Mechanical engineers in bike industry

Hi all,

As a student in mechanical engineering, a lover of all things bicycle
related, an avid cyclist and an ex-bike messenger, I have often
wondered whether mechanical engineers are employed in the bike
industry.

I've done a little research on this issue in the past, and I didn't
come up with a very positive answer at the time. My initial research
suggested that for the most part, bicycle frame and component design
is conducted mostly by non-engineers. Although this didn't altogether
surprise me, I imagine that companies with as much clout as Shimano
and Campy, for instance, would employ mechanical engineers. Surely
there must be others! Am I mislead?

The overall purpose of this post is to start a discussion on the
possible career avenues for a (soon-to-be) mech engineer who would
love nothing more than to employ his engineering skills in the bike
industry in some way or form.

Bring on the feedback!

Mike

"Mike V" wrote in message
om...
Hi all,

As a student in mechanical engineering, a lover of all things bicycle
related, an avid cyclist and an ex-bike messenger, I have often
wondered whether mechanical engineers are employed in the bike
industry.

I've done a little research on this issue in the past, and I didn't
come up with a very positive answer at the time. My initial research
suggested that for the most part, bicycle frame and component design
is conducted mostly by non-engineers. Although this didn't altogether
surprise me, I imagine that companies with as much clout as Shimano
and Campy, for instance, would employ mechanical engineers. Surely
there must be others! Am I mislead?

The overall purpose of this post is to start a discussion on the
possible career avenues for a (soon-to-be) mech engineer who would
love nothing more than to employ his engineering skills in the bike
industry in some way or form.

Bring on the feedback!

Mike

I am a part-time engineering faculty member and have been for 20+ years. I
have had ME students of mine go to work for bicycle companies. They seem to
go more into project management and production rather than research and
development. There is also testing and quality control. As an example, check
the jobs at Specialized:

http://www.specialized.com/sbcJobs.jsp

One of my students who graduated a year ago went to work for a small
carbon-fiber frame maker and seems quite happy.

Learn as much AutoCAD as you can. Contact personnel departments and find out
what they are looking for.

(Mike V) writes:

The overall purpose of this post is to start a discussion on the
possible career avenues for a (soon-to-be) mech engineer who would
love nothing more than to employ his engineering skills in the bike
industry in some way or form.

I think that SRAM of any company that makes CNC equipment probably has
mechanical engineers on staff. This would be most of the domestic
parts producers, e.g. american classic, hope, paul, etc. John
Castellano, ex-ibis frame designer, and schwinn sweet-spot suspension
designers is now running his own shop (www.castellanodesigns.com) and
is definitely a mechanical engineer, MIT class of 1980. As was Gary
Klein (MIT ~1976.)

- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA

(Mike V) writes:

The overall purpose of this post is to start a discussion on the
possible career avenues for a (soon-to-be) mech engineer who would
love nothing more than to employ his engineering skills in the bike
industry in some way or form.

I think that SRAM and also any company that makes CNC equipment
probably has mechanical engineers on staff. This would be most of the
domestic parts producers, e.g. american classic, hope, paul, etc.

John Castellano, ex-ibis frame designer, and schwinn sweet-spot
suspension designers is now running his own shop
(www.castellanodesigns.com) and is definitely a mechanical engineer,
MIT class of 1980. As was Gary Klein (MIT ~1976.)

- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA

(Mike V) writes:

The overall purpose of this post is to start a discussion on the
possible career avenues for a (soon-to-be) mech engineer who would
love nothing more than to employ his engineering skills in the bike
industry in some way or form.

I think that SRAM and also any company that makes CNC equipment
probably has mechanical engineers on staff. This would be most of the
domestic parts producers, e.g. american classic, hope, paul, etc.

John Castellano, ex-ibis frame designer, and schwinn sweet-spot
suspension designer, is running his own shop
(www.castellanodesigns.com) and is definitely a mechanical engineer,
MIT class of 1980. As is Gary Klein (MIT ~1976.)

- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA

My recommendation is to AVOID working in the industry if you love bikes. . .
once it becomes about money, the love can too easily be lost. . .

I've been there and my youthful, naive enthusiasm was quickly squashed by
the need to be profitable. I got about 7 or 8 years of "love" before the
money-motive turned that into utter hatred of the thing. Riding was not an
option; work was everything.

Find an industry where you can put your education to good use but won't put
your love of cycling at risk. Ride because you love it, work because you
have to. . . and never the 'twain shall meet. . .



"Mike V" wrote in message
om...
Hi all,

As a student in mechanical engineering, a lover of all things bicycle
related, an avid cyclist and an ex-bike messenger, I have often
wondered whether mechanical engineers are employed in the bike
industry.

I've done a little research on this issue in the past, and I didn't
come up with a very positive answer at the time. My initial research
suggested that for the most part, bicycle frame and component design
is conducted mostly by non-engineers. Although this didn't altogether
surprise me, I imagine that companies with as much clout as Shimano
and Campy, for instance, would employ mechanical engineers. Surely
there must be others! Am I mislead?

The overall purpose of this post is to start a discussion on the
possible career avenues for a (soon-to-be) mech engineer who would
love nothing more than to employ his engineering skills in the bike
industry in some way or form.

Bring on the feedback!

Mike

Sven Longren wrote:
My recommendation is to AVOID working in the industry if you love bikes. . .
once it becomes about money, the love can too easily be lost. . .

I've been there and my youthful, naive enthusiasm was quickly squashed by
the need to be profitable. I got about 7 or 8 years of "love" before the
money-motive turned that into utter hatred of the thing. Riding was not an
option; work was everything.

Find an industry where you can put your education to good use but won't put
your love of cycling at risk. Ride because you love it, work because you
have to. . . and never the 'twain shall meet. . .

you said it!!!




