It's a Bicycle Not a Blinking Boeing – How Hard Can It be?

One of the pleasures of owning a bike is how they reward a little tender loving care now and again. 

Like with their petrol powered two wheeled brethren, riding a bicycle is a very involving and elemental experience. The senses are bombarded every moment you are astride the machine, and your instincts quickly become finely tuned to your immediate surroundings. You can feel it start to rain long before the auto wipers of a car alert the semi comatose driver to a change in the weather, and you feel every stone and every bump through the seat of your pants. You also feel and hear exactly how the bike is running, unlike in a modern family car say, when even after a full service you'd probably be hard pressed to feel any difference, they have become that numb and removed from the driving experience. But with a bike, even a couple of PSI in the tyres and you can reap the rewards instantly as you feel the harder ride and relish the speed gained for less effort.

So I've adopted the 'Bike not a Boeing' philosophy and have been enjoying (mostly...) getting my hands dirty and doing a few jobs on the bikes myself.

This morning it was a productive and satisfying hour or so replacing and greasing the rear wheel bearings in the Bantu. The rear wheel had become a bit 'clacky' when turning, so it had to be done. Bicycles aren't complicated devices really (well the bikes I ride aren't anyway) but it is still a very gratifying way to spend a little time (and of course, spend less money).

Job done (inadequate greasing at the factory by the look of it), out on a ride and the Bantu felt all the better for my attentions, running smoothly and quietly again. 

Post furtle test ride and the Bantu was running smoothly and silently once again. A job well done.

When confidence can be easily shot to pieces and self esteem pretty low, achieving even something as simple as a little bike maintenance and feeling the results of a job well done can be a big boost, and something to add to the bank of 'good things that happened today/this week.'

Just one thing though, am I the only cyclist who just cannot get a back wheel in while the bike is upright in a maintenance stand? Once again I attempted it, once again, after many tries, I admitted defeat and dropped the bike upside down to the floor. Bingo! One back wheel, back in place in a couple of seconds. Most odd.