For many, the pandemic lockdowns sparked new hobbies, but for Alan Vaarwerk, it ignited a lasting passion for cycling. What began as a regular riding habit to escape stress has since evolved into a deeply satisfying journey of mechanical self-reliance, moving from a rider who was too timid to change a tyre to someone who now builds his own bicycles from the frame up.
The timid rider's turning point
Alan admits his early approach to bike maintenance was one of avoidance. Strange noises were ignored, and a simple puncture meant a half-hour walk to the local bike shop. His chain remained perpetually dirty for fear that touching it might cause more harm than good. This 'rookie era' came to an abrupt end when an accident wrote off his bike, forcing him to seek a cheap replacement.
He found it in the form of a late-1970s Malvern Star, purchased for a cool $50. Despite its rust spots and perishing tyres, it rode beautifully. The low investment and simple, low-tech components sparked an unexpected urge to tinker. Armed with YouTube tutorials and advice from his dad, Alan began his first foray into repairs.
The joy of the parts bin
Using second-hand parts scavenged from his local community bike co-op, he installed new handlebars, brakes, a chain, a rear rack, and a front basket. He was quickly hooked. Figuring out how each part informs the whole and diagnosing problems himself generated a powerful sense of satisfaction. This new-found confidence, he jokes, was potent enough to get him up a medium-sized hill.
His ambitions grew. Last summer, he purchased an old steel frame and built a bike completely from scratch, complete with a spray-can paint job. The process of creating a working machine from nothing was intensely gratifying, though he learned that parts on vintage bikes are less interchangeable than they appear.
A mindful escape from the screen
For Alan, whose week is often spent looking at words on a screen, the physical, practical work of bike repair has become a form of meditation. Scrubbing off rust and road grime is a highly relaxing way to spend an afternoon. He finds himself missing these sessions when life gets busy or the weather turns bad. As he puts it, 'grubby fingers are a great way to avoid doomscrolling.'
Even his screen time has transformed. He now explores a positive corner of the internet dedicated to bike repair, from subreddits showcasing 'clunkers' to detailed tutorials and ASMR-style build videos. It's a community less about high-performance gear and more about keeping things cheap, chill, and cheerful.
Of course, the journey hasn't been without frustration. Making an old bike rideable is one thing; making it ride pleasurably can be fiendishly difficult, as replacing one worn part can reveal another problem. But for Alan, this is part of the appeal. It simply means another opportunity to dive back into the parts bin, hands-on and fully engaged, building both bikes and confidence in equal measure.
