For the coming week, spring is running early previews. As stated previously, any kind of work could come in here, but the management has decided to ring the dinner bell for bike service. That means no more light colors in the wardrobe.
How many people will actually bring bikes? Early warm spells have always roused a few riders, but it usually takes warmer weather a little bit further into actual springtime to inspire much of an influx. Almost always, these early rushes fizzle quickly when the weather turns a bit chillier again. We don't get the money for our efforts until the riders finally return to pick up their machines.
I'm always happiest when we can go ahead and put away the rental ski equipment. Until we do, it crowds the work stand and takes up space we really need to set up the flow of bikes from the waiting area, through the repair stand, and back to hooks to await pickup.
Today and tomorrow are seasonably wintry. They would be good days for speedy hiking on well-frozen trails. Just remember your Microspikes -- or similar product -- for the icy surface. Or you can roll out on the studded tires of your choice if you prefer to pedal. I advocate mixed activities and weight-bearing exercise, but it's your call.
Because the hard-core riding crowd is no longer impressed with us, any of them who are not already doing their own work will probably go someplace where they feel that the mechanics really know what they're doing. The members of a subculture look for people who share their identity. Back when the subculture was "biking," bike mechanics competed on a more equal footing among different types of rider. Under the influence of categorization, biking has been broken up into insular smaller subcultures under the tattered umbrella of the former larger subculture. Even a generalist mechanic has to devote many more hours of precious life to learning about the latest and the later latest, and the soon-to-be-released.
Way back in the early mid 1990s, a small group of us was discussing the rise of expensive, proprietary shifting on road bikes.
"If you really love riding, you'll spend whatever it takes to have the latest and greatest stuff," said one rider.
"If you really love riding, you don't need all that shit," another one replied. That's the dichotomy right there. Either you accept new technology only after it has proven its worth as a genuine improvement of lasting value, or you chase the leading edge, which will always be a step ahead of you, pulling you by your wallet.
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