Bicycle Mechanics - Floor covering for temporary bike work area?

I live an an apartment, so space is somewhat limited. I recently bought a freestanding workstand so that I can work on my bikes without leaning them against the dining room table, (which will make my GF happy :) ). I'm looking to buy a light floor covering that I can roll up when not in use, but can unroll and place under the workstand when I need to do something that might drip or shed dirt.

I've done a bit of looking, but haven't found anything that quite fits the bill. Something cheap like a tarpaulin or plastic sheet would not be very comfortable (or safe!) to stand on. Industrial rubber mats tend to be too expensive or too thick to roll up and toss in a corner.

Any suggestions?

How about a drop cloth from the paint store?

How about a scrap of indoor/outdoor carpet? Easy to roll up, absorbs drips, and offers cushion to stand on. And it's tight enough weave that you won't lose small parts in it. When it gets too dirty, just get another piece... office buildings that are replacing their carpet are a good source of it for free.

I live an an apartment, so space is somewhat limited. I recently bought a freestanding workstand so that I can work on my bikes without leaning them against the dining room table, (which will make my GF happy :) ). I'm looking to buy a light floor covering that I can roll up when not in use, but can unroll and place under the workstand when I need to do something that might drip or shed dirt.

I've done a bit of looking, but haven't found anything that quite fits the bill. Something cheap like a tarpaulin or plastic sheet would not be very comfortable (or safe!) to stand on. Industrial rubber mats tend to be too expensive or too thick to roll up and toss in a corner.

Any suggestions?

I suggest a cheap throw rug from Home Depot. They come in many different sizes. Put plastic sheeting underneath to prevent anything from leaking through to the carpet.

2 layers of cardboard box.

Hmm, I'm kinda in the same situation as you are and I am considering a big piece of those plastic sheets that people put under their rolling office chairs, but I have carpet. The sheet might slip around if you don't have carpet.

peice of lanolium works well.

layers of layers of newspaper

Look at Home Depot. The have 12" x 12" interlocking squares of high density foam backed indoor/outdoor carpet or they make the same type of thing in a heavy duty rubber for floor mats on concrete floors. I got mine at the local Sears Hardware.

My landlord has some sort of fetish about the hardwood floors in my building. And frankly, there must be something to it because the condition of the floor is the first thing people comment on when they enter my apartment.

I have two trainer mats from Performance online. One lives under the bikes where they hang on the wall and the other is rolled up for when I'm working on them. They were $30 each.

They're thin enough that I don't trip on them, squishy and comfortable enough to work barefoot, ridiculously lightweight, resistant to chemicals and road salt, and they clean up easily.

+1 to linoleum - get a ***** of leftover stuff. It's lighter than carpet and more compact to store.

I use an old shower curtain, nylon over plastic. I've had no problems yet.

2 layers of cardboard box.
+1

I use an old shower curtain, nylon over plastic. I've had no problems yet.

This is what I have been using for 2+ years, not just for repair work, but for storing a wet/snowy/salty bike and my floors are still immaculate.

I used a tarp, then covered it with a Salvation Army-bought king-sized sheet, doubled up.

Worked fine.