Taking over the bike shop...

[tribanjules]

Zir guttt ! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🥶

 

[Gwylan]

Yesterday was the self-imposed deadline for getting the store sorted, which I have to admit, got me moving a bit faster than my usual "Never mind we can do it tomorrow" type of speed. As a reminder this is how the store looked before, despite my best efforts:

View attachment 677559

Even this was after I'd got rid of some of the most dangerous/useless items.

With the H&S inspection looming I had another opportunity to clear out more rubbish. I started on the strange construction in the corner including the Shelf of Evil, launching point for cycle components to attack unsuspecting bike mechanics:


View attachment 677561

The area below the Shelf of Evil was a safe haven for many unmatched and broken pedals, chain wheels, and a mudguard colony that self-identified as a kraken.

View attachment 677563

This took a day of sorting out broken parts and the discover, amongst other things of a box full of assorted wheel rim tapes and basket attachments...


View attachment 677565

However, eventually I found the floor...

View attachment 677562

And replaced the odd bins with a pair of tables borrowed from another part of the store:

View attachment 677571

Meanwhile the wheel breeding colony had long been developing territorial ambitions:

View attachment 677560

Thanks to my current client who patiently helped dismantle and remove the remaining wheels therein, I was able to replace those very dodgy hanging rails and finally get the colony under control:


View attachment 677567

View attachment 677568

The 'handlebar rack" came about after I tidied the rack by the entrance and realised it was held up by two screws, a cable tie, and presumably, skyhooks, so a replacement had to be built, and fast.

On top of this my very accommodating client helped dismantle the rest of the Shelf of Evil and then removed the very strange contraption for storing seat posts, so I was -just- able to finish tidying up the opposite corner by the end of the working day yesterday:

View attachment 677569

This isn't the end, merely a step to make sure the store room passes the H&S inspection. The next step will be to take some donated kitchen units and place them around the room, with the wheels hanging above from brackets on the wall, as H&S are understandably touchy about my original plan to hang them off the ceiling.

You'll also notice I've not added pictures of the workshop itself; this is because it spent the week being a dumping ground/tool store for what we were doing here and looks like a pigsty whose occupier lost interest. Once it is vaguely presentable I'll show the changes we've put in there...

Well done on the progress.

I get queasy if there are more than a few bits or tools left out on the bench.

 

[classic33]

Could you tape over any raised surfaces(As appears to have been done in the eighth photo, but not the ninth.) to highlight any trip hazard. And as a way of showing that there is an expected "entrance" in to some areas.

This with the H&S inspection in mind more than anything else.

 

[HobbesOnTour]

Bravo, Andy. Big kudos to you!

It must feel great to look at those photos - actually, never mind the photos, it must feel great to stand in the space!

If you're anything like me, the challenge will be to maintain it

I hope you keep those photos handy and use them to prepare for (or even show) when it's time to talk contract renewal.

Depending on your style, it might be an interesting idea to blow one or two up (the before ones) and hang them somewhere as a physical representation of how far you and the shop has travelled. It could be an engaging tool to show new clients and any visitors what you are trying to achieve. (Of course, you may want to hide them for the official inspections )

Congratulations and enjoy the weekend.

 

[Andy in Germany]

Could you tape over any raised surfaces(As appears to have been done in the eighth photo, but not the ninth.) to highlight any trip hazard. And as a way of showing that there is an expected "entrance" in to some areas.

This with the H&S inspection in mind more than anything else.

Thanks for the reminder; I meant to do that yesterday. Now completed:

 

[DCLane]

@Andy in Germany - are you available to sort my parts store? It's current state makes your first 'disorganised' photo look well laid out.

 

[Andy in Germany]

After last weeks frantic activity Iwas signed off with a cold and throat infection this week, which was a bit annoying. I did manage to grab my laptop and make a list of all the labels I still need for all those newly organised boxes and made those while I was stuck at home.

Also because I have no self discipline whatsoever, I made a logo for the workshop:

I won't be able to use it in the public areas but it'll go on the workshop door at some point...

 

[Andy in Germany]

Today I forgot my glasses. Again, and had to go back to work to get them. On arriving I met a lovely client I used to work with in another organisation, and he was riding one of my bikes (with a beer can in the bottle holder but I pretended not to notice that).

