One Street Components

One Street Components compliments our Social Bike Business program for our parters around the world. These programs serve impoverished people who depend on their bicycles, so they need strong, repairable parts. Most of these programs start by refurbishing used bikes as they move toward manufacturing their own bikes. But without simple, durable, affordable parts, even refurbishing comes to a standstill.

Bike Shift Lever

Our first component was our Bike Shift Lever

Of its six parts, four are common items--bolt, nut, hose clamp, and bottle cap--and two are cast out of scrap aluminum using the techniques outlined in our book, Backyard Aluminum Casting.. The design offers these advantages over sport-only shift levers:

• Symmetrical – works on right and left sides.
• Works for all gear ranges.
• Easily repaired with common parts.
• Designed for people who depend on their bike, also those with weak or injured hands.
• Supports upside-down bike during repair.

The Bike Shift Lever also works for throttles and chokes on other sorts of machines such as yard equipment, small motorcycles, and boats. It is designed for easy production and repair by people
who rely on their bicycles every day.

TIPS FOR USE:

• Tighten the top bolt with a 7/16" or 11mm wrench to increase friction as parts wear in.
• Install so hose clamp screw is to the the front, to avoid knee hitting it.
• Choose housing hole that will loop housing to the front of the bike.
• Keep cable a bit loose to allow lever to rest at convenient position.

The initial production process was funded through a Kickstarter campaign in October 2013. The campaign is still posted at Kickstarter.com.

Other Potential Components

Other priorities we've heard from our partners:

• Basic, affordable rear derailleurs made with quality metal (not stamped pot metal) – last sighted in the 1980s;
• Basic, high quality chains for geared bikes that are affordable and don’t require the pin to be replaced every time the chain is broken – nearing extinction.

Let us know if you're struggling to find other bicycle parts for your program.