The Bike Cave History

Texas State's bicycle cooperative, (The Bike Cave), began in 2007 as a collaboration between Auxiliary Services; proactive members of NAEP (now ECO); members of the community, and ESC. Student staff and volunteers began constructing bicycle work stations and organizing The Cave space for bicycles and parts storage. They stripped bicycle parts from donated bicycles to provide low-cost bicycle parts for customers. To better serve the students, The Bike Cave employees set up shop in the Quad once a week for minor repairs.

The location of the first “Cave” was the Thornton House garage and basement.  This location, plus additional storage at the University Print Shop, made up about 1000 square feet of crammed space which soon proved too small the meet the growing demand for bicycle repairs by Texas State students, faculty and staff. 

The original Cave location at Thornton House garage closed at the beginning of December 2008 to allow Bike Cave staff time to pack up parts, tools and stands and move to their new location in the first floor of the Pecos building.  This second location opened on February 9, 2009 and featured additional indoor work stands; tools; easier access to parts; ample storage space; and far more space to grow, (over 3000 sq. ft.); growing demands and limited space required the closure of this location at the end of the 2009 fall semester.

The newest location, (Room 100 of the Colorado building), opened on February 1, 2010 with just under 1200 square feet of work space and on-site storage.  This location is a tight fit, but still provides all the basic repair equipment.  We have added a new air compressor allowing students to easily air their tires at all five work stations; an outside air hose was added for after-hours availability. The Bike Cave offers low cost tubes and patch kits to allow for on-site tire and tube repairs; work stands for easy bicycle maintenance and repair; basic and specialized bike tools; knowledgeable staff, and training opportunities for those who want to learn how to maintain and repair their bicycles.

Philosophies for Alternative Transportation           

 A Good Reason to Support a Bicycle Cooperative.

Upcoming Events:

Stay tuned. 

Past Events

Alternative Transportation in San Marcos, Edible San Marcos put an article we wrote in their February newsletter.

Re-Build A Bike,   go to The Bike Cave Website for details.

Bike! Bike!, is an international annual conference organized by and for not-for-profit bike projects. Come join us next summer, to move forward with that Bicycle Coopertive project you have been thinking about for your community. 

Cavers' Bike Rental for the Transit Dependent Student

This is a pilot project for a Bike Rental at Texas State University‐ SM. We are starting this project off by supplying the Texas State International Students who may be transit‐dependent here in San Marcos with a bike. Our hope is to create new bike riders and provide a service to a growing trend in the area, sustainability. This project may help us kick off a bigger rental program in the future at Texas State University‐SM.

Getting around the Texas State campus and the City of San Marcos by bike is economical and eco friendly. For a one time membership fee, International students can apply to rent a bike from The Bike Cave for the entire semester. Our rental fleet consists of reused bicycles from The Bike Cave; a bike lock comes with every bike rented. This program is available on a first-come first-serve basis, although we will do our best to accommodate all International students who apply. Our bikes are recycled bikes that get donated to us by the San Marcos and the Texas State University community in various states of disrepair. Our volunteers and staff then restore them and fix them up so that they can be ridden once again. For any further question email us at thebikecave78666@gmail.com

The Cavers' Bike Rental

History of the Bike Racks on the Bobcat Tram

• The first five 3-position bicycle racks were installed on new BT Interurban buses during initial testing during the spring of 2006
• Twenty-three new buses began arriving during the spring of 2007, (Mid March through Mid May); these new Bobcat Tram buses were equipped with the same type bike racks as they arrived.
• Twelve buses from the 1998 fleet; these buses also received bicycle racks from a grant from the Environmental Services Committee (ESC). As of May 2007, The Bobcat Tram and BT Interurban fleets are now 100% bicycle capable, with three bicycle storage positions on the front of each bus.

How to load your bike on the Bobcat Tram

Bicycle Training

The Bike Cave has begun offering training classes to give students, faculty and staff an opportunity to learn how to repair and maintain their bicycles; and how to safely operate their bicycle.  

Re-Build a Bike -offers participants the opportunity to learn basic bicycle maintenance and repair.  You’ll learn proper bicycle fit, and have the opportunity to build a bicycle from the ground up.

Show your support

2012 Bike Cave T-shirt

Front and Back Design

Purchase at The Bike Cave for $10

Men and Women sizes available, while supplies last.

How much does it REALLY cost you to drive?

How much of our income is going to gas by way of car/truck?

 Bikeway Development

• Recently awarded 2007 STM-MM grant funds will allow the first phase of campus bikeway construction; final construction documents were developed during the fall of 2008.
• The first 2 miles of off-road bikeway will connect east campus to the city bikeway; apartments along Post Rd.; shopping along Thorpe Ln; Sewell Park; and perimeter parking.
• This first phase of bikeway construction will connect to recently completed city bicycle lanes on Post Road, CM Allen, and  existing city trailways connecting the university to local parks and neighborhoods.