Turns out he'd recognised my name when he bought the bike but no-one had told him he could bring it back for it's free 6 month check-up so I expect I'll see him again soon.

Which is a great story, slight marred by the fact the bike was a bit pants...

 

[Andy in Germany]

In other news, I probably now have two clients, assuming the new one turns up next week...

 

[Andy in Germany]

Now I'm working on the workshop itself. Until recently it looked like this:

The gnarly carpets wouldn't pass the H&S inspection so I was "instructed" to remove them.

I took the opportunity to so some reorganising:

The work units are now against the wall. I don't know how well that will work but I want to see if I can fit a fourth work stand in the room.

Removing the carpets has made the workshop look 100% more professional and brighter to boot, but the floor is dangerously slippery. Under the rather badly laid Laminate floor is a layer of OSB, which I've seen used in a lot of workshops, so I may just take the laminate up and use that instead.

In other news, now that the workshop is largely working and not just a pile of scrap, the manager and I have had a discussion and to get more bikes out we're going to have a price range of 80-120€ which is bikes that are simply checked and sent out, even if they'e a bit rough; a lot of people want a "Station bike" ie a bike they can leave all day (or all night) at a railway station without worrying about it getting stolen. I'll probably aim to get two of those out a week and then spend the rest of the week restoring some of the better quality bikes to get a better price for them. Hopefully this will result in a high turnover of budget bikes and and a gradually increasing stock of good quality bikes. This is important because my contract is up for renewal in six months so now is the time to show that all this tidying up has borne fruit.

 

[classic33]

Now I'm working on the workshop itself. Until recently it looked like this:

View attachment 679499

The gnarly carpets wouldn't pass the H&S inspection so I was "instructed" to remove them.

I took the opportunity to so some reorganising:

View attachment 679500

The work units are now against the wall. I don't know how well that will work but I want to see if I can fit a fourth work stand in the room.

Removing the carpets has made the workshop look 100% more professional and brighter to boot, but the floor is dangerously slippery. Under the rather badly laid Laminate floor is a layer of OSB, which I've seen used in a lot of workshops, so I may just take the laminate up and use that instead.

In other news, now that the workshop is largely working and not just a pile of scrap, the manager and I have had a discussion and to get more bikes out we're going to have a price range of 80-120€ which is bikes that are simply checked and sent out, even if they'e a bit rough; a lot of people want a "Station bike" ie a bike they can leave all day (or all night) at a railway station without worrying about it getting stolen. I'll probably aim to get two of those out a week and then spend the rest of the week restoring some of the better quality bikes to get a better price for them. Hopefully this will result in a high turnover of budget bikes and and a gradually increasing stock of good quality bikes. This is important because my contract is up for renewal in six months so now is the time to show that all this tidying up has borne fruit.

Try and get hold of the last H&S inspection report, before this one is done, and correct anything highlighted in it.
Then compare it to the newest and see where the differences are in the two reports.

You sorted that Emergency Exit yet?
I'd get rid of that "meat hook" on the second workstation. It's in an area/at a height where accidental contact could happen, with consequences.

 

[Andy in Germany]

Try and get hold of the last H&S inspection report, before this one is done, and correct anything highlighted in it.
Then compare it to the newest and see where the differences are in the two reports.

You sorted that Emergency Exit yet?
I'd get rid of that "meat hook" on the second workstation. It's in an area/at a height where accidental contact could happen, with consequences.

So much changed since the last one I doubt it would be relevant.
By 'meat hook' do you mean the hook from the worktop?

 

[classic33]

So much changed since the last one I doubt it would be relevant.
By 'meat hook' do you mean the hook from the worktop?

That's the one.

Whoever does the inspection has the possible advantage of access to the previous one, they'll be able to see anything recommended that hasn't been followed.

 

[Andy in Germany]

That's the one.

Whoever does the inspection has the possible advantage of access to the previous one, they'll be able to see anything recommended that hasn't been followed.

The worktop is now against the wall meaning the hook is better protected. It is also the hook for the bolt cutters.

That said I could probably turn it 180 degrees so the hook points to the wall.

Our internal audit has passed the workshop so I'm assuming that either everything is fine or the internal h&s officer is responsible if it isn't. Either way it's no longer my problem.

 

[Reynard]

I do like the novelty tape dispenser...