[AT] OT Bicycle program

Sun Apr 14 17:44:24 PDT 2019

You got it right, Farmer.  Huffy men were itinerant mechanics who assembled Huffy bicycles.  As the product line of the company expanded, their duties did likewise.  I don't know when they stopped this "service", but I suspect it was long before my time.  I was told this history by an "old" salesman at the Case-IH dealership where both of us worked.  I was 64 at the time, and he was somewhere in his 80's.

Larry
---- 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