From Tinkerer to Hero Bike Mechanic

Tinkering at 14 years old, working on a quasi-dirt jumper.

I find it interesting how lifelong passions manifest during middle school years. I dove into anything artistic. Our eldest son was into computer-related things (now a programmer). And our youngest plunged headfirst into bike mechanics.

Early on, he and a buddy rode with backpacks full of bike parts, swapping between their homes.

He was also an early winter riding adopter. He took that to heart, even if it made Mom nervous.

He enjoyed bike mechanics in summer school, learning to work on his own bike.

In high school, he thrived in a bike touring class, in addition to commuting to/from school.

I especially liked his quasi dirt jumper, a work of art. I learned about the plasti-dipping technique.

He eventually built a beautiful dirt jumper. 

His pivotal year was 2020 (pivotal for many of us!). Because of the pandemic, the spring of his senior year was rough, especially missing his last track season. At the same time, I was out of work. After his graduation and moving homes in June, we were able to connect. He showed me local single-track networks to avoid crowded rail trails. I eventually encouraged him to return to what he enjoyed, which was volunteering at a non-profit bike shop - his choice to meet a high school volunteer requirement. 

Between volunteering, YouTube research, and upgrading several bikes - including mine - he found his niche! In the spring, (at the same shop), he was offered a temporary bike mechanic spot, which turned into a full-time position. 

He fixed a broken shifter and cleaned up my Peugeot's drivetrain.

He's been a mechanic for 4-5 years. His favorite task is doing custom builds. He's competent, patient, teaches newer employees, and is passionate about his work. Not bad for a 23-year-old! 

Presta Schmesta - Bring Back Schrader Valves!

Presta valves on both my Hard Rock and Rachel.

Over the past twenty years, Presta became the default on most new adult-sized bicycles. Because Presta valves are narrower and longer than their Schrader counterpart, the evolution began with skinny racing tires - a smaller rim hole equalled stronger wheels. The longer Presta valve can also accommodate different wheel depths. The Presta standard eventually carried over to bikes of all styles, in my opinion, because of marketing hype, not strictly for the select ridership where it made the most sense. 

Presta valves are valuable for those seeking a tubeless setup, primarily for modern-day mountain and gravel bikes, and the rugged terrain where punctures are more prevalent.  Tubeless requires constant monitoring, ensuring enough sealant, and often constant inflation/deflation, depending on preferred pressure. Tubeless also allows single-digit PSI. Adventurous riders swear by tubeless. But most often, they carry a spare tube as backup. 

On top of that, there's a movement towards the Clik Valve, essentially an adapter for the Presta valve for easier one-handed inflation. 

In otherwords, users are tired of the finicky Presta valve. While I've had a lot of experience with Presta (no tubeless yet) I've always had a love/hate relationship with the system. There's a fine line between how much to unscrew the nut and how much to seat the pump for optimal inflation without risking bending the top screw. The washer-type screw that locks the valve against the rim periodically loosens - necessitating tightness checks. And when a tube replacement is necessary,  it's harder to remove/insert a tube with a 2" valve, plus keep track of the removable cap and screw! 

Here's a simple explanation of the differences between both valves. 

While Schrader has faded from the limelight, I've found it a better system for general use: commuter bikes, kids bikes, touring bikes, and recreational riding, because a stronger valve stem is easier to deal with. Bike touring is a good example, necessitating the use of a small hand-type pump. 

Araya rims, popular on early touring bikes and mountain bikes, were ubiquitous. All were equipped with Schrader valves. Those rims are still going strong today. 

I asked our son why he built Presta rims on my bikes. It's because the rims came with pre-drilled Presta openings. That further explains their prevalent use. In the past, I've had bike shops drill out Presta rims to accommodate Schrader (back when I had one Presta rimmed bike), and there wasn't any loss of structural integrity.

Pleasantly surprised to have Schrader valves on my newest bike,
the Downtube Dyan! Go figure, on the narrowest,
curviest rim of the bunch.

The good news is there's plenty of Schrader tubes available, even in the older 27" x 1.25 size, because as everyone knows, it's fashionable to restore old bikes!

