Taking over the bike shop...

[Andy in Germany]

A new development which I've been having to keep very quiet: Elder Son the bike wrench is coming to the workshop for two weeks voluntary wrenching just before Christmas.

Hopefully that'll finish off the bike backlog and have me ready for the following year.

 

[Andy in Germany]

 

[classic33]

View attachment 666141

How much?

 

[Dogtrousers]

Am I the only one who gets a little earworm every time this thread comes to the top of the list - "The Lunatics are taking over ..."

 

[HobbesOnTour]

Elder Son the bike wrench is coming to the workshop for two weeks

I was wondering when that was going to happen

That could be great for the two of you!

Maybe he'll start a trend

 

[Andy in Germany]

How much?

175 €

 

[Andy in Germany]

The prototype wheel hanger being prepared in the wood workshop.

As we don't have any straight timber long enough, the carpenter is having to improvise, so we're making a sort of laminate of sections which should make a solid beam when glued and screwed together. This is important because the wheels take up half of the "Parts store" at the moment; once they are sorted and hanging up on the ceiling we can start to get that room organised.

 

[Andy in Germany]

Am I the only one who gets a little earworm every time this thread comes to the top of the list - "The Lunatics are taking over ..."

On days like this I wonder. I was working on some V-Brakes on a Raliegh Max, of all things, when I got a call from the till; a customer wants to look at a bike.
Go to till.
Take customer to bike.
Customer wants saddle lowered, reach for my trusty 3-way hex key.
Not in pocket.
Run back to workshop. 3-way key vanished.
Grab normal hex key set and return to customer.
Sale falls through. (Customer wants to buy a 100 € bike for 65 €. Not going to happen).
Return to workshop
Search workshop for hex key, Look all around bike stand; look under furniture; check tool box; tidy workbench; nothing
Check store, till, bog, main office, and kitchen, walking approximately three kilometres in the process.
Return to workshop. check again.
Check pockets again.
Check showroom and ask till staff if they've seen it. They haven't.
Back to workshop. check floor again.
Give up and return to the brake I was working on:

Maybe @Dogtrousers has a point...

 

[FishFright]

On days like this I wonder. I was working on some V-Brakes on a Raliegh Max, of all things, when I got a call from the till; a customer wants to look at a bike.
Go to till.
Take customer to bike.
Customer wants saddle lowered, reach for my trusty 3-way hex key.
Not in pocket.
Run back to workshop. 3-way key vanished.
Grab normal hex key set and return to customer.
Sale falls through. (Customer wants to buy a 100 € bike for 65 €. Not going to happen).
Return to workshop
Search workshop for hex key, Look all around bike stand; look under furniture; check tool box; tidy workbench; nothing
Check store, till, bog, main office, and kitchen, walking approximately three kilometres in the process.
Return to workshop. check again.
Check pockets again.
Check showroom and ask till staff if they've seen it. They haven't.
Back to workshop. check floor again.
Give up and return to the brake I was working on:

View attachment 666772

Maybe @Dogtrousers has a point...

I've done that so many times

 

[Jameshow]

How about a minitool in your pocket?

 

[tribanjules]

Is that a mini tool in your pocket or are just mildly pleased to see me ? 😄

 

[Andy in Germany]

How about a minitool in your pocket?

That's where the three way tool usually lives. Unless I forget it. I also carry a longer 5 mm hex key and assorted other things like a spoke key around, but of course the one time I'm dealing with a customer I manage to leave the __________ thing in the workshop...

 

[HobbesOnTour]

Andy, I know that you have all the time in the world to pop your feet up on a desk, have a cuppa and wonder just how you'll fill your days so here's something to think about

For bikes that just can't be reused a (presumably) quick and cheap way of reusing them in a different way. Either for sale, for decoration in and around the store or for advertising your "real" bikes.
Maybe best for another department or maybe an idea for some clients to express themselves?

 

[classic33]

Andy, I know that you have all the time in the world to pop your feet up on a desk, have a cuppa and wonder just how you'll fill your days so here's something to think about

For bikes that just can't be reused a (presumably) quick and cheap way of reusing them in a different way. Either for sale, for decoration in and around the store or for advertising your "real" bikes.
Maybe best for another department or maybe an idea for some clients to express themselves?

View attachment 667193

They could even be sold as shop advertising.

 

[Andy in Germany]

Andy, I know that you have all the time in the world to pop your feet up on a desk, have a cuppa and wonder just how you'll fill your days so here's something to think about

For bikes that just can't be reused a (presumably) quick and cheap way of reusing them in a different way. Either for sale, for decoration in and around the store or for advertising your "real" bikes.
Maybe best for another department or maybe an idea for some clients to express themselves?

View attachment 667193

As it happens we have a whole "upcycling" department which does lovely things with old furniture. I've also got a couple of ideas for smaller scale projects using bike parts as soon as I work out how to remove cottared cranks without a crank removal tool.