BikeBike Southeast 2009/How to Stock Your Shop
Notes from the BikeBike Southeast 2009 How to Stock Your Shop workshop
Shop Supplies: Lubes, Tires, Cables, Tubes
- Hawley
- Distributors (ex: United Bicycle Supply)
- work with local bike shops
Locks
- cable locks
- bulk chain
- padlocks
Helmets
- BikeHelmets.org
- local fire dept
Tools vital for starting a shop
- chain breakers
- wrenches
- personal tools
- freewheel tools
- crank arm tools
- workstands
- calipers and/or spoke rulers (with bearing gauge)
- separate tool bags w/ complete tool sets
- multi-hex tool
Bike parts to start
- local organizations
- big donations
- [www.craigslist.org Craigslist] ask for parts
- dumpsters
- apartment complexes
- university complexes / university police
- word of mouth
- bike/parts pickups
- local cycling clubs (invite them in to the shop)
- put a specific wish list on your website
- scrap metal collectors
- local clean-up / trash amnesty
- explain shopping lists
- buy cables and housing
- suggested donations (i.e. $1/ ft or cable)
After / Farther Down the Line
- truing stands
- arrange spoke wrenches small -> large to prevent spoke stripping
- DIY taps
- file an old pedal bolt to look like a tap; will work a few times before wearing out
- derailleur hanger tool
- crank puller
- frame aligner for dropouts
- headset press
- welder for metal working
- grinder
- bench vice
- parts washer
- put a magnet in the bottom to collect metal junk
- clean & reuse the solvent with a coffee filter
- dispenser bottles for bulk lube, cleaners
- or at least non-aerosol lubes (cheaper, kids don't enjoy spraying as much)
- hand cleaner
- cone wrenches
- more freewheel tools
- cheater bars (make from bike frame piece, etc)
- separate specialty tools
- radio
- but not a piano
- coffee maker
Consumables
- hardware store partnerships
- soaps
- lubes
- degreasers
- get donated from wish list
- corporate donations to non-profits
Make your own repair stands
- DIY clothes hanger
- Freeride Pittsburgh has diagrams
- DIY scissor stand holds front hub & bottom bracket
- huge vice grip pliers as a stand clamp
- C-clamp vice grips
- no-weld workstands from Instructables
- old car trunk bike racks mounted to walls
- car bike racks left on peoples' cars when they visit
Recycling
- recycle metals
- art schools
- BICAS
- cut up old frames & practice welding
- ship old tubes to people who make stuff (in Oregon?)
- make wallet, change purses from tubes
- rear triangle stool (Freeride Pittsburgh to provide specs)
- use old wheels/rims to hang parts/tools
- use spokes to hang kids' wheels / helmets
- use half drop bars to hang bikes (smash end flat with bench vice to bolt to wall)
- angle down hooks so they don't break off
- old rags & bike shop / auto shops
- dumpsters, old shirts
- bottle opener made from old cassette
- belt from old tires
- jewelery
- storage
- complete bikes - turn handlebars & remove pedals
- use pallets to make 2 levels
- stack bike 2 high by using plywood between layers
- use forks as racks
- fix old allen wrenches with a Dremel (cut off rounded-off tip; shaft becomes new tip)
- make a spoke driver by cutting the center out of a flat head screwdriver tip
Other
- Official letters w/ wish list
- use letterhead, graphics for professional appearance
- for socialization
- make a mini-tent from a tarp