La Vie Velominatus: The VVorkshop
If the road is the cathedral where we go to worship at the altar of Merckx then the workshop must surely be the rectory. The workshop of the Velominatus is semi-sacred space where one goes primarily to sharpen one’s tool of worship. In so doing, the workshop also provides a space in which to meditate on the machine, make repairs from rides gone by, and prepare for rides to come. The workshop may not be the space where we engage in our most revelatory work, however, the work we do there both before and after each ride is no less important than the work we do in between.
Though we have no Rules governing the workshop, I suggest the following is what constitutes good workshops:
- One’s workshop must be well provisioned. Like any suitable place intended for rejuvenation, the workshop should be well stocked with items such as spare tubes, a few tires (even if they’ve been retired but could still be used in a pinch), extra cable and housing, cleaning supplies, lubricants, and greases.
- The workshop should be kept organized. Each tool has its place and once used should be returned to that place after it has been used and cleaned. There’s no greater satisfaction than knowing exactly where your chain whip is, for example, and being able to find it in that spot in clean, ready-to-use condition.
- The workshop should be able to be well lit. You try getting that perfect bar tape wrap in a dimly lit dungeon.
- The workshop must be well equipped. You are only as good at maintenance as your tools. And for Merckx-sake, invest in a shop stand.
- Old parts are worth keeping. Mind you, you should know their history and discard them if they’re unsafe. But you never know if you’ll want to use that old saddle, stem, or frame again. Having a box or two of miscellany around goes a long way toward piecing together that next Rule #12 acquisition. And when you find yourself in the role of Cycling Sensei, those old parts could take on a whole new life and meaning for your Pedalwan.
Beyond these basic guidelines there are other considerations one can make in order to give their workshop an even more shrine-like aura. Your workshop or workspace might include some or all of the following:
- Cycling accouterments from by-gone era. Anything from that classic LeMan poster to old PDM jersey hanging on the wall that ties your space to our sport’s traditions and history is just plain cool in your workshop.
- Audio-visual gear. Put a radio, iPod, or T.V. (for watching classic cycling videos only) in your workshop.
- The hallowed bike. Maybe you’ve still got the retired steel Raleigh on which you reached your first podium, perhaps you own a Team 7/11 Huffy, or still have that randonneur whip from college with 20,000k of stories from one year on it to tell. In any case, if you’ve got a steed with panache, give it a worthy space in your shop.
- Old couches and recliners are well worth it if you have the space. If you can create a clubhouse atmosphere in your workshop so that when your mates are over they can chill on that old flower-patterned couch or Naugahyde Lazy-Boy you’re doing a community service. Add to that a fridge for some cold malted beverage and you could start charging a cover.
Similar to our varied bikes and certainly to the vastly different places we all profess our devotion, our workshops are no doubt reflections of our own uniqueness as cyclists. That said, just as the Rules bind us, the spaces we retreat to in order to sharpen our tools should also provide us with a modicum of comfort in the familiar. In other words, I may not know my way around your kitchen straight away but if it’s a well appointed kitchen it shouldn’t take me long to learn my way around and start making good food. Take a minute to share what you appreciate about your workshop (or workspace if it serves secondarily as a living room or kitchen). Additionally, maybe you can share a workshop tale. For the workshop should not be overlooked as an integral room of the church in which we pray.
I love the idea. To bad I live in a poorly furnished 1 bedroom apartment. Since I don’t own a couch both my bikes reside in the living room. As do my trainer and rollers. It proper workshop is a definite goal of mine.
Very timely topic as winter descends on us in the Northern Hemisphere and the time comes for end-of-season maintenance. As for accouterments, you will find a set of rollers in the same space as my shop set up.
Mine is half business, half man cave. I figure it’s worth showing off though.
Roadworks
By the way, I like your workshop Marko. Clean and tidy.
Marko. I think we have the same floor pump. That company is just down the road from where I live.
@Oli
You both have sweet setups.
@Oli
If your business is being a man cave, that is! Awesome workshop. I’ve been in it and it’s grouse.
Amen
@wrench
Fixed your post.
@Oli @Marko
oh man that is so unbelievably tidy
@RedRanger
Well then, until you upgrade you’re current situation you’ve certainly got your priorities straight. And you’re not in St. Paul are you? Unless Park Tool has something in Az?
