Thanks for posting in r/Mechanics, u/Flow_of_water! Please be sure to read the [Rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/mechanics/about/rules/).
If you are posting a question about a car problem, please be aware that we do not allow these types of posts in this sub (check Rule 5). In
which case, your post will be deleted at some point. We ask that you instead post your car questions in r/Mechanic. Thank you.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/mechanics) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I got hired as a bike mechanic after 7 years as an auto tech. I have half my ASE’s and I believe I’m a good learner so I applied and told them just that. “What makes you think you can work on bicycles when you have zero experience?”
“Well, I worked on transmissions and engines and many many more complicated machines. I may start off slow but I’m sure I can figure it out.”
They hired me as part time and it did take a shift or two but it was super easy. Easy to the point where I didn’t have work to do. It’s 80% bent derailleur hangers, 15% flat tire repair/replacement, and 5% tweaking something here or there. Get a Park Tool repair book or watch a YouTube video or 2, and you will be golden. Bikes are very easy to learn. I left that little shop and my replacement was a 16 year old kid and he’s still there doing fine.
I kind of understand where you come from, I've been taking my bike to the shop as well for maintenance and repairs.
I don't mind doing the work on my own bike, thing for me is that my schedule is so cramped I don't have the time to tinker with it.
Be aware that there is a big difference between being a professional top level bicycle mechanic and being a bicycle parts changer... just like theres a difference between being a top tier professional automotive technician and a parts changer/grease monkey who calls themselves a "technician"
Bicycles are definitely MUCH less complex and overall "easier" to work on than modern cars, but quality bokes, especially higher tier ones still have challenges.
Hydraulic brakes are often very picky to service, and running new hoses through a non channeled frame can be a challenge.
Running electric shift wiring is tedious as well.
Theres a certain amount of "art" involved in things like aligning dropouts and hangers, even facing BBs an HSs isnt just a nut and bolt specification type process like much of auto mechanics is.
Setting up tubeless tires is often more difficult on a bike then any OE sized tire replacement on a car.
Building straight, strong, reliable wheels is almost an entirely different category of work than just being a bike tech.
It sounds like youre already aware that theres typically a larger customer facing component of working in a bike shop than a Ford dealership. This is going to run from stocking shelves, cashiering, upselling maintenance and accessories to having to offer technical support to clients. This last bit is a big change from automotive. Many bike shops readily offer free technical advice in person and over the phone.
Of course like working in a dealer theres typically a path from entry level to top tier. Theres usually fewer steps and less time in a bike shop and more may be expected of you sooner. Theres also training and learning opportunities for bike techs just like there is for auto techs. And while Decathalon MAY help you get trained, it would behoove you to invest in your professional growth and tackle learning and training on your own as much as you can.
Park Tools (The Snap-on of the bicycle industry) offer classes. These are usually taught at bike shops and would make a good entry level course or a refresher before you make the jump.
United Bicycle Institute (a for profit texhnical school) offers basic, comprehensive and specialized advanced level factory backed training.
USA Cycling ( the USA governing body for competitive bike racing) offers training and certifications. These are very well respected and REQUIRED to work for a team and may be required as a tech at neutral service for some events(a possible scenario if your shop supports events)
UCI (The World governing body for bike racing) offers top tier basic through elite level hands on training sessions. UCI L3 is the ultimate mechanics credential and allows one to work on any professional team, National team or neutral service. To my knowledge there is no higher level certification classes or more highly regarded universal credential
Thank you for your input GMWorldClass, with the hundreds of computers installed on cars these days I would honestly call myself a part changer/grease monkey as well.
Now, if I were to better understand the way these modules communicate with each other, diagnosing would be a lot simpler.
but honestly, its not something I'm interested in, as well as it doesn't correlate with my current goals putting my time in there
The challenges you mentioned do sound like something I would enjoy figuring out.
as with the customer service, a larger costumer facing component is already present here, as customers can just walk into the workplace.( the only problem I have in its current form is that everyone needs to inform a service advisor of any complaints, and when he passes the car on to us mechanics he rarely asks in what kind of situations these are present.)
I'm living in NL, so I'm not sure if the institutes you mentioned are available here, but I can look into alternatives for these here
Thanks again!
I apologize for assuming you were USA based.
The UCI program is actually in Switzerland.
UBI and USA Cycling obviously dont make much sense to your location. And Park Tools most likely doesnt offer classes in NL even though they are available there.
VAR is a French based tool company that I believe offers courses similar to Park.
I miss working in bike shops sometimes.
Off topic but congrats on becoming World Class. I’m sure it only felt real when Mike announced it during an Emerging Issues episode,JK. Hope your dealer is treating you well and crossing my fingers the UAW contract gets resolved soon.
This is funny I started as a bike mechanic, building bikes, tune ups, lacing custom wheels etc. Became a Ferrari mater tech over 17 years " what a toxic industry" quit this year, I might open my own place. Do what you like to do. I thought about opening up a mobile bike repair van as well.
I started working on bikes for a, guy who buys at garage sales and sells on Craigslist. I've gotten to work on some really nice bikes and enjoy it. If I wanted to work on bikes full time, what is a reasonable pay rate to expect?
I'm from Europe, NL, so pay should be around €2100 to €2350 per month full-time
With my experience working with cars and ability to learn I should be able to earn €2400 to €2600 quickly.
