Am I the only one? or are there others?

[yeshoney]

I just came up from the basement and after a brief two hours i was cleaning up the floor and realized that all i accomplished this evening was to strip paint from two wheel adjuster screws, chase the threads and brass brush buff them. Then i fit them back on the frame and sat back to admire the work. I must be out of my tree or just love fiddling around building bikes. I think the later!

Does anyone else spend so much time and get so little accomplished?

I went out to my build thread and of course it has fallen pretty far down on the first page and I thought about an update and then thought better of it. Does anyone really want to see a couple of clean chain adjuster screws from the 20's on the frame? I guess I decided to pass because there was more effort to do the picture thing than to actually redo the screws. 8)

Thanks for the read.

Joe

 

[Road Master]

Hi Joe! I do pretty much the same thing only I know for me it's like meditating. I take rusty bolts & nuts and soak them in white vinegar till all the rust is gone and then I sit on the garage floor Dremel tool shaft with a wire brush attachment in hand and proceed to meticulouly buff every nook/cranny/thread that's in my hand all the while just humming a tune repitiously. For some guys fishing does the same thing - me, I polish bare metal. I call that a perk! Robert

 

[deorman]

If I change a seat or handlebar, I can spend hours moving the seat up or down, backward or forward, and/or changing the angle of the bar in tiny increments, not to mention deciding exact cable length and routing. Cleaning and lubing old threaded parts? Eternity.

 

[sidsky]

haha!!!! i find this too funny!!! only because its true
made me remember taking off the crusty crud off my bike's chain, link by link with a flat screw driver. then i thought i could just soak this with a degreaser solution, but something about scraping crud or rust is addicting :lol:

 

[gowjobs]

haha!!!! i find this too funny!!! only because its true
made me remember taking off the crusty crud off my bike's chain, link by link with a flat screw driver. then i thought i could just soak this with a degreaser solution, but something about scraping crud or rust is addicting :lol:

Suddenly I feel really productive! Today, I cut the front off of two Pre-War girls frames, and gave one gender reassignment surgery via an 80's -era donor. Of course, that's the most productive bike thing I've done in weeks, so...

 

[hotfoot]

Your not the only one. Check out my Schwinn American rebuild, I took each and every spoke an spoke nipple and polished them one at a time on a wire wheel. It's definately like meditating, and is a nice break from a busy day.

I plan to wire wheel 36 more spokes and nipples for the other wheel in the near future too! Kinda excited about it too...

 

[flemrasm]

as you can see..you are not alone, i take great satisfaction in minor details, buffing a screw, washer or what have you so it looks excatly like you pictured - that is zen.. ( just dont make the mistake i did, show your progress to the wife, and expect her to be as appreciative as you )

 

[vibr8shun]

as you can see..you are not alone, i take great satisfaction in minor details, buffing a screw, washer or what have you so it looks excatly like you pictured - that is zen.. ( just dont make the mistake i did, show your progress to the wife, and expect her to be as appreciative as you )

Amen!!! the time I spent cleaning the individual bearings from my BB, my ol' lady would say that I could have fix the leaky sink, repair the broken tile in the bathroom, throw out the trash, go to the store to pick up milk, and shovel all the dog poo from the yard.. :x the nerve of her :x .... oops just venting :lol:

 

[Markm]

I call it Therapy!!

 

[2manybikes]

Judging by the amonut of bikes that you have produced, you must have at least some random productive periods :mrgreen:

If you are like me then it is hours of staring and fiddling and planning and dreaming.

Followed by a flurry of activity .... Once in a while :roll:

 

[KOTA]

I'll flip a bike every once in a while. I just add up the amount of money I have in it to determine the price. I'll make a profit. But if I included my time, I'd be working for about 5 cents an hour.

 

[Rustinkerer]

Most of my time goes to staring! I have so many bikes, projects, and ideas, but have add moments and just kinda space out! But, I do get into the parts cleaning groove too! -Adam

 

[RZ94]

You are NOT alone. I agree with MarkM.......it is THERAPY.

Therapy for the soul.
Therapy for a bad day at work.
Therapy for a headache.
Therapy for just about anything.

For me, it cures what ails me. Every time.

 

[bikeriderx]

Most of my time goes to staring! I have so many bikes, projects, and ideas, but have add moments and just kinda space out! But, I do get into the parts cleaning groove too! -Adam

I say, amen! I have at least 5 projects "planned" and one to finish from last year...And I haven't started 'nary a one! I take that back...I put a new saddle on my '61 Jag...And then stared at it for half an hour! :lol: :roll:

 

[JoKeR63]

Old age is striking with a vengeance around here. I skipped out this whole winter on projects, so by cleaning 2 screws you've got me beat.
Back in the de-say I'd get back home from work and go 8 hours to the wee hours of the morning, those days are gone!

I enjoy stretching out projects now. I often call it quits at 8:00.

 

[Gold Street Customs]

I wish it was more relaxing, I cherish the time in my garage, but usually its like I will get started on one thing and then I will catch my attention on something else, and then the phone rings or my wife needs my help...oh well at least she tolerates my madness.