BUCK all winter, things have changed a little.

• The BUCK is now open 2-7 pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and 2-5 on Saturday
• Thursday morning hours have coffee and walk in service from 8-11, and appointment only from 11-2
• Want to guarantee a stand at the BUCK instead of waiting in line? You can book a 45 minute appointment (or two if you need a lot of time)
• Still want to walk in? That's okay, but you might be asked to wait.

To improve service at the BUCK, we're limiting the number of visitors we can work with at any given time. If only one staff member is present, we can accept no more than two guests at a time. That increases to three if we have a second employee. If you're not sure what service or parts you need, come in for an assessment and someone will help you make a shopping list. Anyone can walk in for registration, air, lube, lights, and helmets any time.  Feel free to check out our library while you wait. Thank you for your patience as we streamline our service.

The Events:

4/8        Tuesday          5:00-7:00PM
Intro to Route Planning
Kilo3, route planner for Critical Mass, shows us how to get from point a to point b. Deep dives into route planning software, considerations, and navigation tools. Handout provided!

4/19        Saturday     Noon-2:00PM
Bringing in Spring
April group ride with BCU. Starting at the Grove in Lower Allston, and ending at the BU Cycle Kitchen, this route will tour some local community gardens!
Route available here!

4/22      Tuesday        5:00-7:00PM
Intro to Bikepacking
Andrew from Queers on Wheels teaches us how to outfit + pack a bike and plan a trip!

4/23      Wednesday    6:30-7:30PM
Transit Letter Writing w/ BUrbanists
The Boston University Urbanists will host a letter writing event to our elected officials to show them how much safe streets and transit matter to students.

4/26      Saturday    10:00AM-2:00PM
Babes Bike Books
The BUCK and Femmechanics join forces again for independent bookstore day. All folks of marginalized genders are welcome to ride in this scavenger hunt to celebrate the written word, and keep information in the hands of the people.
Pre-register for Babes. Books. Boston!

Thursdays:

now with two reasons to visit.
Coffee: 8-11 am
Appointments: available 11-2
For those longer, more in depth repairs that need individual attention, or group workshops. Schedule in advance by email, or come for an assessment during other open hours.

Bike Room Closings

Spring just started, but it's not too early to start thinking about the summer! The BUCK is offering our summer storage service once again, as our bike rooms will close for the summer on the following dates:

• Howard Thurman Bike Room: April 30^th
• Harry Agganis Way Bike Cage, Rich Hall Racks, Nickerson Field Racks: May 10^th
• All remaining Bike Facilities: 5/31

Bikes: Reminder: do not leave bicycles or scooters in BU bike rooms over the summer. Unauthorized bikes left in bike rooms will be impounded.

Any bikes or scooters left in these spaces after the above dates will have their locks cut and they will be impounded. Summer bike room use is only for those living or working on campus over the summer (email bikes@bu.edu for details).

Surrender and Storage Service (SaSS):

For those who wish to leave their bike or scooter at BU over the summer, the BU Cycle Kitchen offers a Storage and Surrender Service (“BUCK SaSS”).

• Bring your bike or scooter to Booth Theater Plaza (820 Comm Ave) on one of the following dates:

• Friday, May 2, from 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.

• Saturday, May 3, from 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.

• Friday, May 9, from 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.

• Saturday, May 10, from 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.

• Pay $50 via credit card

• Pick your bike/scooter up September 5, 6, 12, 13 and receive $25 back

If you’re not returning to campus, surrender your bike at the same days and times and the BUCK will make sure it gets put to good use. Visit the BUCK SaSS page for more details.

…..Still winter?!

By Jay Diengott March 11th, 2025 in Bicycling, General

While we got our first glimpses of above-freezing temps over the weekend, and everyone is counting down the days until Spring Break, somehow, I can still see my breath this morning. And yet, despite the long, cold, dark weeks, and snow and ice turning bike lanes treacherous, you've all been out in force! This is the coldest winter New England has seen in seven years, and yet the BUCK has seen a nearly 50% increase in visits during February 2024 compared to February 2025! You all are doing a great job of sharing the good word of the BUCK, and more specifically, of keeping chains clean and oiled, and tires pumped. We even held a group ride in late February with 25+ riders!

Fortunately though, there are warmer brighter days ahead. If you put your bike away the past few months, it's time to lubricate your chain and air up your tires before the first nice days of spring so you can beat the crowds. BUCK will be open by advance appointment only during Spring Break, that's a great time to plan ahead! Our hours are also changing for the warmer months! We know things are ramping up in the semester, and we're happy to give you a chance to escape for a little while and let you work with your hands. Please note that as it gets busier, we may need to limit scope of work to best serve you.

