Alex Builds His Dream Bike Cave In His Garage Ep. 1

A sweet garage set up is a wonderful thing to have for any cyclist. Being able to work on your bike in the warm and dry, or train indoors without any distractions are both great, so Alex has decided to build his own mega paincave/bike workshop in his garage!
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Have you converted your garage into a cycling pain cave/workshop? Let us know in the comments 👇
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Music - licensed by Epidemic Sound:
ES_A Winter's Itch (Instrumental Version) - Ingrid Witt
ES_Animal Hug - Giants' Nest
ES_Beauti Ful - Smartface
ES_Crate Concerto - Dusty Decks
ES_Foggy - Smartface
ES_I Don't Wanna Be You (Instrumental Version) - Park Lane
ES_MIA - Timothy Infinite
ES_Move Your Hands - Dusty Decks
ES_Off the Walls - Harry Edvino
ES_Old Grump - Smartface
ES_Olympos - Ooyy
ES_See You Sooner - Quarter Roll
ES_The Mirror (Instrumental Version) - Mindme
ES_This Is Our Jam - Brendon Moeller
Photos: © Velo Collection (TDW) / Getty Images & © Bettiniphoto / www.bettiniphoto.net/
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[@gcntech]

Have you converted your garage into a cycling pain cave/workshop? Let us know in the comments 👇

[@scottlstone]

Great video buddy

[@richardperreault3313]

This is a timely video, I’m actually in the planning process for my bike cave/workshop. I would like to have you must do/have that I should consider for my project.

[@joep001]

I've built a work station and a home gym in my garage as soon as the lock-down started. Put a coffee machine and speakers in too. I've been spending a lot of time there, also restoring my 1980 road bike and have been loving every minute of it. Quality lightning is a plus as well!

[@realalbertan]

Basement... but I think you guys missed on putting foam board insulation behind the osb walls... even 2 walls of R10 with the 3rd bare would have felt warmer.. I would have bought 2nd hand cabinets and painted the OSB walls grey, black or a shade of brown... white paint on OSB looks awful. The other idea would be to put vinyl flooring planks on those walls...

[@abedfo88]

My garage is separate from my house so i run a 25m extension cable from the garden and around my neighbours drive to connect the power. With the power of 4g im able to run my zwift pc of a mobile hotspot. Its cracking, the best thing ive ever done.

[@marcinswidzinski]

On a different note - it's really cool to see Alex coming around to being the presenter. At the beginning he seemed quiet and somehow putting himself in the back. Since then every next episode is a big difference. Good luck!

[@lfoster7601]

Boarded the ceiling... I'd have left the middle section open to the rafters - massive amount of storage up there and out of the way!

[@billinhouston3291]

Same same. So much possible storage.

[@jamesbarber6375]

Your idea of having a lot of junk in your garage is different to most people's. I have to kick the door shut on mine...

[@drjekyll832]

This! My garage is just full of stuff! yours looks suopertidy even before!

[@MrDazP1adv3ntures]

Very inspirational Alex. Every man, woman and cyclist should a have their own little cave system to enjoy. You did a grand job buddy.

[@vrdrew63]

I just finished upgrading my one-car garage into an ideal (if not perfect) indoor bike-training space. I'm also in Southwest England. Some notes: 1) You're going to need quite a few electrical outlets. One for the TV/Monitor. One for the computer. One for the fan. One for the bike trainer. And UK garages aren't generally provided with generous quantities of electrical outlets. To avoid having dodgy-looking extension cords all over the place, figure on adding (at least) a couple of dual-gang boxes on spurs. Make sure the electrical work is done properly. 2) My garage is attached to my house. For detached garages, check that your wi-fi signal is strong enough. If not, add a wired connection, or you'll be Zwifting all by your lonesome. 3) For decent ventilation, you are going to want to do your training with the garage door at least partially ajar (and a good sized fan going). If you don't, you'll find many surfaces coated with condensation at the end of your workouts. 4) You will probably want to upgrade the security on your garage door. Between your bike(s), the TV, the computer, the trainer, tools, etc. you've probably got more than £5000 worth of kit in there. You need a better lock than that provided by most standard garage doors. Adding a decent lock (www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004ULMMXI?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_dt_b_product_details) will let you sleep easier at night. 5) Lighting is under appreciated. Upgrade the miserable single fluorescent bulb that dimly lights your pain cave with a 300+ lumen LED batten fixture. Makes your workspace much more appealing. And much easier to see what you're doing on the workbench.

