#1
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Bicycle mechanic
The short of it: How difficult is it for somebody pushing 50 with
little experience assembling and repairing bicycles (aside from the occasional brake pad or derailluer cable) but with a sharp mind, good attitude and good mechanical aptitude to become a bicycle mechanic? And how/where does that person start? The long of it: About a year or so ago some friends and I were sitting around having beers and one of the topics that came up is what would you do differently if you could do it all over again? After some thought I said I would have become a bicycle mechanic or otherwise worked in the industry. I know it doesn't pay well but bicycling makes me happy and if I can pass along some of the joy, all the better. Well as things would have it it's looking more and more like the company I've worked for for the past 12 year is going to jettison me into the ranks of the unemployed. I wouldn't say money is no object but I've watched my dimes over the years so the significant pay cut I would take becoming a mechanic wouldn't be devastating. My biggest worry is getting up to speed. So many things you learn by seeing and doing that you just can't reproduce. So what say you all? Where to being? Is it doable? Would a shop even give me a second look? Thanks for your time “Find a job you love and you'll never work a day in your life.” - Confucius |
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#2
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Bicycle mechanic
On Jul 28, 3:09*am, -M- wrote:
The short of it: *How difficult is it for somebody pushing 50 with little experience assembling and repairing bicycles (aside from the occasional brake pad or derailluer cable) but with a sharp mind, good attitude and good mechanical aptitude to become a bicycle mechanic? And how/where does that person start? The long of it: *About a year or so ago some friends and I were sitting around having beers and one of the topics that came up is what would you do differently if you could do it all over again? *After some thought I said I would have become a bicycle mechanic or otherwise worked in the industry. *I know it doesn't pay well but bicycling makes me happy and if I can pass along some of the joy, all the better. *Well as things would have it it's looking more and more like the company I've worked for for the past 12 year is going to jettison me into the ranks of the unemployed. *I wouldn't say money is no object but I've watched my dimes over the years so the significant pay cut I would take becoming a mechanic wouldn't be devastating. * My biggest worry is getting up to speed. *So many things you learn by seeing and doing that you just can't reproduce. *So what say you all? * Where to being? *Is it doable? *Would a shop even give me a second look? *Thanks for your time “Find a job you love and you'll never work a day in your life.” - Confucius If it's something you truly want to do, you can do it. One step at a time. Start now. Good luck. I'd start by building up your toolbox and reading and practice with your own bike. Practice every day. Or almost every day. |
#3
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Bicycle mechanic
On Jul 28, 3:09*am, -M- wrote:
The short of it: *How difficult is it for somebody pushing 50 with little experience assembling and repairing bicycles (aside from the occasional brake pad or derailluer cable) but with a sharp mind, good attitude and good mechanical aptitude to become a bicycle mechanic? And how/where does that person start? The long of it: *About a year or so ago some friends and I were sitting around having beers and one of the topics that came up is what would you do differently if you could do it all over again? *After some thought I said I would have become a bicycle mechanic or otherwise worked in the industry. *I know it doesn't pay well but bicycling makes me happy and if I can pass along some of the joy, all the better. *Well as things would have it it's looking more and more like the company I've worked for for the past 12 year is going to jettison me into the ranks of the unemployed. *I wouldn't say money is no object but I've watched my dimes over the years so the significant pay cut I would take becoming a mechanic wouldn't be devastating. * My biggest worry is getting up to speed. *So many things you learn by seeing and doing that you just can't reproduce. *So what say you all? * Where to being? *Is it doable? *Would a shop even give me a second look? *Thanks for your time “Find a job you love and you'll never work a day in your life.” - Confucius sorry man, but i don't think you could even work for free in a shop; a shop needs a guy who's quick and nimble who's already up to speed= you haven't done anything, brake pads and derailer cables don't count. |
#4
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Bicycle mechanic
On Jul 28, 12:59*pm, raamman wrote:
On Jul 28, 3:09*am, -M- wrote: The short of it: *How difficult is it for somebody pushing 50 with little experience assembling and repairing bicycles (aside from the occasional brake pad or derailluer cable) but with a sharp mind, good attitude and good mechanical aptitude to become a bicycle mechanic? And how/where does that person start? The long of it: *About a year or so ago some friends and I were sitting around having beers and one of the topics that came up is what would you do differently if you could do it all over again? *After some thought I said I would have become a bicycle mechanic or otherwise worked in the industry. *I know it doesn't pay well but bicycling makes me happy and if I can pass along some of the joy, all the better. *Well as things would have it it's looking more and more like the company I've worked for for the past 12 year is going to jettison me into the ranks of the unemployed. *I wouldn't say money is no object but I've watched my dimes over the years so the significant pay cut I would take becoming a mechanic wouldn't be devastating. * My biggest worry is getting up to speed. *So many things you learn by seeing and doing that you just can't reproduce. *So what say you all? * Where to being? *Is it doable? *Would a shop even give me a second look? *Thanks for your time “Find a job you love and you'll never work a day in your life.” - Confucius sorry man, but i don't think you could even work for free in a shop; a shop needs a guy who's quick and nimble who's already up to speed= you haven't done anything, brake pads and derailer cables don't count. People can learn. Even old people. |
