[AT] OT Bicycle program

Sun Apr 14 10:33:47 PDT 2019

Although I never became a mechanic, I sure tore all that stuff apart and
figured out how it worked (and how to put it back together!!) by the time I
was 10-12 or so! Coaster brakes, New Departure and Bendix, totally
different designs. And then I graduated to the 3-speed, with it's 3 little
gears inside, etc.  Man, that was a loooong time ago!

On Sun, Apr 14, 2019 at 10:31 AM Stephen Offiler <soffiler at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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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>>>> > >
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>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> --
>>>
>>> Francis Robinson
>>> aka "farmer"
>>> Central Indiana USA
>>> robinson46176 at gmail.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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-- 
Gene
Kenneth Gene Waugh
Elgin, Illinois
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