[@justinossa7349]

Just bought my first home! And I watched every second of this video. Alex sending you an Air high five! Nice build.

[@vlastikb]

Well done, it looks clean and tidy! Just one note on OSB shelves, they will sag and bend. If you glue and screw couple of supports to the bottom of your shelves while they are straight, you are going to save yourself more work in the future.

[@bugboy152000]

#GMBNTech Awesome series. It's been fun to see Alex's personality come out more every show.

[@albertlundgotfredsen3548]

It's gcn

[@TheOriginalStevenH]

I have some suggestions... 1. Floor is a nice touch but the unfinished bits will drive me mad... Use the remaining pieces to fill in the edges or cut off the nobly bits and place just the flat pieces together with a bit of glue to hold them in place. 2. I would repaint the brick wall with a few extra coats of white and then outline the GCN logo or what not with masking tape and paint over with red. If you really want some clean lines use the Rasterbate website to blow up the image as big as you want, cut out the paper to make a stencil and then go nuts. 3. I Highly recommend every square inch of the wood panels to be sanded with at least 150grit and then paint. I would hate to have splinters everywhere. The counter I would add formica and even the doors you can fix but adding small frame to hide the panel gap. 4. small fan on the ceiling mounted to keep you cool and maybe even a space heater with a timer function when you know you are going to be riding to pre-heat the room which can be stored away. 5. Your hardware store should have wood paneling that comes in sheets. I would suggest putting that up against the wall above the desk for a classy and can be stained if you like. Other than that I can see bikes being hung up and pushed over flat against the wall with a locker room style cabinets for jerseys, shoes, bottles and a mirror with lighting. 6. Just to add that added classy touch higher a painter to produce an awesome bike mural on the inside of the garage doors so that whenever you are inside you get this amazing art work that only those special people get to see. I look forward to the next 15 episodes this year on the amazing transformation. Don't let this project die!

[@siddhant5068]

All the best Alex for your future bike cave.

[@leslie7922]

Pain cave part 4: redoing walls, buying a cabinet from a furniture store and using the rafters for storage

[@paulmay5779]

Great vid, Alex is a cracking presenter. Slightly envious, looks great already

[@tommyphillips8547]

Alex: "I've got a lot of junk everywhere" Me: you think THAT is junk everywhere??? You haven't seen my garage

[@ellismccoy]

Hahaha, literally my first thought. His garage is EMPTY.

[@garyread2265]

Preach... 🙌🏼

[@felixallride.]

You must watch out for mold when you screw wood directly to the wall!

[@NigelsJourneys]

Indeed ... the wall should be battened first, then fix the board to the battens. This gives the board and the wall space to breath.

[@glennoc8585]

You can paint on cemstick or Tanking liquid.

[@chiefsilverback]

@@glennoc8585 that would be even worse because moisture from inside would move through the board, hit the wall and stop! Batten with a treated wood, then screw the board to the batten.

[@glennoc8585]

@@chiefsilverback varnishing the board will stop moisture ingress. The better boarding has anti fungal moisture treatment. Ideally you'd use battens i agree but maybe he's chasing space.

[@theiansm]

Take a shot every time Alex says "I'm not a carpenter."

[@TheSadcyclist]

Awaits GCN bringing out a set of Carpenters clothing and tools in the near future. Global Carpentry Network. Nice job done, the roller shutter may be a bit insecure, have some wall anchors fitted to chain bikes to, cctv inside and outside garage, also 2 x Mortice locks on side door when fitted, along with an alarm system. Eagerly await the next show, showing it all finished.

