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

Marko says:

Nov 27 2011 at 2:23 pm

@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.
Marko says:

Nov 27 2011 at 2:26 pm

@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).
RedRanger says:

Nov 27 2011 at 2:32 pm

@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.
mcsqueak says:

Nov 27 2011 at 2:48 pm

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.
Marko says:

Nov 27 2011 at 3:06 pm

@mcsqueak
Unless you and the VMH are saving yourselves for something and using both those bedrooms for sleeping...you do the math.
jimmy says:

Nov 27 2011 at 3:06 pm

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.
RedRanger says:

Nov 27 2011 at 3:20 pm

@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.
Ron says:

Nov 27 2011 at 4:00 pm

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.
Cyclops says:

Nov 27 2011 at 4:38 pm

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 3x5 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.
DeltaMngo says:

Nov 27 2011 at 5:00 pm

@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!