So: Spring Break? Make an appointment.

After Spring Break?:

Want to make an appointment for a Thursday?
Email us in advance, or ask for an assessment during our open hours!

While the word about the BUCK is getting out there, we're still largely dependent on our best advertisers- you! Have an event you need a space to host (for about 25 people)? Want to partner with the BUCK for a class, movie night, group ride? Let's chat, and speaking of events...

The Events:

3/12        Wednesday           Meet at BUCK at noon
Spring Break Ride
Stuck on campus during Spring Break? Let's go to the beach anyway!

3/18        Tuesday     5:00-7:00PM
Flat Fixin'
Don't let flats get you down. This workshop will leave you with tips to prevent flats, and fix them quick, too.

3/26      Wednesday 5:00-7:00PM
Make your own Fenders:
Mark yourself safe from the dreaded skunk stripe. Bring old plastic bottles or use ours, and keep your pants and shoes dry.

March is a short month, but we've got plenty more programming left for the rest of the school year.

Thursdays:

now with two reasons to visit.
Coffee: 8-11 am
Appointments: available 11-2
For those longer, more in depth repairs that need individual attention, or group workshops. Schedule in advance by email, or come for an assessment during other open hours.

Errata:

We're working on a series of videos with Bean! We're thrilled she's helping us get the word out.

The city of Boston is auditing recent street projects. If you value protected bike lanes, bus only slip lanes, speed humps, and other infrastructure that make the city safer for vulnerable road users. For a quick and easy way to speak up, use this form created by the Boston Cyclists' Union.

Bluebikes wants your feedback! Where should they add more stations (maybe here on campus)? Let them know about other neighborhoods. They're hosting a virtual open house on March 6th that you can attend, too.

Winter Bikers, Rejoice

By Jay Diengott January 22nd, 2025 in Bicycling, General

It's COLD out there, but that doesn't mean one can't still ride around town. The BUCK is back to business now that students are back, open standard hours. We're here to support you to choose bikes, no matter the time of year. Come by especially to get some heavy winter weight chain lubricant to keep your chain rust free and moving smoothly, and check your tire pressure after break/cold. And be sure to come check out our winter programming, specifically designed to help keep you warm!

The Usual:

• Tuesday Nights            5:00-7:00PM
  LIGHT BRIGADE: help distribute bike lights on Comm Ave.
• Thursday Morning        8:00-10:00AM
  COMMUTER COFFEE: drink free coffee, make friends

The Unusual:

Winter Bike Bingo!

Prizes for riding your bike in sub-freezing temps!

The Events:

1/22        Wednesday           6:00PM-9:00PM
Grrreasetime X Femmechanics X BU LGBTQIA Faculty and Staff
Open shop time by and for folks of marginalized genders to learn and connect about bicycles

1/29        Wednesday     5:00-7:00PM
Movie Night: Kiki's Delivery Service
Cartoons! Couriers! Cats!

2/5      Wednesday 5:00-7:00PM
Inclement Weather Workshop
Trade tips and tricks with other winter riders

2/14      Friday 2:00-7:00PM
Velotine's Day
Bring a friend and show your bikes some love. Also, holiday themed crafts!

2/22      Saturday   Meet at BUCK at 10:00am
Hot Cocoa Ride
A tasty, 10 mi, party pace, new infrastructure and beverage group ride with our friends Commonwheels. Be prepared for cold weather.

Winter Bike Commuter Bingo

By Jay Diengott January 7th, 2025 in Bicycling, General

Do you bike commute year round? If so, the BUCK wants to know about it. But we want it to be fun, too. So, from now until March 31, (when employee and BUGWU bike benefits reciepts are due), we'd love you to join us for a round of winter commuter BINGO! Please take photos and  then email the checked off squares or post them to your instagram and tag us @bucyclekitchen. You may fill as many squares as you like, but standard bingo rules apply, that you must have filled at least 5 adjacent horizontal, vertical, or diagonal spaces.

Please get consent if you're capturing photos of others, and try to use a single square per image. At the end of the challenge? Prizes!

This challenge is open to any and all BUCK users. See you soon, and don't forget to check your tire pressure.

pq

Not sure what some of these things are? Here are some of the lesser-known items:

• lobster mitts - gloves that group fingers together (but aren't quite mittens)
• multi-use path - a shared-use path (sometimes just called a bike path)
• desire path - the route folks want to take as evidenced, in the winter, by paths in the snow
• bar mitts - they're like gloves for your handlebars? some folks call them pogies
• winter commuter social - our annual party for bike commuters (at which the bingo game was launched).
• B-icicles - icicles on bicycles (get it?)

Let us know if you need explanation for any of the other items!