Sometimes it can just be a change of scenery that’s needed, other times if the environment isn’t changed 180˚, turned upside-down, and inside out, then it gets to the point where you get perilously close to exploding all over the people around you. I’m changing shops, and at this point, it seems like it’s going to be a good change.

So far, I’ve spent one day at the new digs and immediately the change was evident. The disparity was very interesting I thought. Here’s an example: that one day I was finally introduced to the newest bottom bracket standard, BB30, in person. Seemed pretty straight forward, I’ll admit I’m not a fan just yet, but I’ll give it more time. But the disparity came the next day when back at the old shop where I was faced with extracting a seized french threaded bottom bracket in a 70’s Gitane. A little bit of Liquid Wrench and a headset press reconfigured to act as a fixed cup remover and it was out; replaced by a Velo-Orange cartridge BB. One day BB30, and the next french threads.

I’m not saying one is better than the other, nothing about the old ways being better, rather I welcome both. I want to be knowledgeable with both, I don’t want to be limited by anything on a bike. All things bike is my focus, and admittedly, I’ve got a lot to learn. It’s been too long since I’ve been in a position to be able to learn, and I’ve heard if you’re not learning something everyday, you’re not living.

Today I raced for the first time. It was great, it was excruciating, it was cyclocross.

I started off strong, I held first place for the first two laps, then dropped to third, up to second, then back to third for the final lap. I was holding third pretty well until some sandbagger drove me through a patch of loose gravel on a short, narrow, cement section. This gravel unfortunately terminated into a log and brush. Full speed ahead I hit that log—no dismount, not even operable brakes—just head over handlebars followed by body and then bike on top of me. Cussing, I get up and try to go only to discover the chain had come off. Damn it Paul! After getting the chain reconnected with chainring I take off—vowing against any DNF’s or DFL’s today.

I placed ninth and am mildly alright with that. I’m in pain, I’m wheezing, my wheel is near taco’ed, and I plan to do it all again tomorrow, only backwards (so I hear). This kind of activity deserves psychiatric inspection I’d think.

Being a mechanic takes a sharp eye for details. It’s impressive and appreciated to see those observational powers in others as well.

I recently built up a cyclocross bike for the season and while at the course the other day, I thanked a fellow mechanic for his recommendation of the Paul Chain Keeper. As he was seeing it on my bike, I notice him look at the crankset. I interuppted the question he was started to ask, “Did you…?” as I knew exactly what he was getting at, I replied, “Yes I did.”

See, Aaron from the Mountain Bike Depot obviously recognized the incongruous pairing of my cranks with my chainring. An FSA 110bcd chainring doesn’t fit perfectly on a Campagnolo CT crankarm. Did I file the millimeter or so of material from the FSA ring for it to fit? Yes I did. Both may say 110bcd, but Brand C has to be different don’t they?

Like they told me back in my baseball years: good eye!

Things are more or less the same lately. Not much has changed, only I feel less like posting lately due to creeps in the area finding their way online and onto this site.

Been riding a lot more lately. Perhaps the general scenery for me will change soon, change for the better, and things will get posted once again.

Keep riding—and wrenching, if you’re already.