I do all my best thinking between 11 and 2 in the morning in the shop. It's not always bikes, either. When I'm feeling particularly overwhelmed, my first theraputic step is to clamp a length of straight-grained cedar or pine in the bench and go to work with a sharp handplane. It soothes me, squares an edge, and gives the hamster bedding. Win/win.

Otherwise, there's always the hope of some quality time with prepped aluminum and a tub of Mother's.