Some people are gifted of a mechanical aptitude, fixing just comes naturally to them. They can diagnose a thing which is malfunctioning and come up with a simple and elegant solution to solve the given problem. I am not one of those people.
How then did I find myself on a cold January evening standing in my garage lacing and truing a dirt bike wheel? While taking a break to warm my frozen fingers, I pondered this.
I have no formal technical training, and as discussed above, little to no skill, patience or digital dexterity. Despite this I have managed to muddle through these mechanical tasks, that over the years have increased in difficulty from simple maintenance and bolt on modifications to engine rebuilds and degreeing cams. I am still not an expert and I constantly make dumb mistakes, mostly through a lack of taking my time. The beauty of working alone in your garage is that nobody can see the stupid shit you do. It's just a matter of making it right before wheeling the thing out of the garage.
I don't particularly like busting my knuckles wrenching on things, dropping small parts where big fingers can't reach them or any of the other myriad annoyances that come with self service. What I like even less, though, is the thought of someone else's hands on my machines, doing tasks that I am perfectly capable of doing, or learning to do. That's nothing but sheer laziness. The kind of laziness that I am just not affluent enough to afford.
So I read, and watch YouTube videos and I screw up. Often. And sometimes, just sometimes, I manage to get it right.
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Lacing a wheel can be a satisfying endeavour. |
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If you have patience in abundance, several hours to spare, |
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and no social life whatsoever. |
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