Zen and the art of bicycle maintenance - not!

Went to a course in bicycle maintenance, to be able to repair my bike if something went wrong whilst on the trip and I seemed to find everything difficult - even removing the wheel and putting it back (particularly that in fact!). The instructor assured me that it was not me, but the bike - and indeed he had a bit of a fight with it as well but still... Repeating the instructions didn't help (and made me feel like a total idiot) - I totally understood what I had to do but either did not have the strength required or was not able to make my hands do it.  I ended with a serious sense of humour failure! 
I guess I have a lot of practice to do at home...