Bicycle Mechanics - Community Bike Repair Shop

I have just envisioned an ingenious idea. What if a city were to have a bike repair shop that citizen's could bring there bike in and use tools to fix their bikes. Perhaps this would work better as a private enterprise, where tools/work area would be rented.

Of course, I would go bankrupt in there pounding away at my bike, stripping bolts and breaking cables.

Has anyone heard of such a place?

Yes. They exist, or at least did a few years ago, in several places--an Internet search might turn up some locations.

Yes, I have Steele-Bike, right here on these forums!

It's out in the Snowy Midwest, a little garage called "Mike Stone's Garage."

I'm sure if you lived next door, Mike would not only help you, he might even teach you a thing or two (no charge, except maybe you would have to promise to come back sometime and try some amber cherry beer.)

Other than that, I don't know, sadly.

Hey, I live in the snowy midwest, too. I am going to have to look up this Mike guy. At least I know what he looks like. Maybe I will go on a trek and try to find him...hopefully the bike doesn't break down on the way.

I saw the guys at the Shenandoah Bike shop in Harrisonburg, VA have a bench w/ tools and manuals they rent out. Think it's about $7-8/hour. Sounds like a good idea for people w/o tools.

I say, gradually build a tool collection. Some are expensive, but for the price of shop labor you can usually get the tool you need to do the job plus a few others. Obvious exceptions being things like a headset press (but I have a $15 solution for this which involves no banging and works every time)

Good advice XMan but I can best you on the headset press cost how does $3.00 and some change sound.

There is one that is starting up here in New Orleans. I'm going to check it out on Thursday and donate some of my old parts. I'll let you guys know what it is like.

Servus!

Wow, that would be a great idea, but the Germans regard the workshop as a Holy Shrine in which The Customer Shall Never Enter. Seriously, I have NEVER been allowed that far back in ANY bike shop during my stay in Europe. This is where I concur with riderx - I have become an avid tool collector. Having the tools at home to do minor wrenching is great and makes you quite popular amongst your riding pals. What I lack is (of course) a place to work and a solid workstand - which is what these rent-a-shops provide. Ah well, as long as I don't get chain lube on the floor, I'll continue to hang my beauty from the rafters when RangerGirl is out of town...

The London Cycling Campaign have a couple of well equipped workshops for members to use. There used to be one under the railway arches in deepest East London, full of ancient bikes and spare parts which you could buy for pennies.