I was just curious. How many of y'all are or used to be bike mechanics? I am applying at the local shops tring to get a job as one and was wondering how y'all liked it.

Well, I'm kinda of surprised that this didn't get any responces but for those out there that are interested, I did in fact get a job as a mechanic at one of the local shops here. I let y'all know know hows its going here in a few days.

Been wrenching for a long time now. Its the perfect job for people who dont wanna get real jobs.

No replies I'm guess because it's posted in Retro, not in General or Components/Wrenching.

FWIW, I was the head mechanic at a LBS for 2 years. Regular mechanic for a few years before that. Great job. I liked the people I worked with and the customers I had. Doesn't pay the best, so I had to move on. Not really sure what else to say. haha. If you have any more questions I'll be glad to answer.

I was a full time bike mechanic from 86 to 93. Since 93 I'm on a part time basis. For me it was a great job because if I got tired of customers, I Went to the back and grabed a wrench, but if I was tired of wrenching, I went to the front to help customers.

Sure it's not the best pay in the world, but unlike a lot of other jobs you really have a lot of ways to create your own worth, and create some real job security if your a cyclist at heart. What I mean is if you promote rides races, and create a sense of community at the bike shop, you can command more from your position.

Ive been doing it for 19 years now both full and part time. I love the work. I also love older parts, and classic races and such. Talking to customres is the best part, even the annoying ones. LOL LOL LOL

Right now i only work 30 hours a week, but it is some of the best time of my week.

Bill

Been wrenching for a long time now. Its the perfect job for people who dont wanna get real jobs.

This is kind of what I was thinking it was going to be. I tried college this year to try and appease everyone who said I need to do something with my life. I went for 2 weeks, hated the insane amounts of BS that must wade through to get a degree and dropped out.
So I thought mabey there will be a way to make a carear out bikes. I understand that I am not going to make great money but, I think I will be happy. And really isn't that what counts.

This is kind of what I was thinking it was going to be. I tried college this year to try and appease everyone who said I need to do something with my life. I went for 2 weeks, hated the insane amounts of BS that must wade through to get a degree and dropped out.
So I thought mabey there will be a way to make a carear out bikes. I understand that I am not going to make great money but, I think I will be happy. And really isn't that what counts.

Getting a real job, and getting a real life are not synonomous. Just because people say you don't have a real job (In my case it was my Mom), doesn't mean you don't have a real life.

My Mom thought I should have been an engineer (Real Job), and my idea of becoming a computer tech/programmer was a dead end idea because computers were a fad. (1986). I got that engineering degree while working at the bike shop, but I don't use it.

Follow your heart. In high school I used to stay late and create games with this guy in the computer lab. But my Mom told me Computers were a fad so I quit. While John had x10 the brain capacity as I did. Whow knows where this path would have lead.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_D._Carmack

can you say "FAIL"?

Yeah I start in a week. I am going to start off on the floor selling things, then make my way into the shop when a position becomes avalible. I am going to have to develop a love for the newer road bikes if I am going to be selling them though. Mabey a few rides on the Orbea's and Lemonds in there will help change my mind about newer bikes. :-)

oh man. i've had wrenches I've hired (i like to say I mentored or guided :p... but I think that gives me WAY too much credit) move on to bigger things like going on to become team mechanics.

I can easily say they love their job/life. if you need some help, just ask. I think experience goes pretty deep on this board.

Yeah I start in a week. I am going to start off on the floor selling things, then make my way into the shop when a position becomes avalible. I am going to have to develop a love for the newer road bikes if I am going to be selling them though. Mabey a few rides on the Orbea's and Lemonds in there will help change my mind about newer bikes. :-)One thing about the 'New" bikes is you have to know every bicycle from every manufacture because they don't put complete groups on bikes anymore. For example 105 shifters and front deraileur, Ultegra rear deraileur, FSA crankarms, or are they Truvative. The thing is you just can't go over to a bike, see a 105, or ultegra crankarm and assume to know all the components on the bike.

You'll get a lot more respect from the employees at the shop and customers if, when you don't know something you ask for help. I have to ***** out my high school floor sweeper when he starts pretending like he knows things with customers, it gives the shop a bad rap. I've been working in shops since I was 16 and a decade later I still don't know everything.
Be humble, ask and learn.

...Follow your heart. In high school I used to stay late and create games with this guy in the computer lab. But my Mom told me Computers were a fad so I quit. While John had x10 the brain capacity as I did. Whow knows where this path would have lead.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_D._Carmack

can you say "FAIL"?

Quake? Doom? Nobody plays those dumb old games anymore!





:cryin: Total lie, but I was hoping that would make you feel a little better. :)

Thanks guys. Your all making me think I made the right decision.

Can be fun. I worked as a part time and summer mechanic all through college. Then moved on to making frames. Fun stuff. I don't trust the setup on any bicycle, so I end up going through anything my family gets from the ground up. I get calls from a local shop sometimes asking if I have this or that retro tool. Which I might - there's a vintage Campy toolset in the shed!

One tip. If pro bikes are around, really really look at them very hard. Look for tricks & tips in the subtle things. Can learn a bunch.

