HOME WORKSHOP ESSENTIALS
Turn your shed or garage into a temple of bike-tinkering!
1. LifeLine digital pressure gauge
Tyre pressure is a crucial aspect of bike set-up. Add some precision with this fastreading gauge. It’s compatible with Presta and Schrader valves, and has a bleed valve to help you get things just right. £12.99 www.hotlines-uk.com
2. Motorex grease gun
This workshop-quality applicator will keep your fingers gunkfree, and allows you to easily swap between different pots of grease and carbon paste (sold separately, from £12.99). £34.99 www.extrauk.co.uk
3. Stashed Products SpaceRail storage system
Got several steeds to store? The sliding wheel hooks of Stashed’s SpaceRail will accommodate bikes of varying shapes and sizes. It’s designed in Wales and manufactured in the UK, by a keen rider. From £159.99 www.stashedproducts.co.uk
4. Hiplok ANKR ground anchor & DXXL lock
The best way to secure bikes is with a big chain and wall/floor anchor. Hiplok’s stylishANKR gets Sold Secure’s top diamond rating, while the reassuringly hefty (3kg+) DXXL chain fastens with a full-on D-lock. £79.99 ANKR, £139.99 DXXL https://hiplok.com
5. Birzman Salut shock pump
An ‘Air-Lock’ valve ensures no air is lost when connecting or disconnecting this top-quality shock pump, which has a big 1.6in gauge. £59.99 www.silverfish-uk.com
6. Birzman cable cutters
Good cable cutters are vital to avoid frayed ends. These have an ergonomic handle and a built-in awl to restore housing ends to their original shape. £22.99 www.silverfish-uk.com
7. Muc-Off workshop apron
Keep your clothes free of grime and your tools close to hand. Size-adjustable and heavy duty. £37.99 www.muc-off.com
8 & 9. Peaty’s maintenance products
Delay that dreaded empty-can rattle by investing in some of Peaty’s XL-format workshop products. It’ll take an age to get through this giant-sized brake cleaner and huge tub of sealant. £14.99 Disc Brake Cleaner (750ml), £124.99 Tubeless Sealant (5l) www.silverfish-uk.com
10. Park Tool DS-1 digital scales
An essential for weight weenies and useful for the rest of us, too, whether you want to check how many grams an upgrade has saved or see if your e-bike exceeds the weight limit of your roof rack. £89.99 www.freewheel.co.uk
11. Topeak Flashstand eUP workstand
Heavier bikes can be hard to lift onto a standard workstand. This diminutive number is a lot more basic than the hydraulic PrepStand in our last issue, but will still get the back wheel off the ground and hold the bike steady. £64.99 www.extrauk.co.uk
12. RRP bearing press
If you get through linkage bearings at a rate of knots, it’s worth investing in one of these. Every time you get a new bike, simply buy the correct drift kit (from £24.99) and you’re good to go. £62.99 www.extrauk.co.uk
13. Halfords Advanced 6 Drawer tool cabinet
While a Snap-on cabinet may be the dream, this does the job for thousands of pounds less. It’s built to last, too, coming with a three-year guarantee. £300 www.halfords.com
14. ABUS locks
Own multiple bikes? You can get ABUS’s locks keyed alike, so you only need carry a single key, not a big jailer’s keyring. Got an e-bike with a lockable battery? You may be able to switch the barrel and use the key with that, too! £Varies (+ 10% fee for keying alike) www.extrauk.co.uk
15. Hornit CLUG PRO bike hook
Dubbed ‘the world’s smallest bike rack’, this minimal storage solution is equipped with a BOA-style Fidlock magnetic ratchet dial to keep your bike securely in place. £27.99 (MTB XL size) https://hornit.com
16. Finish Line lubricants
If your garage is less a bike stable and more a busy two-wheeled livery yard, you’ll go through the usual small bottles of lube at a rate of knots.Thankfully, Finish Line offer theirs in quantities up to a full gallon (3.8l).