<div dir="ltr"><div>Not if you plow with one... :-)</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>.<br></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Sat, Apr 13, 2019 at 7:21 AM Stephen Offiler <<a href="mailto:soffiler@gmail.com">soffiler@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr"><div>Hi Brian:</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">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: <a href="https://www.parktool.com/category/tools" target="_blank">https://www.parktool.com/category/tools</a></div><div><br></div><div>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.</div><div><br></div><div>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.</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">With apologies to the list because we are WAY WAY off the antique tractor topic.<br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div>Steve O.</div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Fri, Apr 12, 2019 at 6:05 PM Brian VanDragt <<a href="mailto:bvandragt@comcast.net" target="_blank">bvandragt@comcast.net</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><u></u>
<div><p style="font-size:12pt;font-family:helvetica,arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51)">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.</p><p style="font-size:12pt;font-family:helvetica,arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51)">Brian</p><blockquote type="cite">On April 12, 2019 at 5:33 PM Stephen Offiler <<a href="mailto:soffiler@gmail.com" target="_blank">soffiler@gmail.com</a>> wrote: <br> <br><div dir="ltr">I suppose you're kidding, Brian?<div><br></div><div>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.</div><div><br></div><div>SO</div><div><br></div></div><br><div class="gmail-m_5205223102779796162gmail-m_193582503074563682ox-e4ca2d302c-gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail-m_5205223102779796162gmail-m_193582503074563682ox-e4ca2d302c-gmail_attr">On Fri, Apr 12, 2019 at 2:36 PM Brian VanDragt < <a href="mailto:bvandragt@comcast.net" target="_blank">bvandragt@comcast.net</a>> wrote: <br></div><blockquote><u></u><div><p style="font-size:12pt;font-family:helvetica,arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51)">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?</p><p style="font-size:12pt;font-family:helvetica,arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51)">Brian</p><blockquote type="cite">On April 12, 2019 at 1:35 PM James Peck < <a href="mailto:jamesgpeck@hotmail.com" rel="noopener" target="_blank">jamesgpeck@hotmail.com</a>> wrote: <br> <br><div class="gmail-m_5205223102779796162gmail-m_193582503074563682ox-e4ca2d302c-gmail-m_-1721880925367079239ox-7e95d01636-WordSection1"><p class="gmail-m_5205223102779796162gmail-m_193582503074563682ox-e4ca2d302c-gmail-m_-1721880925367079239ox-7e95d01636-MsoNormal">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.</p><p class="gmail-m_5205223102779796162gmail-m_193582503074563682ox-e4ca2d302c-gmail-m_-1721880925367079239ox-7e95d01636-MsoNormal"> </p><p class="gmail-m_5205223102779796162gmail-m_193582503074563682ox-e4ca2d302c-gmail-m_-1721880925367079239ox-7e95d01636-MsoNormal"><a href="https://forums.mtbr.com/tooltime/highest-regarded-bike-mechanic-school-north-america-827055.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">https://forums.mtbr.com/tooltime/highest-regarded-bike-mechanic-school-north-america-827055.html</a></p><p class="gmail-m_5205223102779796162gmail-m_193582503074563682ox-e4ca2d302c-gmail-m_-1721880925367079239ox-7e95d01636-MsoNormal"> </p><p class="gmail-m_5205223102779796162gmail-m_193582503074563682ox-e4ca2d302c-gmail-m_-1721880925367079239ox-7e95d01636-MsoNormal">The recently exposed college admissions cheating scandal is possible because once admitted, the overrated students will get good enough grades to graduate.</p><p class="gmail-m_5205223102779796162gmail-m_193582503074563682ox-e4ca2d302c-gmail-m_-1721880925367079239ox-7e95d01636-MsoNormal"> </p><p class="gmail-m_5205223102779796162gmail-m_193582503074563682ox-e4ca2d302c-gmail-m_-1721880925367079239ox-7e95d01636-MsoNormal">[Stephen]There is no such thing as an Associate Degree in Bicycle Mechanics.</p><div><p class="gmail-m_5205223102779796162gmail-m_193582503074563682ox-e4ca2d302c-gmail-m_-1721880925367079239ox-7e95d01636-MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="gmail-m_5205223102779796162gmail-m_193582503074563682ox-e4ca2d302c-gmail-m_-1721880925367079239ox-7e95d01636-MsoNormal">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. </p></div></div></blockquote><p style="font-size:12pt;font-family:helvetica,arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51)" class="gmail-m_5205223102779796162gmail-m_193582503074563682ox-e4ca2d302c-gmail-m_-1721880925367079239default-style"><br> </p><blockquote type="cite">_______________________________________________ <br>AT mailing list <br> <a href="mailto:AT@lists.antique-tractor.com" rel="noopener" target="_blank">AT@lists.antique-tractor.com</a> <br> <a href="http://lists.antique-tractor.com/listinfo.cgi/at-antique-tractor.com" rel="noopener" target="_blank">http://lists.antique-tractor.com/listinfo.cgi/at-antique-tractor.com</a> <br></blockquote><p style="font-size:12pt;font-family:helvetica,arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51)" class="gmail-m_5205223102779796162gmail-m_193582503074563682ox-e4ca2d302c-gmail-m_-1721880925367079239default-style"><br> </p></div>_______________________________________________ <br> AT mailing list <br> <a href="mailto:AT@lists.antique-tractor.com" rel="noopener" target="_blank">AT@lists.antique-tractor.com</a> <br> <a href="http://lists.antique-tractor.com/listinfo.cgi/at-antique-tractor.com" rel="noopener" target="_blank">http://lists.antique-tractor.com/listinfo.cgi/at-antique-tractor.com</a> <br></blockquote></div>_______________________________________________ <br>AT mailing list <br><a href="mailto:AT@lists.antique-tractor.com" target="_blank">AT@lists.antique-tractor.com</a> <br><a href="http://lists.antique-tractor.com/listinfo.cgi/at-antique-tractor.com" target="_blank">http://lists.antique-tractor.com/listinfo.cgi/at-antique-tractor.com</a> <br></blockquote></div>
_______________________________________________<br>
AT mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:AT@lists.antique-tractor.com" target="_blank">AT@lists.antique-tractor.com</a><br>
<a href="http://lists.antique-tractor.com/listinfo.cgi/at-antique-tractor.com" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://lists.antique-tractor.com/listinfo.cgi/at-antique-tractor.com</a><br>
</blockquote></div></div>
_______________________________________________<br>
AT mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:AT@lists.antique-tractor.com" target="_blank">AT@lists.antique-tractor.com</a><br>
<a href="http://lists.antique-tractor.com/listinfo.cgi/at-antique-tractor.com" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://lists.antique-tractor.com/listinfo.cgi/at-antique-tractor.com</a><br>
</blockquote></div><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div>-- <br><br>Francis Robinson<br>aka "farmer"<br>Central Indiana USA<br><a href="mailto:robinson46176@gmail.com" target="_blank">robinson46176@gmail.com</a><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br></div></div></div>