@Oli
Having seen only pics of your shop here and on your site over the years, I can only say your praise of my shop is too kind. You’ve got the shop to end all shops from what I can tell.
@Nate
Your sentiment is what got me thinking on the topic. My end of season ritual includes putting fatties on the cx bike, bedding down bikes #1 and #2, and pulling out the ski vise to begin the first of many ski waxings (a tradition and sacrament worthy of its own article on another site).
@Marko
Unfortunately I am not in St. Paul any more. And I must be wrong about the pump. I blame it on viewing the picture via the mobile site when I should be working.
Very nice Marko (and Oli too)! Color me jealous – I’m in the same boat as RedRanger, two bedroom apartment in the city with the VMH = no room for a workshop. I do most of my bike maintenance out on the deck, because I made a bit of a mess the last time I used the middle of the kitchen…
Someday, when I can buy a house (hopefully not too many years off now), a workspace/mancave is #1 on my personal list of needs. #2 is a nice backyard and deck.
@mcsqueak
Unless you and the VMH are saving yourselves for something and using both those bedrooms for sleeping…you do the math.
growing up, my car mechanic dad told me two things: “A clean shop is an unused shop” and “Put my *#% &#@&% tools away when you are done using them!”
I’m not sure what to think of your space; that work bench looks as clean as Grandma’s sitting room table. Where’s the bowl of plastic fruit? I’m guessing the current project is out of shot to the right of the Alan? I hope.
@jimmy
One thing I have learned in aviation school is that a mechanic has to account for every item you take into the plane. And if you missplace a tool you have to report it and find it. The FAA looks down on FOD. Marco your shop is ship shape, nicely done.
I now live in a small place with the VMH, the dog, and two cats, plus all the bicycles. The main reason I look forward to getting a job, moving to a new place, and having move space is…a shed, a basement, a spare room for the bikes and the gear.
As it is now, I have the bikes hanging from the ceiling, I have to ferret my gear away each night, and it’s generally a big pain in the arse. I don’t want a three car garage, a circular driveway, a yard, just some space for the bikes! Gives me tons of motivation to finish my degree and get a job & a place!
Marko – Nice one! Great article! Consider me square-footage envious.
My workshop also serves as the winter training room. In reality it is an enclosed back porch masquerading as a bedroom with a large closet. Before I commandeered it it was more or less a storage/catch-all room. The closet had some homemade plywood bunkbeds that the previous owners had made. These acted at nothing more than storage shelves to us and accumulated about five years worth of detritus before I decided to reclaim the space for my own. While the missus was napping I basically threw everything into the dumpster because I figured if we hadn’t used it in five years we didn’t need it. Oh the humanity! Mrs. Cyclops actually climbed into the dumpster to retrieve the odd 3×5 card and manila folder. Her anxiety level of not knowing what was underneath the pile was higher than a Cat 5 at his first crit.
I tore out the bunkbeds and gained about 40 sq. feet of space that my work bench happed to fit neatly across one end of. I have the workstand in one corner with the Cannondale mounted to the Kurt Kinetic trainer along the windows and the LOOK leaning against the opposite wall – I can hang it upside down above where it usually sits but bikes don’t look right in that un-natural position so I’d rather lean it against the wall so I can lovingly glance at it as I plod away on the trainer.
Me mum’s husband has poor eyesight so they just bought a 50″ bigscreen and informed me that I could have their old 35″ flatscreen for Christmas so I’m looking forward to replacing the $25 garage sale 19″ that I presently watch all my racing videos on. Last season a mate gave me about 80 VHS tapes with all the grand tours and classics starting around ’98 up until ’04 so I got plenty of motivation while sequestered to the back room through the winter.
The cat seems rather unpertubed that I’m riding a bike indoors and going nowhere.
@Marko and @Oli
Love your workshops! I’m so envious. As an engineer, I crave a workshop of my own but alas I don’t even have a garage at the moment.
It’s on the list though!
@brett
I stand corrected..
I’m learning.
Who is “LeMan” and what the heck is a “randonneur whip”?
@ClassicCyclist
Those who seek, shall find. ie The Lexicon
@ClassicCyclist
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randonneuring
Whip is a term for bike.
