rower2cyclist

My bike room is a mess....Tools are either in a box that I can't find anything in it when I want to or they are spread all over the bike room that I can't find anything when I want to. I need practical (read inexpensive) ideas so that I can keep everything tidy and accessible. What are the best practices.

I have a budget or couple hundred bucks so I can buy items that I need. Maybe a workbench. Maybe a pegboard? Any brands u can recommend? Is workbench really necessary? I don't do major buildups or fixes. Just want to keep my stuff clean and neat. Thank you!

Zaskar

I've reconfigured my half of the garage several times. The current setup is working well. The "bar" has two shelves on the back side - shoes and my 1UpUSA rack. The commonly used tools are on the wall - the pegboard in the corner. I've got some shelves over the bar (helmets hang under, tubes, Stans, etc on the shelves) and on the back wall. The visible red toolbox is for smaller, less-often used tools.

rumrunn6

there's a lot I don't like about my crowded setup but what I do like:

• bakers racks
• plastic bins w/o lids on the bakers racks
• keeping common bike tools out, in the bins, near my bike stand

good luck!

mstateglfr 

- pegboard is huge for me.
- flip top organizers for small bits is another thing I love. Ive seen tackle boxes used too- whatever works to separate the small parts(bolts, nuts, cable ends, housing ends, rubber donuts, etc)
- a really great part of my pegboard is the magnetic strips that hold my hex wrenches and wrenches. Its really easy to remove/replace these versus hanging them on hooks. Attaches quickly to the pegboard. Plus, hex wrenches cant hang on hooks. See below for an example. These are available at any big box hardware store.

topflightpro

Harbor Freight is a great place to find affordable work benches and tool organization.

melikebikey35

I second checking out Harbor Freight.
I bought a workbench from there a few years ago, and it's been great. I also spend a lot of time wrenching on motorcycles and it's sturdy enough to handle engine rebuilds...and it was super cheap.

This (https://www.harborfreight.com/48-in-...ght-60723.html ) some pegboard hooks, a small tool box, and a couple of smaller containers for cleaning and/or storing parts in is about all that you need for bicycle maintenance.
A simple rolling stool is also a handy thing to have around.

Zaskar

The workbench I built was cheap - a couple 4x4s and 2x4s, a few 8' 1x3s and a piece of finish-grade plywood (one side). As a bonus, you can make it whatever size/height you want, you can put shelves where you need them...


(really wish I new why some pics came in so *#&@ing huge)

alcjphil

A horizontal work surface is very useful. Even a sturdy table purchased from a second hand store can suffice. A vice is a very useful tool for servicing your bike and you may be able to attach it to the sturdy table. Learning how to organize your tools so that you can find them is essential and costs nothing. You could have the best setup ever, but if you are not able to keep your work area neat, you will quickly find that you cannot find the things you need. How do I know this? Because, I am that guy

canklecat

Same. Wotta mess. I need to stop doing bike stuff while watching TV. Everything migrates into the living room. I should move the TV into the work room.

I've done pegboards before but I might try magnetic strips this time. So many bike tools are too tiny or oddly shaped for pegboards. That's why those 8-10mm sockets and wrenches disappear whenever I need to adjust the canti brakes.

alcjphil

Wow! And I thought that I was the only one who had trouble keeping a neat workbench

MoAlpha

My corner of our tiny urban basement

woodcraft

Did someone say mess?

I use an old teachers desk- favor drawers, hate pegboard. This is only the bike area, there's also a full on garage shop

which is also cluttered.

Zaskar

Can't. Take. It. Must. Straighten. Up... I'll be there in 37 hours, leave a key... I'll get started right away

woodcraft

My GF will make you lunch.

mstateglfr 

The pumpkin pattern really brings it all together.

MoAlpha

If she can find the food.

woodcraft

The weird thing is that in my building work,

I get comments about how I am so organized.

MoAlpha

I don't think that's so uncommon. A lot of my external neatness, such as it is, is an effort to compensate for a disorderly mind.