#5
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Bicycle mechanic
On Wed, 28 Jul 2010 09:01:15 -0700 (PDT), Jack
wrote: On Jul 28, 3:09*am, -M- wrote: The short of it: *How difficult is it for somebody pushing 50 with little experience assembling and repairing bicycles (aside from the occasional brake pad or derailluer cable) but with a sharp mind, good attitude and good mechanical aptitude to become a bicycle mechanic? And how/where does that person start? The long of it: *About a year or so ago some friends and I were sitting around having beers and one of the topics that came up is what would you do differently if you could do it all over again? *After some thought I said I would have become a bicycle mechanic or otherwise worked in the industry. *I know it doesn't pay well but bicycling makes me happy and if I can pass along some of the joy, all the better. *Well as things would have it it's looking more and more like the company I've worked for for the past 12 year is going to jettison me into the ranks of the unemployed. *I wouldn't say money is no object but I've watched my dimes over the years so the significant pay cut I would take becoming a mechanic wouldn't be devastating. * My biggest worry is getting up to speed. *So many things you learn by seeing and doing that you just can't reproduce. *So what say you all? * Where to being? *Is it doable? *Would a shop even give me a second look? *Thanks for your time “Find a job you love and you'll never work a day in your life.” - Confucius If it's something you truly want to do, you can do it. One step at a time. Start now. Good luck. I'd start by building up your toolbox and reading and practice with your own bike. Practice every day. Or almost every day. Given that the great majority of "bicycle mechanic-ing" is rudimentary there should be little or no problems in learning at least the basics of the profession. (I am excepting building frames from the discussion) and in fact a great deal of the "knowledge" is simply personal preference - do a search on chain lubrication for an example. Certainly a reasonably competent mechanically inclined person should have no problems picking up the trade. Cheers, Schweik (goodsoldierschweikatgmail) |
#6
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Bicycle mechanic
On 2010-07-28, -M- wrote:
The short of it: How difficult is it for somebody pushing 50 with little experience assembling and repairing bicycles (aside from the occasional brake pad or derailluer cable) but with a sharp mind, good attitude and good mechanical aptitude to become a bicycle mechanic? And how/where does that person start? The long of it: About a year or so ago some friends and I were sitting around having beers and one of the topics that came up is what would you do differently if you could do it all over again? After some thought I said I would have become a bicycle mechanic or otherwise worked in the industry. I know it doesn't pay well but bicycling makes me happy and if I can pass along some of the joy, all the better. Well, I've worked in the bicycle industry as a mechanic and in manufacturing and while I loved every minute of it (pretty much), I found I couldn't raise a family on what I was paid. I left the bicycle industry and now am a well paid professional outside of the bicycle industry and still enjoy riding. There are things I miss about working in the bicycle industry but the pay is not one of them. -- -John ) |
#7
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Bicycle mechanic
On Jul 28, 1:28*pm, Jack wrote:
People can learn. *Even old people.- I'm not doubting that- I am getting a bit long in the tooth too- but instead of getting his hopes high while it appears he may have to find another job, I think a reality bath is called for. Specifically, if he wants to become a bike mechanic then why hasn't he pursued said activities before ? it is like expressing a desire to become an artist or a writer in the future- if that is something you want to do, you'd be doing it. he'd have better chance becoming a bike courier than a mechanic I think ( there were a few white haired old guys I think 4-5, 60+ back in my day on the road). |
#8
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Bicycle mechanic
On Jul 29, 3:02*am, raamman wrote:
On Jul 28, 1:28*pm, Jack wrote: People can learn. *Even old people.- I'm not doubting that- I am getting a bit long in the tooth too- but instead of getting his hopes high while it appears he may have to find another job, I think a reality bath is called for. Specifically, if he wants to become a bike mechanic then why hasn't he pursued said activities before ? it is like expressing a desire to become an artist or a writer in the future- if that is something you want to do, you'd be doing it. he'd have better chance becoming a bike courier than a mechanic I think ( there were a few white haired old guys I think 4-5, 60+ back in my day on the road). Yeah. The future never comes. |
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