@Cyclops
I really like thIs post. La Vie is all in there.
@Marko
Ha, well we do have it set up as a second bedroom for when we have friends in from out of town, but it’s also where I set up my trainer – mostly so my cat doesn’t lose an arm as I spin, as she loves messing with my bike when I leave it out.
If I put down a drop cloth I could set up a repair stand in there, but I’d have no room for a workbench. Perhaps one of those toolboxes that folds open with multiple levels would work in a pinch.
I know what randonneuring is. I’ve been riding brevets since 1984. But “whip” only means “car” to a handful of numbnuts; it sure as heck doesn’t mean “bike,” unless you’re so lame as to refer to Greg Lemond as “LeMan.”
@ClassicCyclist
Yes, the world is lame sometimes.
@ClassicCyclist
Don’t like Greg? Like Lance?
@ClassicCyclist
Easy there, Old Fella! The so-called “fixie” community have been calling their bikes whips for years, so it’s not really surprising that the use of this popular vernacular of the youth has crept into the roadie community, even if it’s only ironically.
@ClassicCyclist
You seem charming. Stick around a while.
I have clearly not created a rectory anywhere close to the level of Marco. In the spirit of today’s multinational corporations I have outsourced almost all maintenance activity to my local bike shop. Considering my LBS has Jedi level bike repair skills (a bike mechanic is an accredited profession in Switzerland – requiring significant formal training) I am usually happy to take my bike to the store where I know it will be running silently and in compliance with the Rules. However, I have to admit I wish I was part of this secret society who cleverly can repair/install every part of their steeds.
Nice…I have workshop envy. The kitchen makes do as my current rectory, with the bath thrown in for cleaning duties.
@Marko – if I could add one thing to your set up, it would a kettle and some depply teastained mugs. No workshop in the UK, at least, is complete without mugs that will make up at least one cuppa just on residuals.
Any recommendations for a good shop stand?
@ClassicCyclist
Riding brevets since 1984. Surely the controls must be closed by now, or that’s one hell of a Permanent.
I assure you Whip is a very common term for bike… in the outside world.
All too true Marko.
We finally moved into a house a couple of years ago that has a workshop/storeroom. Though the bikes and associated bits have slowly taken over the space. My VMH realised a long time ago that I needed this type of space and graciously suggested that I was to call it my own. To this day she hesitates before entering. I’m not sure if she doesn’t want to catch me watching more bike porn, showing respect or scared I’ll be asking her to hold something for a minute. Either way, the luxury of having ones own workspace to lavish attention on the stable within…my own little velo nirvana. Another reason to love her.
I’ve also put a PC in there as well. Something to watch or listen to when I’m on the trainer, net access when I need a quick cycling related reference or a Velominati fix.
and Marko, that space is so neat! Even the bidons are lined up in an aesthetically pleasing manner! Is it always so or tidied up for the shot?
@Marko @Oli
Great workshops guys. The cleanliness is inspiring.
I’ve got a decent size double garage that I’ve gradually equipped over the last few years, good shelving, a nice solid workbench running the full width at the back, decent size beer fridge and a Guinness surger. Half of if is taken up with the trailer we use for transporting all the bikes around on which leaves the other half free for work-stands or the rollers. Left to my own devices, I’d keep it pretty shipshape but it is always getting used as a dumping ground by the rest of the family. When that happens I tend to let standards slide to the point that I end up losing a weekend every now and then as I return it to it’s former glory.
The onset of winter and my wife travelling a lot with work probably doesn’t help, the roller sessions are taking place in the kitchen. Maybe if I move the work-stand into the living room and degrease some chains in her best china, she might stop dumping crap in my space.
Wrenchbone
@Chris
this is very much the biography of a modern sporting husband – you are not alone my friend – I shall post a photo of my current state of garagital carnage later – I guarantee you will empathise/ vomit
ps. ever admiring of your ability to prioritise (in bold above) @Chris, clearly a servant at the altar of liqor
@Dr C
Recent worship at that particular altar is coming back to bite me on the rse this evening. It was Mrs Chris’ birthday (the unmentionable big one that has recently or will soon afflict those of us born in the early seventies) on Friday. The festivities started on Thursday and ran into the small hours of Sunday. I’ve found that as I get older, my tolerance of cheap booze is much reduced as is my ability to process my intake. The intake of Good Big Reds will not be completely recycled by the time I get into the descending intervals on the rollers tonight. It is not helped by my having a friend whose stated intention is to destroy me with sambucca.