"Mike V" wrote in message
om...

Hi all,

As a student in mechanical engineering, a lover of all things bicycle
related, an avid cyclist and an ex-bike messenger, I have often
wondered whether mechanical engineers are employed in the bike
industry.

I've done a little research on this issue in the past, and I didn't
come up with a very positive answer at the time. My initial research
suggested that for the most part, bicycle frame and component design
is conducted mostly by non-engineers. Although this didn't altogether
surprise me, I imagine that companies with as much clout as Shimano
and Campy, for instance, would employ mechanical engineers. Surely
there must be others! Am I mislead?

The overall purpose of this post is to start a discussion on the
possible career avenues for a (soon-to-be) mech engineer who would
love nothing more than to employ his engineering skills in the bike
industry in some way or form.

Bring on the feedback!

Mike

Mike Vers writes:

As a student in mechanical engineering, a lover of all things
bicycle related, an avid cyclist and an ex-bike messenger, I have
often wondered whether mechanical engineers are employed in the bike
industry.

I've done a little research on this issue in the past, and I didn't
come up with a very positive answer at the time. My initial
research suggested that for the most part, bicycle frame and
component design is conducted mostly by non-engineers. Although
this didn't altogether surprise me, I imagine that companies with as
much clout as Shimano and Campy, for instance, would employ
mechanical engineers. Surely there must be others! Am I mislead?

The overall purpose of this post is to start a discussion on the
possible career avenues for a (soon-to-be) mech engineer who would
love nothing more than to employ his engineering skills in the bike
industry in some way or form.

You need to make a living and the bicycle industry is mainly a
marketing business and rarely a technical one. Most of the equipment
at the top of the market is fluff and plays on the wishful thinking of
bicyclists who think they will become or be recognized as a great
"gladiator" as out athletic heroes are. The equipment has little to
do with athletic success and more to do with "my stuff is more exotic
than yours" attitude. $100+ plastic sun glasses that look asinine are
probably the most visible aspect of high tech bicycling.

Ride bike and enjoy it while following an engineering career. I have
had many interesting challenges and successes in various mechanical
engineering jobs, none related to bicycles. That doesn't mean you
cannot have an influence, but don't put your career into it unless you
have a special venue to do so. Some of the best, like Tom Ritchey,
are not engineering school graduates but came up as bicycle racers who
built their own equipment. If you read about his work, you'll see it
isn't easy in a world of Campagnolo, Shimano, Trek, and many more.
Even they are in many cases beholden to marketing powers.

Take for instance BB design. Only Shimano seems to recognize the
weakness of the whole assembly in crank attachment, bearing
reliability and material problems. Meanwhile they wander through a
maze of possibilities and mechanical nightmares. There are real
problems in that assembly that are not being addressed by others and
Shimano is still kicking at it. Pedal attachment is still an
untouched subject. Note how long the threadless steertube has taken
to arrive.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/t...s-headset.html

Typically, the annual InterBike trade show reveals what has been
achieved in the last year or so and there isn't much, even though it's
a huge trade show, this year bigger than ever. I saw no conspicuous
advances this year.

Jobst Brandt

"Dan" wrote in message
...

"Mike V" wrote in message
om...
Hi all,

As a student in mechanical engineering, a lover of all things
bicycle
related, an avid cyclist and an ex-bike messenger, I have
often
wondered whether mechanical engineers are employed in the
bike
industry.

I've done a little research on this issue in the past, and I
didn't
come up with a very positive answer at the time. My initial
research
suggested that for the most part, bicycle frame and component
design
is conducted mostly by non-engineers. Although this didn't
altogether
surprise me, I imagine that companies with as much clout as
Shimano
and Campy, for instance, would employ mechanical engineers.
Surely
there must be others! Am I mislead?

The overall purpose of this post is to start a discussion on
the
possible career avenues for a (soon-to-be) mech engineer who
would
love nothing more than to employ his engineering skills in
the bike
industry in some way or form.

Bring on the feedback!

Mike

I am a part-time engineering faculty member and have been for
20+ years. I
have had ME students of mine go to work for bicycle companies.
They seem to
go more into project management and production rather than
research and
development. There is also testing and quality control. As an
example, check
the jobs at Specialized:

http://www.specialized.com/sbcJobs.jsp

One of my students who graduated a year ago went to work for a
small
carbon-fiber frame maker and seems quite happy.

Learn as much AutoCAD as you can. Contact personnel departments
and find out
what they are looking for.

I would look at Trek, too. There are also a number of private
design firms that do work for smaller operations. My buddy was a
mechanical engineer for a design firm that did a lot of work for
a fledgling bicycle manufacturer. -- Jay Beattie.

Thanks for the feedback Dan. Some replies below...

I am a part-time engineering faculty member and have been for 20+ years. I
have had ME students of mine go to work for bicycle companies.

I'm assuming some of the bigger guys like Trek, Specialized,
Cannondale, Shimano etc will hire mech engineers. Any idea what
companies your mech eng students were getting into? Since you've
offered up some info I won't hesitate to pick your brain a little )

They seem to
go more into project management and production rather than research and
development.

I'm not surprised at that.

There is also testing and quality control. As an example, check
the jobs at Specialized:

http://www.specialized.com/sbcJobs.jsp

Interesting. I'm definitely looking into this. Thanks.

Learn as much AutoCAD as you can. Contact personnel departments and find out
what they are looking for.

That has been my strategy so far. In terms of software skills I
believe ProEngineer will come in handy as well. Comments are welcome.

What's dissapointing is the total lack of AutoCAD and ProEngineer
training in my university curriculum. It means I have to teach myself
these skills and packages in my free time. Either way, your feedback
has been duly noted. Thanks!

Mike