Fix-your-own-bike sessions run on Thursdays and every second Sunday between 1pm and 5pm. These are drop-in sessions, so no need to book a stand. The next Sunday sessions are on 21/05, 04/06, and 18/06.

The Bike Shed is thrilled to announce that, with the support of Sustainability Victoria, we are once again opening up our workshop to allow the public to do repairs on their own bikes under the supervision of our volunteers and managers.

Our ‘Fix Your Own Bike’ (FYOB) workshop is a space for do-it-yourself repairs and maintenance where you can rent a workstand, use our tools and have our team of mechanics and volunteers advise you through the process while you do the work. This is perfect for those who already have a bit of bike-fixing knowledge and just don’t have the tools, but also an amazing opportunity for novice mechanics to learn new skills – even if it’s just to learn how to change a tube or look after your chain.

Workstands are $5 per hour
To help us cover our costs, stands are hired at a rate of $5/hr and can be paid for via EFTPOS once the work is done. Cash is not accepted.

If you can afford to donate more than the standard rate, this helps us to provide the service for those currently on a low or no income.

If you cannot afford the cost of the stand, please email us ahead of time to request the use of a stand free of charge – we will approve this 100% of the time, no questions asked. Cycling is for everyone!

What happens at a session?
We will assess the bike for the repairs/maintenance you wish to do and give you an estimate of how long the repairs may take. We may advise on a new part or a secondhand alternative (if we have it). This might mean you need to come back another time – please be understanding of this.

Please note that it is not always easy to predict how long a repair will take as other problems may be found during your session!

A note on secondhand parts
You are able to purchase a wide range of recycled parts from us, however, be aware that secondhand parts will generally not last as long as new parts and may have unforeseen problems. If you know your bike needs a new derailleur or chain, it may be a safer bet to bring one along with you – we can’t guarantee we’ll have what you need. New consumable items such as cables and most standard tube sizes should be available. A price guide for secondhand parts can be found here.

Be realistic about what you can achieve
If this is the first time you’ve ever worked on a bike, don’t expect to build a complete one from the frame up on your first visit! Start off small – change your gear cables, tune your gears, or just adjust your brakes.

Please also understand that our volunteers may be splitting their time between multiple stands, so you may need to wait a little bit if you need their help.

Due to the nature of these workshops, more in-depth jobs (e.g. work on internal hubs or bleeding hydraulic brakes) are better done elsewhere – especially if you are going to require assistance.

Bring a friend
If you want to bring a friend to help you do the work, that’s no problem! However, in order to stay in line with our covid guidelines, a maximum of two people per stand is allowed at this time.

What to wear
As our workstands are outside and only partially covered, make sure to dress appropriately! It’s always a good idea to wear something you don’t mind getting dirty.

Disclaimers
As all the work done on your bike will be done by you, The Bike Shed takes no responsibility for any issues that may occur with your bike as a result of the work done during the FYOB workshop – even if the work was done under our supervision.

Under 14s must be accompanied by an adult. We are a worksite, so they must be supervised at all times. It is not suitable to bring young children.