[@stevewong46]

Alex is becoming my favourite GCN presenter ! Keep up the good work alex 👍

[@Kobe404]

"I'm not a carpenter" - Take a bow Alex, what a great effort!

[@TheDrejci]

Great to see Alex bringing more and more value to the channel every week and looking more comfortable as he goes along. Wonderful work!

[@timcropley]

"junk everywhere" - you're having a laugh if you think that's junk everywhere. It's like an obstacle course just to get into mine 😜

[@thelonesculler]

0:25 "I get a little more unfit" says the guy who annihilated the rollers hour record the other week

[@sterby1]

@@pureroadie Ollie needs to obsess less on gear and more on pedaling

[@badbitecrew]

Alex is inspiring as not-a-carpenter, but I’m in love with the pup!

[@siddhant5068]

Who says Alex is not carpenter. After seeing this I think Alex is the best carpenter.

[@panzerveps]

Looking at all the uneven gaps, you'd think he's a former Tesla employee.

[@robbeelsas]

@@panzerveps yeah and if it was super tight to the point it started rubbing you'd think he was a Canyon engineer

[@mattszrejter6785]

Looking great! I can’t wait to see the end product.

[@ryandillon2853]

Im here just to say that your made your cuppa the CORRECT way... banging!

[@DerRofflers]

cool stuff, just 2 thoughts: wood on the wall might cause dampness to build up, also the TV might not like the freezing temps in there

[@abedfo88]

ive got a pc and 24inch monitor in my single skin brick garage. Its fine, i have some damp tramps too.

[@adamsteineke4661]

I hung an old lcd in my garage without any insulation... works fine, in Wisconsin... He's in SW England, it doesn't get cold there... and if it does, it's for short periods of time. As for dampness, that could happen, probably should have a barrier in there.

[@domenicopocai3218]

fantastic job Alex! Well done!

[@add1cted2l3arning]

Awesome!! Love Alex’s vibes! 🔥

[@steffenandersensahl9443]

Nice dog. He was the star of the show :-)

[@jamesmacdonald7]

Love the tea bag throw and then finding out he missed. Oh and the garage is a sweet conversion, looking good Alex.

[@JollyGiant0]

Before you go much further spend £200 on 25mm thick Kingspan to insulate it all. You'll be able to warm it up in a British winter with a small fan heater. Builders tea= Yorkshire tea, not those horrible round ones and dribble of milk with one sugar!!

[@richardnowels]

After retiring three years ago, we moved into a smaller space near the beach. That also meant moving from a big garage I could hang bikes from the ceiling and walk under to a space with a low ceiling, less than half as wide and a third less deep. The result of that is an overstuffed space. Normally there is just enough room for me to ride my bike on the trainer as we're still indoors here. When I want to work on something, a bike or motorcycle, I have to move stuff around so I have access. If I want to work on wood or furniture I have to move stuff out of the garage. All that moving adds time to any project and is tricky sometimes to time things between when I need to close the garage up or when tools need to be away for a grandson visit. It works, just fiddly.

[@writedirectthink]

This had nothing to do with cycling, yet I watched the entire thing. Oddly compelling content. Look forward to Alex's How To Brew Proper Tea, thanks.

[@martinverst5150]

Nicely done. Floortiles are better than the concrete floor,bit warmer I think. Double garage, big garden ……nice home

[@daveybaa]

Great job Alex.... top work👍👍

[@dwest783]

Perfect timing, am about to do the same. Though did the walls really need covering with wood? My concern would be damp, then woodworm. Would like to know how much the storage you made cost vs buying shelving units and boxes

[@tomeklubomir]

Great “pain” cave Alex, can’t wait for a video when you’re fully set up

[@lukaskaciasvili9351]

10:39 Definitely a carpenter! Taking bits for wood on a concrete wall! 😜

[@ScuuBdoo]

That is absolutely awesome. Well done Alex. But that back wall thoroughly deserved at least an 80 inch TV 😂

[@davidhawkins9206]

Cladding the walls with osb direct against the blocks is a bad idea.. too much opportunity for damp to build up

[@USMCcharmer]

yup. I would've put firring strips in

[@ianw3592]

Agreed here, give it a few months and it'll be rotten. Shame as there's a lot of effort gone into this.

