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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjprG177BIqQalvj55dbok4aTWW_xvzn9oR1tDe5fhyphenhyphenp-cjB0KOL-wkwhn0ThwXgdvIsFnyzYUTKhD_JB0nTnStlT0Sjxnd-dlTijIfbnGuafxc1Q-N1dmtUKY7pSB_Hr_jBOTkPgrz6Zk/s320/IMAG0173.jpg) |
Lacing a wheel can be a satisfying endeavour. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFV3RtBgm7XPLHRvmFZBwcdChAXCHkmv_JmUBdOVE3AqDE_IRkdAhL5603YaHHBwrZs0bR0oW_RUtpZuZ9XJMYH-bRWcJI2Nbzjig0el2oHFnalZr1p4tUbMMaquQPYoB4aLsHQDS2Pqc/s320/IMAG0174.jpg) |
If you have patience in abundance, several hours to spare, |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc7UpOFVEmo7pAvDBZ5ETJszPKDIGMEgkof_KIN_K4RyEutgyklpWvEvl-XfeADBH-_iz9oHFlnralZYQZSwkSmic4J71vEHi5RkPlY4bFX7_G30M9OsZEXCG4aIPYP6K-GyYemdlivew/s320/IMAG0176.jpg) |
and no social life whatsoever. |
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