fixing bike at home - tips and tricks

[youngoldbloke]

anyone have any tricks / tips to get the back wheel off the floor to work on gears without shelling out for a stand. or anyone know any REALLY stands out there?!

REALLY Cheap - maybe? Decathlon sell a really useful 'coathanger' stand that raises the back wheel off the floor. It is stable enough to allow you to work on gears and costs around £6 (?) I use them to store/display bikes as well.

 

[snorri]

Tips..... Clear the work area and lay out an old sheet or carpet to put the bike on, it makes cleaning up a lot easier. Also get out your cleaning up materials before you start, things can get messy when you have to open doors or cupboards with oily hands. Consider buying a pack of latex gloves, saves a lot of handscrubbing when the job is finished. Before starting work, lay out a few plastic boxes, old margarine tubs are good, to store small components like screws and ball bearings in as you dismantle these from the bike, it makes re-assembly easier when you can find all the bits!.

 

[upsidedown]

And wear thick gloves when undoing chainring bolts.

Wise words.

 

[jay clock]

I have a Park workstand and I would not be without it. I use it for cleaning the bike and it avoids the back pain issues associated with leaning over all the time. As for tipping the bike upside down, I cannot imagine trying to trim a front mech AND spin the pedals round with the bike upside down

 

[dirtybackbeat]

Again huge thanks for all replies, some great tips. sorted the gears out and improvised a stand by opening a kitchen cupboard and zip tiying the bike to the handle, worked a treat although my girlfriend would murder me if she found out!