Shared workshop?

[SilentDtH]

do any of you have a shared workshop where you work on your bikes?

I am looking to setup some kind of garage-share where people of trustworthy calibre can bring their bikes and work on them together sharing knowledge (and fun) after work and in weekends. I have a few tools and items to share, I have also built an industrial polishing station where I can restore old alloy to a factory finish condition. I would like to share this kind of knowledge with other people and learn from other enthusiasts, so was wondering if this kind of place already existed!

Unfortunately my current garage is way too small, so that's why this idea came about.

Does anybody already do this?

[lakedaemonian]

do any of you have a shared workshop where you work on your bikes?

I am looking to setup some kind of garage-share where people of trustworthy calibre can bring their bikes and work on them together sharing knowledge (and fun) after work and in weekends. I have a few tools and items to share, I have also built an industrial polishing station where I can restore old alloy to a factory finish condition. I would like to share this kind of knowledge with other people and learn from other enthusiasts, so was wondering if this kind of place already existed!

Unfortunately my current garage is way too small, so that's why this idea came about.

Does anybody already do this?

Personally, I'd be keen to start up one of these:

http://techshop.ws/

Maybe chuck motorbikes on the left hand side. :)

[SilentDtH]

Does look good, all the way in California :)
But yeah, starting up one here would be good.

[Virago]

We do this in Dunedin, although it's not organised through this site.

Attendance is by invite only, to bikers already met and confirmed as good sorts by members of the group.

We get together for regular fortnightly "maintenance" evenings, at a large business workshop belonging to one of the group members. The evenings have evolved as more "social" with barbeque on site, along with comfortable seats, TV and DVD (for watching bike-related stuff) - we even have an espresso machine brought along.

Much tinkering is done on the bikes, and much bike-related shooting the breeze ensues. People bring along a selection of their own tools, which are shared (with mutual respect). Attendance varies - normally between 10 and 15 people, although sometimes 20 or more are there (wives / husbands / partners often come along).

None of us are bike mechanics, we bring a variety of skills (even if it's just awesome ability at the barbeque). We occasionally get representatives of some local bike shops popping in to say hello.

It works well for us. If someone has the right venue, there's no reason that it can't take off for you too.

[SilentDtH]

That does sound good Virago :)

I am imagining there might be something similar in Auckland, but as you say it would be invite only and usually friends of friends. Still a great idea though.

Would really take someone with a shop, or a group of 5 + people to pitch in some cash to make a decent share workshop somewhere.

I would love to do this, I really hope some others pipe up in this thread!

Thanks for the reply.