[@jeffdavis5841]

@@USMCcharmer Yep...and maybe used moisture proofed sheet rock with a bit of foam insulation between block and sheet rock.

[@DavidRynda]

I was thinking the same thing. Is there any benefit to the OSB? To hang anything in it you still have to drill into the masonry.

[@davidhawkins9206]

@@DavidRynda true, other than the look of it maybe.. as another person said it's a pity as there's money and effort gone into it

[@nawal7721]

thanks this was great superb concept idea. GCN just gets better every year man.

[@kamucho]

I didn't no I needed this video until now...I can't wait to see how it progresses! Awesome work.

[@toddbrady7502]

Job well done. The fact you jumped in and tried something new is awesome.

[@timcappiello8295]

Wow you made all of this yourself? Hats off to you! 💯

[@allwooba]

Nice job, Alex! Super impressive.

[@Silsis2]

So impressive. Great job! Also remember to fill that fridge up :)

[@jamesrobert262]

Looks great alex, excited to see the finish product

[@davidslater6672]

Alex mate, your garage build is way better than your tea making! 😂😂😂

[@TheCam1966]

What a cute dog

[@MaxMue]

Nice build. However moisture behind the boards will cause mold. You need 2x4 eg underneath for airing. Second, most OSB boards still produce fumes from their glue for a really long time. Check if that's true for your boards and seal them with paint if necessary. So you don't inhale that glue fumes while training! Stay safe!

[@PatrickJamesKiernan]

Nice work! Great video and wicked pain cave!

[@andrewclarke5741]

Global Carpentry Network Nice work Alex !

[@conchur1194]

Fair play Alex, Health to enjoy fella.

[@mbal4052]

Just how satisfied were you at the end..brilliant 😆

[@tonks1968]

Brilliant. I wouldn’t know where to start with mine!

[@billinhouston3291]

Alex, nice work by you and the missus to do all the takes and resetting to get the sequence at 8:16 to look so nice. And so fun to see you both working on your new place.

[@RESolberg]

I love your attutude... you have become my favorite presenter. Keep up the good job. 👍

[@stouto11]

Really enjoyed this video. Garage looks great 👍🏽

[@MarkZote]

Impressive skills Alex!! Nice.

[@richycoles]

Nice job mate! Like that chipboard finish. 👍

[@philipplorenz9485]

Good job Alex!

[@Patrik6606]

Really nice 👍

[@jascollinscork]

Sweet looking MANCAVE Alex!!! And your new tag line is........ "I'm no carpenter BUT......." 🤔😜😂 also you might need more sockets??

[@GCNalex]

Hahaha. Good call, 4 more sockets have just gone in👍👍

[@playandteach]

Leaving the bag in. That's builders' tea. Look forward to part 2. What about heating?

[@leenevi]

Dang, looks good!

[@SimoneChiaretta]

This video couldn't have come at a better moment... about to move to a new house and I'd need to do the same

[@peterthomas8053]

When my wife had a new kitchen fitted, I recycled the old worktops, as new worktops for the garage bench. I now have marble effect workbench tops, with rounded front edge. winner.

[@sterman7632]

can't wait for part 2

[@StephanieLuff]

I'm curious why wood was put on the walls? Maybe I missed it. Just seems like so much extra effort 😅

[@gfmoore]

He will hang all his Park tools on the wall - for that money he could have bought a new house as his shed/garage. :)

[@FreqRyder]

Have you tried painting block work white in a garage? Definitely easier putting the board up. However, like others have said, “be careful with damp building up behind the board”.

