[AT] OT Bicycle program

Sat Apr 13 20:23:44 PDT 2019

I always wanted to power a pond boat using a bicycle mechanism and a
propeller but I noticed all pedal powered boats use paddlewheels, so I just
bought a trolling motor and forgot about it.

I used to think a Raleigh three-speed bike rear hub was about a complicated
as a thing could get, that I could figure out, and I may have been right.
Those things worked like Chinese arithmetic.

As to balancing a spoked wheel- it is difficult but not impossible to do
without a college degree. We bent, loosened and broke bicycle spokes when
kids and replaced them, and I have balanced and trued MGB wire wheels well
enough to finish balance them with lead weights like any other tire. When
you are a kid with time to develop a "feel" for torque and tension, and can
pay attention to cause and effect of adjustments, you can learn a lot on
your own.

Warren

On Sat, Apr 13, 2019 at 10:17 PM Indiana Robinson <robinson46176 at gmail.com>
wrote:

> I've met a few but you are probably talking about bicycles instead.  :-)
> I know of Huffy bikes but not "Huffy men". Sounds like they might have
> been traveling mechanics?
> .
> Dragging old tractors into this... I am a little surprised that no one
> ever designed a bicycle crank mechanism into a starter system for an old
> hand crank tractor.
> There is an Amish shoe shop not far  from here that the last I knew was
> still using a big old Landis out-sole stitcher that was still driven by a
> set of bicycle pedals. The operator sat on the seat and pedaled it which
> would be tricky because guiding the shoe / boot takes about 3 hands itself.
>
>
> .
>
>
> .
>
> On Sat, Apr 13, 2019 at 8:42 PM Rena Glover Goss <rlgoss at twc.com> wrote:
>
>> 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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>
>
> --
> --
>
> Francis Robinson
> aka "farmer"
> Central Indiana USA
> robinson46176 at gmail.com
>
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