As the business of beer began to take shape I also found myself uncovering other helpful lessons in building.

BIKES: USING THE RIGHT TOOLS

For 8 weeks my Monday nights were spent venturing to the West Town Bikes shop (WTB) for a 3 hour class on the mechanical intricacies of my borrowed Nishiki Sport. We took apart, examined, and performed standard maintenance on headsets, bottom brackets, wheels, hubs, breaks, gear-sets and drivetrains. Shop manager Mikey (yes, a 39 yr old man who still goes by Mikey — his joke, not mine) instructed our group of 8 on the nuances of different configurations and manufacturers while also taking time to mix in a grab-bag of personal stories from his time serving the shop. Along the way we gained insights on the tools and techniques crucial to bike building, but we also gained an appreciation for their greater vision.

West Town Bikes operates as a non-profit organization and actually spends most of its time and resources doing community outreach and youth programs. As executive director Alex Wilson would explain with a coy grin on his face, West Town isn’t about building bikes. West Town is about building a community — bikes are just a tool. Below are some other nuggets of ‘Mikey wisdom’ that hit me as very relevant to my year. After the ‘—’ is my translation.

Never use the cone wrench on a binder bolt — Having and using the right set of tools is half the battle.

Always use your hands before you use a wrench — The richest learning happens in close proximity. Get in there.

You can’t true a wheel on a crooked hub — For things that are additive in nature, you must start with the foundation.

Tackle big jobs in small chunks, but take each chunk to its completion — Start small and celebrate along the way.

A common language is important — Clear, concise, and specific communication is vital.

In teardown, maintain the order and orientation — Improve on what has come before you. Stand on the shoulders of giants.

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