One of the best things that separates the bike life from everybody else’s is mucking around with bikes.
Whether you are up for doing a complete suspension overhaul or confused about how to fix a flat, getting grubby while horsing around in the shed is always an available pastime.
Pulling bikes apart once in a while for a spring clean, switching wheels between compatible sleds, changing stems, handlebars, saddles, drivetrains - even re-wrapping bar tape or installing a fresh set of grips can provide an excuse to stand back and look at your bike with a new gleam in the eye.
In fact, an accepted part of preparing oneself for any bike ride is selecting a bike, checking the tyre pressure and making sure anything required to get home in the event of a mechanical problem is lashed on to the bike or in a pocket. If the bike ride is anything special (and which one isn't?), the bike gets a good going over. I know a person, and it is the honest truth, who will nearly always customise a bike to some degree for more or less any ride. I am personally guilty of taking a perfectly functional bike, the night before some ride or other, setting out to give it a once over and coming close to making it unrideable by dismantling something that turned out to be more complicated than it looked.
But still we do it.
If I am going to do battle with a bike or two I first dig out some old jeans and a flogged to death hoodie so I don’t put grease marks on anything valuable. The requirement for that little routine can cause the whole well intentioned project to be derailed. That is no longer an issue, now this heavy duty cotton canvas workshop apron is hanging on my work stand, ready to protect whatever I am wearing when the inspiration to get greasy hits.
Super heavy duty cotton duck canvas, adjustable shoulder strap with metal adjuster, big pocket in front, small pocket to one side, loop for hammer (do not use on your bike unless provoked). Heavy duty construction.
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