@Marko
Great piece, although you’re workshop looks worrying tidy. You don’t suffer from OCD do you?
@mblume
Perhaps if those of us in the States were guaranteed a certain competence level or at least level of certification it would be easier to take our bikes to the LBS. Rather, we’re stuck searching for a good wrench as we would be a good proctologist. When you find one though you don’t even know they were there and everything works like butter.
@Bintang
The one pictured is a Park home mechanic repair stand. I’ve had it for 6-7 years and have been happy with it. What I like about it (other than it holds my bikes while I wrench) is that it extends really tall. When I’m cleaning my chain I hardly need to bend over and it makes for eye-level bar tape wrapping. I’m sure there are others that peeps can recommend though as well.
@il ciclista medio
I confess, it’s usually not quite that neat (happy now Jimmy?). This was taken yesterday as I tidied up to pull out the ski waxing vice and but the winter wheels on the ALAN. It’s usually somewhere between there and shithole as not only do I wrench on my bikes but I also have a moto that needs attention, do most of my own car repair, and am in the middle of building my own house. When it’s like this though I could move in.
@Chris
It sounds like all your bike stuff has forced your cars out to the driveway. Well done. Happy B-day to Mrs. Chris.
@Dr C
I look forward to your pics.
Great article. I have a good sized one-car garage and usually park the car just inside the door to give my “workshop” space as much room as possible. This gives me enough room to work on bikes, store stuff and make sure everything is organized and accessible. Given the remarkably neat appearance of Marko’s rectory, I did try and do a bit of season end tidying up last night. My wall decorations of choice are a Cinelli poster of Hampsten on the Gavia and a Campag poster of Raas winning the WC.
@Joe
I worked in a bike shop (Alan Hewitt Cycle Co, now sadly gone) in Glasgow during my college summers. The kettle barely got cold so often did we brew up. The tea was supplemented by Kitkats and in the summer we drank bottle after bottle of Irn Bru. (A uniquely Scottish soft drink made from girders. Bright orange, super sweet and reputed to cure handovers.)
Wow, that is one spanking clean shop! Mine, not so much… Like others I wrench, train, and generally find a little bit of quiet time in my shop, which is a detached garage. You guys are missing a prime opportunity- you can brew in your shop also. There is almost nothing better than the smell of a Belgian ale wort bubbling along while you get in some time on the trainer and watch a Sunday in Hell!
@Marko
I am releived Marko. In the spirit of full disclosure, I have spread my tool stable thin through garage, guest room, and semi-finished basement game/workout room. The strategy is to confuse the mrs. When she tells me to clean up my gear for the holiday guests I can more easily aquire the best real-estate.
@Marko
Per Marko’s comments above re: work stands, I have been using a Feedback Sports Pro-Elite Workstand for about a year and am very pleased with it. It is stable, lightweight, and easily transportable (comes with a carry bag) to races and vacations.
NIce looking shop there Marko. Mine was in good shape until I started a full restoration of my 1963 Airstream. With all the gutted parts piled up I can barely move around in there. But I do know where all my tools are. Hopefully everything will be right with the world this spring.
@Nate
Speaking of which, I haven’t gotten to making up your apron yet. Don’t worry – I’ll make sure I get to it soon, hopefully it will arrive in time to serve as a Christmas gift.
@Oli
I’ve seen that video before. Awesome!
@Marko
Great piece. I’m going to have to wander down today pre-ride and shoot a little video of mine. Its like you read my mind.
Your shop, to my taste, is just a tad tidy, but I’m sure you cleaned it up for the shot. It drives me out of my mind (such as it is) when people use something and don’t put it back where it came from. Its the simplest thing in the world. Just put it back. What do you mean you don’t know where it goes? You just picked it up from where it goes!
A place for everything and everything in its place. My biggest issue with my workshop is that I’ve got many of my tools in a toolbox, which I feel is not a good way to store them. I’d like to hang them on the wall, but I only have one set of tools and having them in a toolbox means I can grab them easily and throw them in a car for vacation or a long ride and be sure I’ve got what I need.