[AT] OT Bicycle program

[Rena Glover Goss]

Hey farmer!  do you remember Huffy Men?

Larry
---- 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.
> >
> >
> >
> >
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