About CA Cycle
History
CA Cycle was started at Calgary Academy by a junior high school teacher (Lanny Donde) in 2002 as a lunch time activity and was known as the Gear Zone. It was an opportunity for students to learn bike repair skills as well as ski and snowboard maintenance. Since then, the program has grown into a junior high option that now teaches 150 students per year. During its evolution, CA Cycle and the Gear Zone have donated hundreds of bicycles both within the City of Calgary and abroad.
Both the name CA Cycle as well as the logo were created by students when the lunch time activity officially became an option in 2006.
Projects & Units Taught
Bike Maintenance and Repair
Students learn valuable skills such as Emergency Roadside Repair, bearing repacking, cable replacement and gear and brake adjustments all while giving back to the community. All bikes overhauled by CA Cycle students are donated back into the community. Over 300 bikes have been donated to date.
Ski and Snowboard Maintenance
Students learn to sharpen, wax and repair skis and snowboards at CA Cycle. They may work on their own skis or be altruistic and tune up equipment for friends, teachers or family members.
Racket Stringing
Badminton season in Phys Ed usually means broken strings. CA Cycle students not only repair badminton rackets for the PE department at Calgary Academy, but they may also string their own badminton, tennis, squash or racquetball rackets.
Birdhouse Construction
Students learn basic woodworking through Birdhouse kits at CA Cycle. They assemble a structure, hammer nails, sand wood, prep and paint it. Each birdhouse ends up being a unique representation of the personality of our students.
Skateboard Lamination
Woodworking continues with students building their own skateboard decks. They learn how to laminate pieces of veneer and mould them in a vacuum press. They then shape the decks with a file and rasp, sand and paint them. Graphic design follows and students leave with their very own custom long-board deck.
Bike Furniture
Another unique addition to CA Cycle has been the construction of furniture made exclusively from bicycle parts. Rims, used bike tubes and various other bike parts are used to create beautiful hand crafted, fully functional pieces of furniture. Not only does this add a dynamic and vibrant unit to CA Cycle, but it also keeps those old bike parts out of our city’s landfill.
