The bottom bracket day of hell.

As usual we had our coffee and turned the music on at the shop this morning. We had a bunch of stuff to order yesterday for some expensive repairs today. My partner was building up a custom tri bike and need some cranks and a bottom bracket. Well we measured and re measured and calculated we need a pressfit 30 bottom bracket and a bb30 crank. We later found out the poor crank we ordered was too short and we needed to get the Evo one. That was strike one.
At the same time I received a well ridden Orbea with a creaky bb. I removed the cranks to find 2 bearing pressed directly into the carbon frame. Upon removing said crunchy bearing I realized the bearings have a lip on them so they don’t go further in. Of course Q does not have said funny Spanish bearing. I promptly put bike away and loaded a trek hybrid from the 90’s on my stand. Oh glorious times! 1 1/8 headset, english threaded bottom bracket, external cable routing, quick releases for fast wheel removal. After working on the trek for an hour it was perfect. It was smooth, v brakes phenomenal, just perfect. The orbea sat broken on the side crying, envious of the test ride the Trek was going on. I looked at the fancy new bike and promised to come with a fresh mind and make it good again.
Then people call us mechanics retro-grouches.

Ari

The necessary evil known as cars

A true believer that cars r coffins

I guess as a rebellious child I always had to go against my father. It wasn’t that we did not get along or that I did not respect him. We are good friends and we truly love each other. He loved all things motorized, things that made life easier and more comfortable. He loved his cars but was not a car nut. He was a mechanic and made any car run perfect. He bought cars for pennies and had them in tip top shape in no time.

I loved self propelled things. My passion for the bicycle is un describable and neverending. It fascinates me to get on a light machine and go places for free, not causing any noise or pollution. It’s a fascination that has kept me in the industry for 30 plus years. A fascination that has kept me poor and without a summer vacation for a long time. 

This past week our tired old cars broke down to where they were undrivable. The wife was in the middle of a bunch of interviews. We had to borrow cars since the distances and timing were impossibel without a car. I came to realize that my hatred for cars is not realistic. I can function without one but cannot expect everyone else to do the same. I had both of them repaired and I will continue to use my bike most of the time. I still think that cars suck. Sorry.

After a long absence I decided to write something on this here blog. I feel tat with other platforms we never get a chance to fully express out thoughts. It’s like we live in a world of subtitles and quick images. It is becoming more and more abstract. Nobody wants to or has time to read.
The above image is what is left of the shop. The whole inside has been gutted down to the basic structure. It has all been cleaned out and the only thing left are the front sign and the stickers I put on the rear entrance door.
So many stories and memories abound from this bike shop that was around for over 60 years. It truly saddened people when we decided to close. I hope that you had a chance to visit us before that happened.
No I am onto the next chapter. A young, small shop in Downers Grove. A shop with fresh ideas and a bright future.
I will continue to wrench and ride my bike. The two things that I am known for. Let me know if you are up for a ride. Specially at night cause that’s how the Slender Fungus rolls!
Thanks for your time. Thanks for reading.
Ari