How to make a mountain bike repairing home workshop

Build a Bike Stand

Working on your bike at home is made a lot easier with a bike stand, and there’s a reason no serious workshop is complete without one: undertaking even simple jobs is much harder without it.

The main thing you should consider before choosing a stand is the amount of space you have available. This consideration will guide your choice between a foldable and a fixed stand.

The former are lightweight, usually cheaper, and suitable for most bikes. These stands allow you to clamp the bike via the top tube or seat post.

The latter, ideal for those lucky enough to have a dedicated ‘bike room,’ come with a heavy, solid base that is not designed to be moved around or folded at the end of the job. This makes it easier to loosen tight bolts, such as those on bottom brackets.

Please always consider these elements when choosing a stand: clamping adjustment options, strong clamp availability, folding size (if needed), height adjustment opportunity, and maximum weight capacity.
 

Making the Workbench

When fixing your bike or its components, you’ll often need a good spot to work on. Imagine, for example, you are working on the chain, carrying out a technical operation on a pinion, or even just immersing the tube in a water washtub looking for bubbles: having a flat, raised surface is a blessing for work quality (as well as a panacea for your back).

First, to choose the right workbench, you should start by listing your needs. You will mainly work on medium-sized components (the frame can be managed with the stand), so the required surface shouldn’t be too large. The same consideration applies to the weight your workbench needs to withstand: no heavy parts are supposed to be supported, so a medium-resistance structure will suffice.

Second, what crucial elements should a bike workbench include? To complete your bike workbench, a vice is essential, as well as plenty of space for your tools. Screwdrivers, pliers, chisels, and other tools can be stored in a dedicated drawer (most available workbenches include one by default) or hung from storage shelves.

In summary: a medium-sized workbench is what you are looking for, and mechanics’ workbenches are perfect. If you don’t have enough space or like to move things around often, you can always look for a foldable solution.
 

Benefit from a Multipurpose Tool

Bike maintenance and tuning involve many different operations, and having all the necessary tools can be both costly and time-consuming. However, there is a shortcut to avoid this problem: get yourself an air compressor! You will be able to inflate tyres, clean and blow components, sand, and paint the frame. An air compressor can solve several problems and, last but not least, make your workbench shine after every repair session.

The market offers several solutions tailored to your needs. If you already know your bike won’t be the only one you’ll take care of (other family members may have their own bikes needing attention), it would be smart to get a compressor that delivers a good amount of air. A hobbyist machine with an air storage capacity between 10 and 30 litres can be perfect. If you are looking for something easy to use and maintenance-free, a compact air compressor is the best choice. Specially designed compressors will solve the “learning curve” (plug-and-play solution) and the “where to place it” issue. Indeed, these small-sized machines can be mounted on a wall, saving a lot of space, or moved easily thanks to wheels and lightweight configurations.

In short, a small workshop or a narrow basement is perfect for an air compressor. Think about it: with just a small investment, you’ll soon see great benefits.