An open community for riding and wrenching.
The Cola Town Bike Collective’s mission is to educate and empower the community by providing a welcoming space to learn about bicycle repair, engage in maintenance practices, and promote safe operation through outreach and advocacy activities.
The Bicycle Repair Network
We have outfitted Columbia with a grid of bike repair stands, free for anyone to use.
The Reliable Transportation Initiative
Donating and maintaining refurbished bicycles to those in need of transportation throughout the Midlands.
Meet Sprocket,
your new riding buddy.
We built Sprocket as a free web application to connect the Midlands by building a modular, scalable network of safe routes specifically for cyclists.
Become a Member of the Collective
The Cola Town Bike Collective now offers multiple membership opportunities, an excellent way to help support us as a non-profit so that we can continue to have amazing concerts, events, and fundraising activities at our shop. In return, you’ll receive many members-only perks such as free tune-ups, swag, and private members-only party events, and more!
Recent News
We’re hiring!
Shop Associate Job Title: Shop Associate Department: Bike shop, general Reports To: Executive Director Compensation: Starting at $14/hour (up to $17/hr after 90 days) Hours: Up to 30 hours, Monday through Saturday, flexible schedule Summary: This position requires...
2022 Impact Report
What a fantastic year! Before we review the incredible successes of 2022, all of us at CTBC want to thank all of our incredible supporters for Saving Our Shop! From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU! 2022 feels like a stand-out year in the 7 year history of the Cola...
Save Our Shop
The Cola Town Bike Collective is in danger of losing our location at 711 Elmwood, which puts our entire mission at risk. We were recently informed that our landlord is looking to sell the building we've called our home for almost half a decade. Our shop...
Midlands Gives is right around the corner
Last year, with your help, the Cola Town Bike Collective raised $13,391 during Midlands Gives which put us as the 3rd largest fundraiser for small nonprofits! What's just as amazing is that we had 160 unique donors, 160 individuals who chose to support us! Thank you...
2021 Impact Report
Cola Town Bike Collective's 2021 Impact Report 2021 was a BIG year of growth for the Cola Town Bike Collective. We were able to hire our first full-time employee and executive director, Scott Nuelken, which has allowed the shop to be open 5 days a week and really let...
First Quarter Musings from our Executive Director
As we are coming to the end of March, I wanted to share some of the exciting things happening this year with the Cola Town Bike Collective. We have been busy this year and are excited about things to come this spring! As we rolled into 2022, we have cultivated our...
Success Story: Timothy
Timothy was walking 5 miles each direction to get to work to support his family. But with a single, minimum-wage income supporting two children and himself, Timothy couldn’t afford a car to get to work, and the bus timetable didn’t align with his working hours. Until...
Letter from the president, Midlands Gives
Dear friends, This week Cola Town Bike Collective celebrated its fourth birthday: four years ago, we were incorporated as a 501(c)(3) organization. In that time, we’ve upgraded shop spaces twice, installed bike stands across Columbia, launched a web app called...
2018-2019 Impact Report
2019 was a huge year for the Cola Town Bike Collective. We moved to a new home, launched the first-of-its-kind app to help bicycle commuters, hosted a half dozen events, and participated in another half dozen providing free bike valet and repair services. All of this...
More News
View our full archive of blog articles here.
Upcoming Events
The full list of upcoming projects, concerts, and community engagement opportunities.
The Bike Shop
We serve our neighbors from our community bike shop at 711 Elmwood Avenue in Elmwood Park. Look for our sign at the entry ramp to I-126 — you’ll recognize the whirligig and the mural by Columbia artists Clark Ellefson and Trahern Cook and Maisie Cook Lawson.
Shop Services
As a full service bike shop, we provide tune-ups, wheel truing, hydraulic service, and custom build projects. We also allow members of the community access to our facility, work stands and tools if they would like to work on their own projects.
Volunteer Sign Up
We're always on the lookout for helpful volunteers around the shop and during events. No matter your level of mechanical experience we can an extra pair of hands. Contact us to see what opportunities we have available.
Shop Inventory
Our inventory of donated and refurbished bicycles is always changing. Check our inventory page or come by the shop to see what we have in stock. Updated weekly each Sunday.
We are a Nonprofit
Make a Donation
Become a Sponsor
Corporate sponsorship provide long-term support in our mission throughout Midlands. The aid of these organizations have been vital to our success over the years.
Our Sponsors
