nicO

My longwinded-repair journey began when my brother and I started shooting and editing home videos on our dad's Sony camcorder. We quickly hit the point where the limited fade transitions and editing capabilities on the device didn't artistically represent our visions. We upgraded to more sophisticated cameras (which used MiniDV) and built desktop computers that could handle Sony Vegas, Premiere, and a whole other suite of 3D modeling and effects like Blender and Maya.

As we grew up and diverged interests, I made a stop in computer service and repair, and internetworking, receiving my A+ and CCNA in 2010. He went on to print engineering.

Resting in the shade on an '81 Wonderbread truck.

I entered the world of music production, including building guitar pedals and working on electric guitars while I studied mechanical engineering at Cal Poly. My communities became narrowed between sustainable agriculture and bicycles. I struggled in bringing the two closer together. I moved into the the Establishment for a few years to refine my interests. I ride a bike every day if I can.

I helped build Bread Bike's bakery and bike delivery program, and now consult for Surf Gems and Morro Bay High School's Industrial Technology courses as a lab instructor.

''Welding out of position is incredibly tiring. Don't forget to take frequent stretch breaks.''

I'm a SLO county native, and currently rooted up the hill from Cayucos, or down near the coastal park of Montaña de Oro in Los Osos.

I’m willing to attempt any repair at least once, like laundry machines, cement mixers. With a little love, I can share the bountiful life left in these machines and our world. Each new repair also leads me down a familiar yet unfamiliar round of troubleshooting. Finding system similarities and systematically checking vitals is as challenging as it is rewarding.

My work at iFixit lets me share my curiosities and transform them into useful reference material for my community. This is precisely why I’m now working at iFixit as a hired wrench and troubleshooting guide writer. I'm enjoying what we're creating.

Tinker on, fix the world.

''A tin-type photo taken on the Trinity river by S. Streamfellow.''

I frequently (nearly every ride) experience a mechanical on my bicycle, and in 2021 I broke 4 bicycle chains! Now, I ride or carry bike tools for fixing any bike I stumble across. This mostly looks like

• Lights
• Multitool, with spoke wrench and chain breaker
• Crescent wrench
• Flat repair kit, spare tube, a pump
• Bike bell

More bikes means a happier community. I volunteer with the Bike Kitchen in San Luis Obispo to help everyone get out and ride.