^ True enough, it probably doesn't really pay and I should get real. I don't do any of my own car maintenance except remembering to check tire-pressure once every dozen fill-ups or so. Lots of people love doing it, as much as I like wrenching on our bikes. I bet I could actually save money if I did my own oil changes and stuff (unlike the case with building bicycle wheels) -- I'm just not interested enough in car maintenance to bother doing it. I pay the shop to do it. They need people like me.

For me, learning to build wheels was almost an excuse to buy tools. But on the other hand, being able to rebuild a damaged front wheel without outside help or supplies did save a tandem trip my wife and I did a few years back.