You guys are a bad influence
 

I recently took up cycling (last 2 years). Had to quit running or face a nasty heel surgery. I have gotten on here and complained of how a lot of guys fiddle and tweak and build bikes. I thought it was all about the riding. I was wrong. I am not getting into building a bike and I love it. It seems to be another aspect of cycling. I feel more involved and it is all your fault. I hung around this site long enought for you guys to get me addicted to both riding and tinkering. You are to blame. I am even planning a tour this summer on a bike I put together. I find myselft looking for old yard sale bikes to build. Is that normal?

Yes, for you. I never got into the tinkering, aside from things like flats, chain replacement, and changing handlebars. I leave the rest to the LBS. I just ride. :)

Dear Babysaph -
We are the people your mother warned you about.

When I began to ride seriously in my mid teens I had no LBS where I lived but my father had a full toolbox so tinkering and riding went hand on hand. Fortunately enough, these days bike parts last longer so I can spend more time riding than tinkering. But it's good to know how to fix the bike by the road side during a long ride.

All I can say is in my book, you are absolutely normal.......but define normal, please?
:eek:

I share your pain.

I bought an old bike a few years ago purely to do a bit of cross training as I was having knee trouble with my running.

Now here I am a few years later having done some long tours, and commuting on a fixed gear I built up from spare parts, and I scour every rubbish heap I see for bike parts

O, and I don't run anymore, which has fixed my knee problem,