art of bike maintenance

Bicycles and their maintenance have always been a part of my life's backdrop. My father managed a bike shop part time while I was in preschool, and we never had fewer than a half dozen bicycles in our garage. In the corner of that same garage sat his work bench. The drawers were filled with boxes and tools graced by Campagnolo's classic logo.

My own workshop continues that legacy. There are several bikes hanging in my basemant, and park tools have replaced Campy on my bench. With my dad's help, I recently built my first wheelset, and I love to tinker on bikes.

As attested in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and Shop Class as Soulcraft, maintenance is an art. There is a deep satisfaction that comes with building and fixing by hand. The the artistry of handbuilt bicycles is attested to by by the likes of the legendary framebuilder Ciocc.

In homage to the art of bicycle maintenance, I offer a rough guide to bicycle maintenance, brought to my attention by phil.