Ideas for 2026

My goal in 2026 is to keep the cycling momentum by incorporating new trails and routes. Besides the  Colorado trip, I want to complete another weeklong bike tour - last year's was great - where is yet to be determined.

• In March, I'm heading back to the Philly Bike Expo, this time with my husband! I'm excited to meet up with cycling friends, ride with others, attend seminars, and, of course, attend the main event. It's also the 250th anniversary of the US, and we may stumble upon some of Philly's special events.
• Because bike touring in summer's heat was successful, I plan to do it again. It's not my favorite climate, but it has its merits: cooling off in streams, packing less, and I can bail on local adventures. Ideas include a 3-day Champlain Islands loop, an upstate New York adventure using the Adirondack Rail Trail, and a one-way journey using Amtrak. So many possibilities!
• With a front rack and comfortable bars installed on the Downtube Dyan, I plan to test its handling capabilities on an overnight. The long-term goal is to lower the gearing and try wider tires for more adventurous multimodal trips, but one step at a time.
• I'm heading back to Colorado, which has now become an annual pilgrimage, visiting family and friends in Fort Collins for more cycling/hiking fun. 
• We'll continue to explore more mountain bike trails. Ideas include Woodstock and Millstone in VT, and Blueberry Hills in Elizabethtown, NY.

No Surprise that 26" ATBs are Experiencing a Resurgence

My blinged-out Specialized Hard Rock and commuter/winter-ready Peugeot St. Laurent.

The resurgence of 26" ATB bikes has been dominating conversations and predictions in 2026. Due to the rising cost of new bikes, tariff-affected component prices, and weirdly complicated internal routing, electronic shifting - you name it - there's a distinct backlash against new bicycles. Combine that with a demographic shift to Gen Y and Z interest - buying used, like their preference for second-hand clothing - the buzz is centered around taking older bikes and converting them into usable, trendy transportation: think baskets, swoopy handlebars, colored grips, and wider/all-terrain tires. 

In fact, in 2026 there are more 26" tires available than five years ago. 1980-90s bicycles are still found in garage sales, your parents' basement, Ebay, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace. The steel rigid mountain bike is easy to work on, upgradeable, accepts fenders, and can be converted to a cargo bike. Bicycle co-ops recondition and resell them for a reason. Our local non-profit, Old Spokes Home, specializes in rigid mountain bikes and will even customize one for you from the frame up, if that's your thing.

This interest is not lost on me, of course. I've owned and toured extensively on a 1986 Trek Antelope, and despite owning several bicycles, I will always prefer the elongated comfort of a sturdy older bike for many types of riding. I now own two!

(And don't get me started on the fiddly Presta valve trend - wish that one would disappear in favor of Schraeder valves for their strength and ease of use.👍)

Creating a Rack Bag from a Thermarest Easy Chair

A while back, I found a Thermarest Easy Chair abandoned on the roadside in my favorite color. 💜 At the time, I didn't have a specific project in mind, but that didn't deter me from coming up with something! I had constructed a purple tote/backpack from scratch, a bag I use for travel, hauling groceries, or as a flight carry-on. It's versatile and can be rolled up and stowed as needed. What I could use is a bag that fits my Jack the Bike Rack. With multiple attachment points, perhaps roll-top style. I liked the idea of an organized bag that houses my sleep system, easily removed, and carried inside a tent or indoor accommodation. There are many basket bags on the market. I used those as my research starting point and made drawings adaptable to my preferences.

Thermarest Easy Chair, cleaned and dried.

I love repurposing and the creative process involved: drawings, measuring, cutting fabric, washing, and dismantling - lots of seam ripping! 

Once I have detailed plans, there's still quite a bit of thought involved: what's the best way to piece it together? Each step is slow as I determine how it should be sewn. And it's par for the course to make minor changes as I start construction, little improvements for versatility.

The basic pieces are complete: molly webbing on four sides, two handles.

I kept the label in place as an homage to its origin. I reused 95% of the webbing. I added padding on the bottom and lower edge on all sides for a bit of structure.

I now have a basket bag that fits my Jack the Bike Rack with a rolltop closure, secured with Jack clips. There's also molly webbing on four sides should I need extra attachment points.

  I look forward to trying this out in the spring!