Categories: La Vie VelominatusTradition

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.

Marko

Marko lives and rides in the upper midwest of the States, Minnesota specifically. "Cycling territory" and "the midwest" don't usually end up in the same sentence unless the conversation turns to the roots of LeMond, Hampsten, Heiden and Ochowitz. While the pavé and bergs of Flanders are his preferred places to ride, you can usually find him harvesting gravel along forest and farm roads. He owes a lot to Cycling and his greatest contribution to cycling may forever be coining the term Rainbow Turd.

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View Comments

936adl says:

Nov 28 2011 at 5:04 am

@Marko

Great piece, although you're workshop looks worrying tidy. You don't suffer from OCD do you?
Marko says:

Nov 28 2011 at 5:21 am

@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.
wiscot says:

Nov 28 2011 at 5:25 am

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.
wiscot says:

Nov 28 2011 at 5:28 am

@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.)
Anjin-san says:

Nov 28 2011 at 5:43 am

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!
jimmy says:

Nov 28 2011 at 6:18 am

@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.
Anjin-san says:

Nov 28 2011 at 6:55 am

@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.
scaler911 says:

Nov 28 2011 at 8:28 am

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.
frank says:

Nov 28 2011 at 8:52 am

@Nate

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.

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

Mine is half business, half man cave. I figure it's worth showing off though.
Roadworks

I've seen that video before. Awesome!
frank says:

Nov 28 2011 at 8:58 am

@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.