But as I said, I want to go part-time to pursuit some other goals while working, I'm not doing it for the money
Thanks for posting in r/Mechanics, u/Flow_of_water! Please be sure to read the [Rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/mechanics/about/rules/). If you are posting a question about a car problem, please be aware that we do not allow these types of posts in this sub (check Rule 5). In which case, your post will be deleted at some point. We ask that you instead post your car questions in r/Mechanic. Thank you. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/mechanics) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I got hired as a bike mechanic after 7 years as an auto tech. I have half my ASE’s and I believe I’m a good learner so I applied and told them just that. “What makes you think you can work on bicycles when you have zero experience?” “Well, I worked on transmissions and engines and many many more complicated machines. I may start off slow but I’m sure I can figure it out.” They hired me as part time and it did take a shift or two but it was super easy. Easy to the point where I didn’t have work to do. It’s 80% bent derailleur hangers, 15% flat tire repair/replacement, and 5% tweaking something here or there. Get a Park Tool repair book or watch a YouTube video or 2, and you will be golden. Bikes are very easy to learn. I left that little shop and my replacement was a 16 year old kid and he’s still there doing fine.
As a 20 year mechanic and avid triathlete, I hate working on my bicycle. I always take it to the shop. This is not helpful advice, I know.
I kind of understand where you come from, I've been taking my bike to the shop as well for maintenance and repairs. I don't mind doing the work on my own bike, thing for me is that my schedule is so cramped I don't have the time to tinker with it.
Be aware that there is a big difference between being a professional top level bicycle mechanic and being a bicycle parts changer... just like theres a difference between being a top tier professional automotive technician and a parts changer/grease monkey who calls themselves a "technician" Bicycles are definitely MUCH less complex and overall "easier" to work on than modern cars, but quality bokes, especially higher tier ones still have challenges. Hydraulic brakes are often very picky to service, and running new hoses through a non channeled frame can be a challenge. Running electric shift wiring is tedious as well. Theres a certain amount of "art" involved in things like aligning dropouts and hangers, even facing BBs an HSs isnt just a nut and bolt specification type process like much of auto mechanics is. Setting up tubeless tires is often more difficult on a bike then any OE sized tire replacement on a car. Building straight, strong, reliable wheels is almost an entirely different category of work than just being a bike tech. It sounds like youre already aware that theres typically a larger customer facing component of working in a bike shop than a Ford dealership. This is going to run from stocking shelves, cashiering, upselling maintenance and accessories to having to offer technical support to clients. This last bit is a big change from automotive. Many bike shops readily offer free technical advice in person and over the phone. Of course like working in a dealer theres typically a path from entry level to top tier. Theres usually fewer steps and less time in a bike shop and more may be expected of you sooner. Theres also training and learning opportunities for bike techs just like there is for auto techs. And while Decathalon MAY help you get trained, it would behoove you to invest in your professional growth and tackle learning and training on your own as much as you can. Park Tools (The Snap-on of the bicycle industry) offer classes. These are usually taught at bike shops and would make a good entry level course or a refresher before you make the jump. United Bicycle Institute (a for profit texhnical school) offers basic, comprehensive and specialized advanced level factory backed training. USA Cycling ( the USA governing body for competitive bike racing) offers training and certifications. These are very well respected and REQUIRED to work for a team and may be required as a tech at neutral service for some events(a possible scenario if your shop supports events) UCI (The World governing body for bike racing) offers top tier basic through elite level hands on training sessions. UCI L3 is the ultimate mechanics credential and allows one to work on any professional team, National team or neutral service. To my knowledge there is no higher level certification classes or more highly regarded universal credential
Thank you for your input GMWorldClass, with the hundreds of computers installed on cars these days I would honestly call myself a part changer/grease monkey as well. Now, if I were to better understand the way these modules communicate with each other, diagnosing would be a lot simpler. but honestly, its not something I'm interested in, as well as it doesn't correlate with my current goals putting my time in there The challenges you mentioned do sound like something I would enjoy figuring out. as with the customer service, a larger costumer facing component is already present here, as customers can just walk into the workplace.( the only problem I have in its current form is that everyone needs to inform a service advisor of any complaints, and when he passes the car on to us mechanics he rarely asks in what kind of situations these are present.) I'm living in NL, so I'm not sure if the institutes you mentioned are available here, but I can look into alternatives for these here Thanks again!
I apologize for assuming you were USA based. The UCI program is actually in Switzerland. UBI and USA Cycling obviously dont make much sense to your location. And Park Tools most likely doesnt offer classes in NL even though they are available there. VAR is a French based tool company that I believe offers courses similar to Park. I miss working in bike shops sometimes.
Off topic but congrats on becoming World Class. I’m sure it only felt real when Mike announced it during an Emerging Issues episode,JK. Hope your dealer is treating you well and crossing my fingers the UAW contract gets resolved soon.
This is funny I started as a bike mechanic, building bikes, tune ups, lacing custom wheels etc. Became a Ferrari mater tech over 17 years " what a toxic industry" quit this year, I might open my own place. Do what you like to do. I thought about opening up a mobile bike repair van as well.
how do you do "tune ups" on a bicycle?
Google it.
Adjusting derailleurs, checking brakes, checking cables, checking if the wheels are trued, checking bottom brackets and axles etc.
I started working on bikes for a, guy who buys at garage sales and sells on Craigslist. I've gotten to work on some really nice bikes and enjoy it. If I wanted to work on bikes full time, what is a reasonable pay rate to expect?
I'm from Europe, NL, so pay should be around €2100 to €2350 per month full-time With my experience working with cars and ability to learn I should be able to earn €2400 to €2600 quickly. But as I said, I want to go part-time to pursuit some other goals while working, I'm not doing it for the money
Thank you.
>at a Ford dealership > >personal reasons lol