The perfect bike workshop: Julia Schäfer in screwdriver heaven

Germany, land of DIY enthusiasts! DIY stores are booming - and not just since the coronavirus pandemic. It's no different when it comes to tinkering with bikes. Building your own mountain bike ennobles the owner. Even the riding experience seems to be different. A more sublime, more satisfying and prouder one than on
than sitting on an ordinary off-the-shelf bike. At times, the inner immersion in the realm of screws, the world of suspension adjustment and the cosmos of ergonomic optimisation seems to take on Zen-like traits. Screwing is a source of happiness - at least when things are going well in the workshop and there are no spontaneous outbursts of rage due to unsuitable tools, non-standard add-on parts or brain and finger cramp-inducing detail work.

In order for things to really go smoothly when you're screwing and for the happiness hormone levels to stabilise at a permanent high - like on a flowing single trail - the environment has to be right. - Rocky Mountain Team rider Julia Schäfer.

"What a freshly shaped berm trail is in the bike park, a tidy workshop with functional tools that are ready to hand without having to search for them is at home." With a little imagination, there's room for your own workshop in even the smallest of places. Some bikers even transport their workshop in a van or motorhome. If in doubt, more space is of course better. But even more important are the right equipment and organisation. Who hasn't despaired when trying to bleed the brakes, adjust the gears or change an internally routed shift cable because they couldn't find the right tool? The blessings and curses of self-tightening are often closer together than the pistons of a jammed disc brake.

For many bikers, do-it-yourself repairs are not just a source of satisfaction, but simply an economic necessity. 62 per cent of all BIKE readers buy spare and wear parts online. 32 per cent even have entire bikes sent to their home, which sometimes require more, sometimes less expertise for final assembly. Large online shops may tempt you with low prices, but they don't have a helping hand when it comes to the final assembly of the bike. The majority of bikers therefore have no choice but to do it themselves as a side effect of the bargain rush.

To turn a must into a pleasure, there are a few rules to follow: The centrepieces of the home workshop are a sturdy workbench with a vice and, ideally, a tool wall where the most important tools are clearly arranged and ready to hand at all times. Cleaners, lubricants and spare parts can be stored in the base cabinet of the workbench - or on shelves and in boxes. A clever solution are mobile containers that can be arranged variably. Saving tip: A used workbench, for example from a company liquidation, costs only a fraction of a new one. If the work surface is damaged, it can usually be replaced quite easily with a new one from the DIY store. Or you can simply build the workbench yourself.

>> Instructions for building your own workbench can be found here <<

"A sturdy assembly stand is at least as important as the workbench to hold the bike securely in the ideal position when screwing", says Julia Schäfer. There is space for these foldable bike butlers in every cellar compartment and storage room. Of course, rooms of around six to ten square metres are ideal. Ideally with a window so that you can ventilate when working with cleaners and lubricants. If you don't want to celebrate your screwdriving sessions in the evening or in the cellar by dim candlelight, you will of course need a power connection. This is also worthwhile for electric tools or additional spotlights that bring sufficient light into the darkness of the technology. In unheated cellars, a fan heater or radiant heater is recommended for the winter. In the luxury version, the workroom also has a sink or at least a water connection. A mobile sound system finally turns your workshop into an oasis for switching off from everyday life. Almost even more important: WLAN reception so that you can google instructions and the latest tinkering hacks. Then nothing stands in the way of the ultimate tinkering session. Compared to an appointment in the workshop of the nearest bike shop, you not only save a lot of money, but also do something good for your soul.

No more chaos in the screwdriver workshop

Grandparents like to preach that tidiness is half the battle. At least in the home bike workshop, it is the key to successful wrenching sessions.

No space, no system, no order. Tools scattered wildly across a wobbly desk, bikes wedged into insurmountable barriers in the room. This is often the reality in the bike cellar at home. There are two solutions for organising yourself and your tools: Either you can apprentice yourself to friends with a cleaning and tidying fetish and ask them to help you organise your workshop. Or you can get creative yourself and look around for organising aids and systems, which are available in abundance in DIY stores. Here are a few suggestions:

Discarded furniture from the office or children's room can be put to good use. With a reinforced top, desks can quickly be converted into a workbench. If space is limited, folding solutions such as Pedro's Workbench are an alternative.

Chipboard or plywood panels are inexpensive and functional - perfect for a tool wall. Simply hammer in suitable nails to hang up the tools. Unlike a toolbox, you have the most important tools quickly to hand without having to rummage around.

Hook on - This allows the bikes to be mounted on the wall to save space.

Large plastic boxes are not expensive and offer plenty of storage space for tubes, tyres and larger spare parts.

Simple shelves are not just for bookworms. Bottles and tins with Lubricant, Oiling, Bike cleaners and co. are always ready to hand here.

Bike check at home

1. Clean your bike: Screwing on a muddy bike is no fun. Give the bike a shower and a treatment with a cleaning cloth beforehand.
2. Tyre check: If the tyres are brittle or even missing knobs in the tread - then take them off and put new ones on. Check the tyre pressure and sealant.
3. Check chain: Rust and dirt have no place on the chain. Run the chain through a cloth several times and add a little oil. Check the chain length with a wear gauge.
4. Brake test: Will the brake pads last for the next tour or the next race? If in doubt, it's better to change them beforehand. Are the brakes still not gripping properly or do they not have a clear pressure point? Off to the workshop. Because brakes are highly safety-relevant components.
5. Adjust the gearstick: Do the gears shift smoothly and precisely? If not, the performance can be quickly optimised with the adjusting screws on the shifter and rear derailleur.
6. Screws loose? Loose bolts can have serious consequences. Be sure to check all bolts on the handlebars and stem.
7. Fork and damper: A shock pump belongs in every bike workshop. It can be used to customise the suspension fork and shock. If the suspension is still sluggish, an oil change or a professional service will help.

Rocky Mountain pro biker Julia Schäfer loves listening to music - especially at work. She has revealed her top 10 favourites to us:

1. Highway Star - Deep Purple
2. Danger and Dread - Brown Bird
3. Film Noir - The Gaslight Anthem
4. Polaroid - Imagine Dragons
5. White Rabbit - Jefferson Airplane
6. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
7. Rock & Roll Queen - The Subways
8. Don't forget me - Red Hot Chilli Peppers
9. Paint it Black - Rolling Stones
10. Gipsy - Uriah Heep