816 Bicycle Collective

I may never go to a traditional bike shop again…
When I needed to change my tire, I decided I wanted to learn how to change it myself. I ordered replacement parts online, watched some how-​to videos, and then felt really helpless. I didn’t have the tools I needed to do the things in the videos, and I was worried I would break something along the way.
When I showed up at the 816 Collective, everyone was a bike lover (but no sobbery!), super respectful of each other, and welcoming. It was a space where I could try to fix things myself, and ask folks around me for help along the way. I didn’t just learn how to fix my own tire… I also learned how I can shift my gears better, straighten my handle bars, and raise my seat for a more comfortable ride around KC streets. No bike shop would have taught me that.
They’re open every Thursday and Saturday from 3:00pm to 6:00pm, and you should try to donate what can for the services you receive. This was a great way to meet people, support a community effort, learn stuff, and ride off with a fixed up bike.

This is a hole in the wall joint where love and bicycles have joined in holy matrimony. And when you check it out, you’ll see that it’s not glue and nails that keeps this place together, it’s sweat. After over 6 months of slowly cleaning and building, the folks here (read about them at
) have created a nice bike shop in the old 1930’s department store and a bike hut out back for the old bikes. Their mission: to provide bikes and bike services to the community. They meet up officially on saturdays, but if they get more money (they are a non-​profit, I believe), they can start doing more stuff, including more community stuff and buying more tools and equipment. Unfortunately, they don’t need your old bikes, but they do either your sweat or your money.
The folks there are very nice. Come with a smile and soak up the good vibes.