Rag & Bones, Richmond’s volunteer-run bicycle co-op has become a vital hub for the city’s bicycle community. Dedicated to making biking affordable and accessible, the non-profit offers low cost refurbished bicycles and parts and a welcoming space where anyone can learn to keep their wheels rolling.

Sera Erickson, collective board member and mechanic at Rags & Bones, bikes daily from her home in Church Hill to her job as VCU’s sustainable transportation manager. She volunteers at the bike co-op each week, overseeing the co-op’s administration.

“I try to bike as much as possible. I bike to work and for leisure,” Erickson said. “Biking is beneficial for everyone. It’s great exercise, and it’s good for your mental health.”

Drawing on her experience running nonprofit bike shops, Erickson brings valuable knowledge about bicycle co-ops to Rag & Bones. She previously worked for Recycle-A-Bicycle, a nonprofit co-op in New York City that refurbishes donated bikes.

“I moved to New York City to learn about running a larger, social justice-minded bicycle nonprofit,” she said.

As RamBikes shop manager at Virginia Commonwealth University, Erickson led the Bicycle Advisory Committee in implementing campus initiatives recommended by the League of American Bicyclists’ Bicycle Friendly University program.

Rag & Bones makes bicycles accessible in creative ways. The co-op teaches people how to repair their own bikes through one-on-one guidance, used and new parts and specialized tools.

It also breaks down barriers for those who can’t afford a bike. Adults can participate in an Earn a Bike program, while youth nights offer kids a chance to fix bikes, volunteer for a free bike and learn basic repair skills. 

During the summer, Rag & Bones helps run a youth camp called Camp Spokes and offers sliding-scale workshops for bike repair. The co-op also brings its mobile repair setup to community events. To foster community year-round, the shop features a front café area with rotating art shows, a small zine library and coffee.

“Everyone needs to know how to do practical things,” Erickson said. “The more you can pick up knowledge, the better you can respond to what’s going on around you.”

By emphasizing practical knowledge, Erickson helps people build confidence and tackle everyday problems with greater self-reliance.

Where do you live? Church Hill.

Where did you go to school? Bachelor’s degree in sociology and master’s degree in urban planning from VCU.

What is Rag & Bones? We’re a nonprofit, cooperatively run organization focused on making cycling accessible and affordable to the community. We provide access to used bike parts and bicycles, offering affordable refurbished bikes and repairs. We also provide a space for volunteers to help people learn how to maintain and repair their bikes, with workbenches, tools and recycled parts available during open shop hours.

What’s Rag & Bones’ mission? As a member-driven and volunteer-run nonprofit educational space, we aim to provide near-universal access to bicycle repair and technical knowledge, affordable bicycles and parts, and a space where individuals can feel safe and welcome while learning and repairing.

How was it founded? I met Joe Bock, who offered free mobile bike repair during the Occupy movement in the Fall of 2011. When I heard about what he was trying to do, my friends and I helped him expand it into a collectively run organization and move into a warehouse on School Street.

What’s the meaning behind the name? Rag & Bones is named after the rag and bone men of the 19th century, who were the people who would scavenge unwanted goods to repurpose or sell them to become something new.

How did you get involved? I asked our founder, Joe Bock, to teach me everything he knew. He taught me how to disassemble and reassemble my entire bicycle and I began volunteering and helping with administrative tasks.

How have you seen Rags & Bones make a difference in the bicycle community? Rag & Bones has made a significant difference in Richmond’s bicycle community. We provide a space for people to learn and develop skills, and as a result, many volunteers end up learning about bicycles while bringing their skills to the space. I became a bicycle mechanic after volunteering, and I know many volunteers who have followed a similar path. It also provides a valuable resource for anyone who needs a safety net or is simply curious to learn.

Why is Rag & Bones special? It offers a place for people who can’t afford to go to a bike shop to learn how to repair their bikes. It’s a resource that empowers people by teaching them a new skill and passing on the knowledge of bike repair. This empowerment leads to a sense of community.

There’s something special about the people who embody that space. I’ve met so many best friends there; I love the energy of people learning from and teaching each other. It’s my favorite place.

Who are your partners? We partner with so many organizations. Our youth summer camp is in partnership with Groundwork RVA. We’ve fixed bikes for halfway houses and done workshops and clinics for staff and residents of local shelters. On the other hand, we’ve worked with youth-focused organizations to get more kids on bikes. We host Cranksgiving every year, an event that fills all the community fridges by turning it into a bicycle race to gather food.

How is the bicycle co-op funded? Our funding comes from bicycle sales in the shop and through the services we offer, which are available for a suggested donation. The shop provides the majority of the funding needed to pay rent and manage expenses. Some small grants, such as those from the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation and New Belgium Brewing, help fund specific programs, including our youth night and overnight adventure weekend.

What is your vision for improving Richmond’s bicycle infrastructure? My vision for a safe biking community for all our citizens is that no one is more than three blocks away from a complete street, or a street with infrastructure for all transit modes — bus lines, bike lanes, sidewalks or crosswalks.

What would make downtown Richmond a better biking city? There needs to be investment and buy-in from people who recognize bikes as an important piece of transit in a developing city, even if they don’t bike themselves.

How can our readers get involved? Become a member! Visit the space with your bicycle, donate parts and bikes, attend a drop-in volunteer night to help us work on bikes for the space, come see the art in our front space, or submit your art for an art show.

Do you have any upcoming events? We have an art show in June featuring queer artists. The next place we’ll be out and about is at the Robinson Theater block party in Church Hill. Everyone who volunteers enjoys sharing their skills and knowledge, as well as participating in community events. We’ll also be helping with Repair Cafe RVA in June, and we’re already planning a big back-to-school youth event for the fall.

What’s the make and model of your bicycle? Surly Long Haul Trucker 26”, which is great for touring and long rides, and also makes potholes and cobblestones enjoyable.

Where do you enjoy riding? I like to ride on the 9th Street Bridge, through the Fan and any of the overlooks and parks in our city. I also enjoy exploring other cities through recommendations from people at their local bike co-ops. I especially like riding in rural areas on rail trails.

What are some of your favorite artists or music you listen to? La femme, Mitski and anything that’s playing on 97.3 WRIR.

What is something you love to do that most people don’t know about? I sing and play keytar in the Richmond band GIRLSPIT. We play around town and do fundraisers for organizations that we care about.

Who influenced you the most? Karen Overton, my mentor and director at Recycle a Bicycle in NYC and Susan Lindell, the shop manager of Recycle a Bicycle at the time.

What book are you reading now? I’m re-reading “Richmond’s Unhealed History,” by Rev. Ben Campbell, which is encouraging me to think about how we talk about history in our city and think about it in planning.

What’s next for the Rags & Bones team? Our goals for this year include gaining more control over chaos, expanding community programming, completing and fine-tuning our front space, and providing a community space that as many people as possible can participate in.