Julia Schäfer, bike pro, Team Rocky Mountain
Wrenching is pure relaxation for me. Disassembling a bike piece by piece, cleaning it, lubricating it and then putting it back together again makes me happy. The right music and a good drink are essential for the perfect wrenching session. My favourite thing to do is to adjust the gears on my bikes. The peace and quiet you need for this, the concentration - there's something about it.
Peter Felber, Specialised Factory Racing
Being a mechanic in the World Cup can be a tough job. But if you know you're doing it for the team, 20-hour days are no problem. I can contribute a lot to the success of the top riders. Not only with perfectly functioning brakes and ball bearings - but also with my positive attitude. When the results are right and the fans are cheering, that makes me happy.
Yanick Gyger, Scott-Sram MTB Racing Team
Even as a boy, I was fascinated by bike technology as well as the trails. I helped out in the local bike shop from an early age. One day, racing legend Thomas Frischknecht saw me there and joked: "Ah, child labour!" As a 23-year-old, I became one of the youngest head mechanics on the scene - in Frischi's racing team, of course. Passion can take you that far. I'm proud of it.
Heroes on wheels: the Swede Dangerholm's screwdriving skills
Every scene has its heroes. Instagram reflects them. In addition to the racing stars, tuning freaks such as the Swede Gustav Gullholm, also known as "Dangerholm", also eagerly collect followers.
BIKE: 145,000 followers on Instagram is a lot. As Dangerholm, you celebrate your mechanic's art in the seclusion of a small workshop. Which posts are your followers' favourites?
Gustav GullholmSocial media is a world of its own. It's not always the best and highest quality content that works well, it's more about the posts "popping". Sometimes it's nice photos, sometimes it's mobile phone clips with a shock factor, for example when I scratch a frame with a knife. My favourite posts were videos of tuned bikes without visible cables.
How important is Instagram in your work as a bike mechanic and tuner?
First of all, Insta has nothing to do with it. I have my ideas for my bike projects and then I just spend time in the workshop to realise them. But on the other hand, digital media is of course a great tool to exhibit the results, to see new products or to get inspired. For me personally, Instagram was very helpful when it came to learning how to customise bikes.
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Can digital media help to raise the level of technical skills?
Instagram, tech websites and YouTube are a goldmine for anyone who wants to learn new skills. You can either follow specialised channels or just get your phone out and search for the solution to your problem. The more I learn, the more I love the bikes I build.
