[AT] OT Bicycle program

Sat Apr 13 13:07:42 PDT 2019

On a bicycle, I am capable of right around 1/4HP and I can sustain that for
ballpark 1 hour.  Not sure how many acres I'll get done!

SO

On Sat, Apr 13, 2019 at 9:40 AM Indiana Robinson <robinson46176 at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Not if you plow with one...  :-)
>
>
> .
>
> On Sat, Apr 13, 2019 at 7:21 AM Stephen Offiler <soffiler at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> 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.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> AT mailing list
>>> AT at lists.antique-tractor.com
>>> http://lists.antique-tractor.com/listinfo.cgi/at-antique-tractor.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> AT mailing list
>>> AT at lists.antique-tractor.com
>>> http://lists.antique-tractor.com/listinfo.cgi/at-antique-tractor.com
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> AT mailing list
>>> AT at lists.antique-tractor.com
>>> http://lists.antique-tractor.com/listinfo.cgi/at-antique-tractor.com
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> AT mailing list
>>> AT at lists.antique-tractor.com
>>> http://lists.antique-tractor.com/listinfo.cgi/at-antique-tractor.com
>>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> AT mailing list
>> AT at lists.antique-tractor.com
>> http://lists.antique-tractor.com/listinfo.cgi/at-antique-tractor.com
>>
>
>
> --
> --
>
> Francis Robinson
> aka "farmer"
> Central Indiana USA
> robinson46176 at gmail.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> AT mailing list
> AT at lists.antique-tractor.com
> http://lists.antique-tractor.com/listinfo.cgi/at-antique-tractor.com
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.antique-tractor.com/pipermail/at-antique-tractor.com/attachments/20190413/74ba08e4/attachment.htm>