Until there are loads of money in the mountain biking blog business, I still have a real job. After a long, stressful day at the office I find that wrenching on the bike for awhile can really calm the nerves and center my thoughts. There are many different ways that people wind down after a long day, but this one works the best for me.

My only focus is on the bike, my tools and the tasks at hand.

So what do I do when I need to use wrenching as meditation?

I start every session with a list. Here was my list for today.

1. Take the Push’d Pike off the Ibis Mojo.
2. Remove the race from the Pike and install it on the Fox Talas 140 RLC.
3. Prep, measure and cut the Fox Talas 140 RLC for the Ibis Mojo.
4. Unpack the new uppers for my Lyrik coil.
5. Make sure I have everything that I need to do the uppers swap out.
6. Found out that I needed a star nut! It goes on the list for tomorrow…

A list, even if it is in your head, is a great way to start out and stay organized. Without a list of items to accomplish, you can find yourself jumping from part to part and in the end you really didn’t get anything accomplished. This becomes even more relevant during complete bike builds where planning ahead can be very important.

Working On Your Own Bike

I have mentioned in a previous post about the importance of learning how to work on your own bike. Even if you plan on taking your ride to the local bike shop every time you need some routine maintenance done, you still need to know the workings of your bike to be able to make simple trail side repairs.

What can you do to get started?

1. Read Your Manuals – Yes those little books that come with every product that you buy actually do have useful information in them!
2. Start Small – Re-lube your chain, adjust derailleurs, make sure that bolts are secure, check tire pressure…don’t jump into wheel building, bleeding brakes and fork rebuilds on your first day. Everything will come with time…but start slow.
3. Clean The Bike – It is a lot easier to work on your bike when it there aren’t pounds of mud caked all of it. Clean it off and then get to work. Personally…I use Suzuki Wash.

You never know, you might end up using your wrenching time as a calming activity to clear your head like I have. Even if that isn’t what happens to you…you will still have a working knowledge of your bike, and that is a good thing.

Coming Soon on MTB by 198…

Next week, I am going to show you guys a DVD that will really move your wrenching skills along. It is going to be extremely helpful for beginners and riders who want to learn how to do the simple tasks. Stay tuned…