[AT] OT Bicycle program

Stephen Offiler soffiler at gmail.com
Sun Apr 14 08:30:43 PDT 2019


Excellent examples, Warren.  I've never had the "pleasure" of servicing a
3-speed hub, but I've seen the exploded parts diagrams.  No, thanks.  And
regarding spoked wheels, beyond truing ("balancing") I was referring to a
full replacement of the rim.  I've done many - I ride primarily offroad,
and it's a tough environment for these lightweight parts.  Getting all
those spokes in the right order is an exercise something like knitting or
weaving.

SO


On Sat, Apr 13, 2019 at 11:24 PM Mogrits <mogrits at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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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