I have over a decade as a shop wrench, Barnett's training in 98, Owned my own store for three years, still work out of the garage shop on plenty of regulars and friends rides. Mostly building wheels, and strange repairs that no one else likes.

I have been working at a shop for about a month now. At first it wasn't too bad then the weather got nice and it was horrible. It is a little better now, but the pay sucks. I was seriously making more money being unemployed.

Don't wanna sound like your Dad (and I'm likely old enough to qualify) but the right education opens doors, not closes them. I worked several years through college in a shop, then did a Summer as a semi-volunteer (read: slave) mechanic for a top level amateur team, and ended up hating it. It's different when you don't have the option to walk away from the not-so-fun parts. You rarely see pro wrenches at races or events or even group rides unless they have an apron on, they get busy precisely when everyone's riding. Of course there's exceptions but this takes time to work out. Sometimes the very thing you love most can get ruined when you have to make a living at it. How many crappy Giant hybrids do you want to assemble in a week? How many gorgeous Saturday mornings do you want to be stuck in a cramped space with no window sniffing lube fumes? Or as a pro team wrench, how does sleepless nights in the back of a panel van sound? Or a 24 yr old prima dona racer screaming about the wrong gear cluster you set up, (at his request)? Maybe instead you wanna be a custom builder? Go to the frameforum and ask those guys for a reality check. Getting a degree doesn't mean you give up bike biz dreams, it makes it easier, and gives you options. A guy I used to ride with raced at an elite level through school, got a engineering degree, and is now Director of R&D for Cannondale- not a bad life.

Don't wanna sound like your Dad (and I'm likely old enough to qualify) but the right education opens doors, not closes them. I worked several years through college in a shop, then did a Summer as a semi-volunteer (read: slave) mechanic for a top level amateur team, and ended up hating it. It's different when you don't have the option to walk away from the not-so-fun parts. You rarely see pro wrenches at races or events or even group rides unless they have an apron on, they get busy precisely when everyone's riding. Of course there's exceptions but this takes time to work out. Sometimes the very thing you love most can get ruined when you have to make a living at it. How many crappy Giant hybrids do you want to assemble in a week? How many gorgeous Saturday mornings do you want to be stuck in a cramped space with no window sniffing lube fumes? Or as a pro team wrench, how does sleepless nights in the back of a panel van sound? Or a 24 yr old prima dona racer screaming about the wrong gear cluster you set up, (at his request)? Maybe instead you wanna be a custom builder? Go to the frameforum and ask those guys for a reality check. Getting a degree doesn't mean you give up bike biz dreams, it makes it easier, and gives you options. A guy I used to ride with raced at an elite level through school, got a engineering degree, and is now Director of R&D for Cannondale- not a bad life.

See but heres the thing. I can not deal with school at all. I'm just not one of those people. Its not that I am not smart, actually its quite the opposite. The first test this i took this year before I dropped out, I scored the highest in my class with a 100 on an 80 question multiple guess test. That waws after studing for 2 hours. This is with kids who had just graduated high school and were still used the whole school thing. I haven't been in school since 2002.

What my deal is is that I can't be forced to learn things that I don't want to learn. Why I need to take art apperication for a degree in political science is just retarted. And I can't look past that. Trust me your not saying anything I haven't heard before. My extended family is very succesful. They are laweryers, teachers, researchers, deputy mayor of New York City(Not kidding), Contractors, etc., etc. But you know what the one Aunt and Uncle look up to the most live in Utah at the base of Snowbird and Alta. They are just ski bums that work at the mountain to earn their wages. Its not much to a lot of peoplebut they get to live thier dream every day instead of taking a vacation to do it.

Also I learn at alarming rates if it is something that i am truly interested in . I have only been biking seriously for a year and half now, but I already know more about bikes then majority of the people that I ride with who are much more expierenced. i'm talking about people who have been riding since the early eightys. I'm not trying to sound like I'm bragging, its just the way I am. So instead of trying to grind thorugh school I'm gonna take the only thing that I actually want to learn and try to make a carear out of it.

how do you guys work for a long time if you're not making much money?

Well I have been working at the shop for the past couple of days and I must say I have learned more about bikes in that short time than I have the entire time I have been biking.

I did one day on the floor doing random crap that needed to be done. About halfway through the day the service manger said that I would be starting in the shop the next day. Since then i have assembled four bikes and done a couple of small repairs. Its been fun and the people I work with all have good attitudes and good sences of humor. ohh yeah i also got to ride the service managers '09 Orbea Orca with full dura-ace componets. It was sick. Mabey I may end up getting one of these new fangled bikes after all. And no, it really is an '09.

Much of life, in a shop, on a team, in an office, or even as a ski bum involves putting up with BS that others insist you do. Rules are not there to limit us, they are usually there to protect us. Music appreciation, etc. makes people broader and more conversant with others with whom they otherwise may have nothing in common - not a bad trait at all. The opposite is the know-it-all that doesn't know what he doesn't know.
These challenges are just life and IMO enjoying life is how you manage the "BS" - not how much you can avoid it.
I submit you can do it all. It took me dropping out several times before I got serious and started getting 4.0s. Work where you want but don't set your goals low. It can all contribute to making you a better "bike guy."
JMO