When you have multiple projects going how do you decide where to spend your time? Do you only work on one bike at a time, start to finish? Or many different ones at any given time, all in different states of repair?

As for me, I currently have several projects going and what I’ve been doing is just working on whichever one grabs my fancy at any given moment but is that the best way to do it? I’m genuinely curious what everyone else does.

Also, side question, how many projects is too many projects??

Posted this to the wrong sub ugh 😭😭😭

I was hoping for some cool app or tool.

🤣 oh geez now I guess I’ve got to invent one

Esos1

Good luck with that.

I try to work on one bike at a time because I usually have a dozen other projects going at the same time, cars, house X ?, dog, yard, etc.

Time management, you must be joking.

That being said, if the bike project picks up steam, all other bets are off, it will take priority as I can usually close on it or come close when things go right like they tend to by then.

Thread moved from C&V Sales to reggly C&V

I usually work on one at a time unless there is a maintenance need on another bike. And I have an odd way I do the one at time. I do a tear down when I bring a bike home, then I order what I need to do the first task. When that order comes in, I order what I need next. Time between orders is spent cleaning, polishing or rebuilding components like derailleurs or brakes. Except yesterday because I wanted the bike ready to ride for today.

I usually create an "all day" event on my Google calendar for each bike and what needs to be done.
Do whatever I feel like, delete or add tasks if I find more, and reschedule for another day.
I try not to schedule two bikes for the same day, but worked on as many as 4 at a time.

Back when I used to do real projects, I used an outliner program.
I'd set up a sheet, indent major sub points, then indent sub-points and things to buy under each of those.

When I was much younger, I noticed that the "old guys" that were happiest all had a small spiral pad in their shirt pocket.
They'd cross things off their shirt pocket list as they got done, and could always see the things that they'd gotten done.
But now shirts don't have pockets, and computers are everywhere, Just remember that the computer is a tool and not your master (yet).

I suppose all of my bikes are ongoing projects. Reality is they only get finished temporarily when I've got a trip coming up.

c&v should be fun or at least rewarding.
only suggestion is to get bins as needed to not lose small parts.

I am not fond of cleaning drivetrains. for those I need to develop some inertia.
two or three in a row ( outside ) makes the job easier.

Thanks mod!

I need suggestions for bins honestly

Generally, I pick up a bike project and it is my obsession (according to my wife) until it is a fine rider. The only exception I can think of is a frameset that has been drying with 3 coats of primer for four months waiting for its first color coat.

This is sort of what I do now except when I have to wait too long in between major tasks I’ll switch to another bike for a bit. The cleaning, polishing & rebuilding components do take up quite a bit of time, but I think I’ll get faster at that with time. For instance, I finally decided to try mineral spirits instead of always using vinegar and soap and water for everything …. Hahaha never going back 😂.

Nice! The wait is going to be worth it!

I usually stay with one project until it is done. My workshop space limits me to only one bike at a time. If the project is something that will be a long time between stages, like waiting for good weather to apply paint, I'll box up the parts and hang the frame on a hook so I can work on something else. My shop can get crowded when I bring in a second bike to steal parts from.

I usually make a work list of things I want to do over the winter. In the summer, riding time is valuable, so I'll try not to do any big projects or I'll save them for rainy days. Small jobs I try to do right away, as they come up.

the makers and brands keeps constantly changing. translucent with over center locking grabs are good- decide on the min size requirements, I want the fork to fit, easier if handlebars can go elsewhere. I bag cranks and fit inside the bin.

a few Ace Hardware stores have periodic inventory. when found, buy more than the min need. may not restock.

Two reasons why I jump to different projects.

First, Sometimes money gets in the way. Either I’m short a part or I don’t have the tool I need. Instead of stop all together, I just switch gears to something I can do.

Second, I’m with merziac on this one. I currently have other extra responsibilities (school, “light remodeling” my pop’s house, tearing out yard crap, helping family and friends.. and that’s just this weekend!) that take most of my time. Some projects take many hours, some only 20 min. If I have a sec, I can run out to my table and break down a crankset to deep clean. Vs. a task like taping a cockpit that takes a little more time and focus.

I think the biggest thing is to feel like you are making progress and/or having fun. If you’ve got one or both checked off, aces. If not, maybe time to focus in and create your battle plan. Computer calendars are cool and helpful but a spiral notebook is a great tool.

In terms of bins my suggestions are:
The harbor freight magnetic tins for small
Hardware organizers (they resemble an attaché case but plastic) for Md
File cabinets for large. I’m graduating from a two drawer file cabinet to a four soon! Many people/offices throw them away.

I find boxes like these quite useful for everything except wheels and framesets:



And some help with taking inventory is useful as well:

I love those cardboard box trays you get from Costco/Sam’s club type places, endlessly useful!

Once I have a list of the tasks that I need to do on each bike, the order becomes fairly apparent.

I tried Chuckk’s method suggested above, making a google all day event and just listing out all the things needing to be done really helped me.

For me it's one bike at a time, absolutely. If there's more than one bike in the queue one has to wait. Between vintage audio equipment, my two old cars, house repairs, and Mrs. coming home with, "There's some milkweed in the back seat for you to plant," I have to be organized. I have a main workbench I try to keep clear and only lay out what I'm going to finish in a few days. I have two other smaller benches where I can leave stuff that needs more time. I'm good about putting all my tools away after I finish something. I think storage might be unique to every personality and type of space/container/budget available.

dmarkun , that international is miiint! Is that a repaint?

You’re right. Storage is very personal. I’ll admit I do things differently based on the space and budget I have at the time.

Frankly, no bicycle project should consume that much time. Often people take too much time to work on bikes because of “analysis paralysis”. For example, I went from this bike



to a bare frame…



this time.



Then I went from a bare frame to…



…to functional bike in …



…just over 2 hours from starting on the first bike. That included chasing the threads on the bottom bracket of the brown bike.



This is in line with other projects I’ve done. Recently I swapped headsets on 2 bikes and didn’t take more than about 20 minutes to knock out and install two different headsets.

A very large time saver is to not have to constantly clean my bikes. I don’t use oil lubricants on the chain so I don’t have to constantly clean the bike. Most of my bikes haven’t been cleaned in years.