[AT] OT Bicycle program

[Stephen Offiler]

Hi Brian:

Rebuilding spoked wheels is not much of a DIY job; also many small
spring-loaded parts inside rear hub are challenging for DIY; pretty much
all of the bearings (hubs, pedal crank assembly, steering head) are all
press-fit cartridge bearings; suspension components both front and rear
require periodic maintenance and are pretty complex internally.  Things
wear out eventually but can be adjusted along the way to compensate for
wear, said adjustments requiring special knowledge.  Most areas of the
bicycle require special service tools.  Visit this link and scroll around a
bit to get an idea just how extensive this is:
https://www.parktool.com/category/tools

The problem with compensation for bicycle mechanics is related to supply
and demand, as (I think) you pointed out yourself.  This is an adult
enthusiast hobby.  Maybe I should have been more clear upfront, but we are
NOT talking about department store bicycles ridden by children.  Department
store bikes use simpler technologies but no one even bothers to repair them
anymore; they are basically disposable.  What we are talking about are
bicycles still sold largely from Mom & Pop bike shops, with price ranges
starting around $600-800 on the very low end up to $10,000+ on the high
end.  Adult cycling enthusiasts ride frequently and on a sustained basis;
they want light weight, responsive handling, and a customized fit; and they
will spend what they can afford since this constitutes a significant
fraction of their life on an ongoing basis.  The problem, again, is supply
and demand - only a fraction of all bicycle owners become this kind of
enthusiast.  The Mom & Pop who own the shop have money tied up in the brick
and mortar facility, inventory, accessories, etc and the profit margins are
thin so they can only afford a certain amount to compensate employees.
Every one of those employee is a serious enthusiast who makes the decision
to combine their vocation and their avocation and accept the relatively low
compensation in order to enjoy that lifestyle.  Hence, bike mechanics don't
make much money.

And again, there really aren't fancy degrees.  Yes, there are a couple of
institutions offering certifications, but they really aren't valued.  The
best mechanics come up through something like an informal apprentice
program.

With apologies to the list because we are WAY WAY off the antique tractor
topic.

Steve O.

On Fri, Apr 12, 2019 at 6:05 PM Brian VanDragt <bvandragt at comcast.net>
wrote:

> I was kidding, but even though the parts are made out of fancy materials,
> if its broke, unscrew it and replace it.  If the electronics go bad, unplug
> it and replace it.  Bicycle mechanic sounds like a hobby, not a job.  There
> must not be a big need for bicycle mechanics or they would make more
> money.  I just don't see bicycles needing to be taken to a specialist with
> a fancy bicycle degree to get fixed.
>
> Brian
>
> On April 12, 2019 at 5:33 PM Stephen Offiler <soffiler at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> I suppose you're kidding, Brian?
>
> For the record, today's high end mountain bikes have significantly greater
> quantity and quality of suspension travel than my 1970's vintage
> motorcycle, hydraulic disc brakes, tubeless tires, and derailleurs that
> shift electrically.  They are made of exotic materials: ultra-high-tensile
> aluminum alloys in grades you've probably never heard of; titanium; and
> carbon fiber.  These high-end modern bicycles are more like Ferraris and
> the bikes you refer to, when you were a kid, more like Model T's.  So, yes,
> bicycle mechanic is definitely a vocation.  Not very lucrative, as we've
> already discussed.
>
> SO
>
>
> On Fri, Apr 12, 2019 at 2:36 PM Brian VanDragt < bvandragt at comcast.net>
> wrote:
>
> I didn't know there was a such thing as a bicycle mechanic.  I had a few
> bikes when I was a kid and I didn't need any school to figure out how they
> worked or how to fix them.  To me a bicycle mechanic seems about as
> necessary as a wheelbarrow mechanic.  Are there any wheelbarrow mechanic
> degrees?
>
> Brian
>
> On April 12, 2019 at 1:35 PM James Peck < jamesgpeck at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> So true. This link lists a couple of vocational bicycle mechanic programs.
> The problem such programs have is that everybody who pays for the course
> expects a completion certificate, regardless of the skill level they end up
> with. The link does mention that big earnings should not be expected.
>
>
>
>
> https://forums.mtbr.com/tooltime/highest-regarded-bike-mechanic-school-north-america-827055.html
>
>
>
> The recently exposed college admissions cheating scandal is possible
> because once admitted, the overrated students will get good enough grades
> to graduate.
>
>
>
> [Stephen]There is no such thing as an Associate Degree in Bicycle
> Mechanics.
>
>
>
> The program in the link provided is not intended to train bicycle
> mechanics.  It uses the bicycle as a case study in modern manufacturing,
> encompassing welding and fabrication of a variety of materials (advanced
> high-alloy steels, aluminum, titanium) plus composite (aka "carbon fiber")
> techniques, plastic injection molding, CAD design work, etc etc.  I find it
> a very clever way of engaging the students.
>
>
>
>
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