Wrenching is almost always fun and relaxing, but that actual riding part seems to always involve uphills, which are never fun.

I'm not the best wrencher in the world (I still learn new stuff from BF all the time), but I do enjoy it a lot. I had so much fun buying the parts for and building (rather assembling) my own bike, I would never consider buying a whole stock bike again. I dream of someday retiring (early?) and founding a bike co-op, which I think more of are sorely needed in San Diego. (I've only heard of two: Bikes Del Pueblo, and a co-op at SDSU, both of which are very far from me)