[@bpfastfeet25]

Moving to a new house in a few weeks. Can't wait to get started on the bike cave in the basement, and throwing the workshop in the garage too!

[@itsmark3824]

awesome work, and looks like you got it finish just before the snow kicked in.

[@KoedNakedSports]

Horse stall matts for the flooring. They work so much better than those tiny puzzle squares.

[@JMcLeodKC711]

@0:49.....rollers baby

[@tammystringer4044]

Nice job. Hope you tossed the ball with your pup!

[@snacks8145]

2:09 the look of a madman with power tools :D

[@jonathanfroggatt5865]

Looks great Alex I would love to do that in my garage if the wife would let me have one 😂

[@christianemeiners9224]

Well done :-)

[@jannik9631]

I was sceptical but it turned out really great, awesome work!

[@alan_f22]

"I'm not a carpenter" repeated so much so...Im starting to THINK he is IN FACT a carpenter!! Tasty Job 👍

[@floydie9255]

Living in the UK, if it was me I would have battened the walls then screwed the wood panels to the battens, also put some insulation in the gap.

[@paulmichaelpolsinelli1945]

dog cameos for the win brother

[@paulnewman8803]

Good job!

[@FlashFlanagan-tb6iv]

Great job Alex and especially in the amount of time you did it. I noticed that you did not use any sort of insulation or, what we call here in the colony known as Canada, vapour or moisture barrier on the walls. After a while, there is bound to be some sort of moisture buildup given all the sweat you will have with your epic rides. Would you ever consider removing some of the panels to see if there is mould from a health standpoint, or even just to make it more comfortable with some basic Styrofoam insulation. Just thinking about your long-term health 😊 I’m sure your dog is really concerned about you being there to take care of him long term… Love the videos and the entire GCN effort!

[@Wildschwein_Jaeger]

Owwwooo I like the laser rip saw.

[@davidadamus177]

Wish I was there to help! So fun 😎

[@frankkollar2278]

Measure once Cuss twice

[@Thekidisalright]

You may want to consider pull out drawers for your cupboard, you will be surprised how much easier to reach stuff at the back without pulling out all the items at the front, since the cupboard is quite deep, not to mention, your back will thank you when you want to grab things at the bottom.

[@jacksmale7036]

This is gonna be a great series. EDIT... milk in with the tea bag, come on GCN Tech..

[@davegrindey7823]

Upgrade the TV to a projector... 😉 that’s what I did. So immersive that once I found myself freewheeling when watching a KZbin vid and waiting for an oncoming vehicle to pass before turning left (it was a Sella Ronda loop). ☺️

[@montufaraj7066]

Very cool.

[@fabianirsara9846]

10:59 well that's a lot of Muc off products you need there 😂

[@PumpkinVillage]

Nice job. Once you get the door in you'll be well on your way to a completed shop. Oh yea! Maybe a little heater would help. Nice dog too. Take care and stay safe, Al

[@ianw3592]

Alex, nice job. You may find that telly is mounted to high on the wall, give it a go but think about dropping it down to bench level. Especially if you do any training on a TT bike. Also, just keep an eye out for damp, OSB direct to wall isn't the best, especially when you'll raise the humidity level when training. Best of luck and enjoy it.

[@kaupo80]

The small gaps here and there are OK. But the most important flaw I saw was that you didn't leave any toe room under the cupboard/working area. Now, when you stand behind your work desk, your toes will hit the lowest part and you must stand about 25cm away from the desk. If you had a little stepback at the bottom part of the cupboard, you could stand more close to the desk.

[@stillrise1607]

Good video👍

[@suncuevas1238]

Accuracy and detail...more to look forward to...the next step of Alex building a bike cave.

[@aberdeenal3234]

Good effort sir!

[@MrRed0devil]

Cute dog!

[@MrTomStringer]

That cup of tea was criminal