Bike Mechanic

[onzatrip]

right im realy interested in becoming a bike mechanic and just wandering did those of you that are already mechanics did you do any trianing and how did you come across the job?

already searched google and only found corse that cost like 700 quid is thaT people on here did?

would love some help

thanks alot

tris xx

[Luke_zoo]

Push bike? just go into the shop and ask for a job!

Motor bike, you have to go to college like i'm doing mechanic at college so i can work on cars and bikes.

If college you need : (to get in lol)

Entry 3 maths or levle 1 maths

Entry 3 english or levle 1, 2 depends on your grade!

and then you start there.

[onzatrip]

already doing a mechanic job at college which i finsh in like 2 weeks sorta need to sort something out for next year

and i realy dont think its that easy i dont just want to sell things want to be involved with all of it

[Luke_zoo]

already doing a mechanic job at college which i finsh in like 2 weeks sorta need to sort something out for next year

and i realy dont think its that easy i dont just want to sell things want to be involved with all of it

I'm going back for another 3 years lol!

But yeah jus aplly your self around ect... work form home maybe if you have the cash...

[onzatrip]

I'm going back for another 3 years lol!

But yeah jus aplly your self around ect... work form home maybe if you have the cash...

yeah i dont need to

and yeah apply can only realy put trials as a hobbie and what it invovles

dont have cash thats why i need a job could start some sort of bike work from home but i dont think where im from many people will acually pay me to fix there bikes

[Luke_zoo]

yeah i dont need to

and yeah apply can only realy put trials as a hobbie and what it invovles

dont have cash thats why i need a job could start some sort of bike work from home but i dont think where im from many people will acually pay me to fix there bikes

well just try your lbs for motorbikes tell them you have done this and that at college for mechanic maybe ask for like a 2 week trial, then if they like you they will probs ask you to work for them... thats what it's like round my area.

[onzatrip]

yeah i get what you mean has anyone had experience with this??

thanks

tris xx

[adamtrials]

To try and get the ball rolling I'd make some airline style baggage labels saying "_____ bike repair", cheap prices etc, then go round town attaching them around the top tube of knackered looking bikes.

Then obviously go round local shops seeing if they need any help.

I'd suggest training to be another kind of mechanic though while you're doing your part time cycle repairs, the money is so much better.

[onzatrip]

To try and get the ball rolling I'd make some airline style baggage labels saying "_____ bike repair", cheap prices etc, then go round town attaching them around the top tube of knackered looking bikes.

Then obviously go round local shops seeing if they need any help.

I'd suggest training to be another kind of mechanic though while you're doing your part time cycle repairs, the money is so much better.

cheers yeah the money side of it is questionable but aslong as im living decent i realy dont mind aslong as i can live off the money

thats why ive done motor vehicle mechanics and just id rather do something i enjoy alot more

[Pashley26]

I've had 4 "bike shop" jobs, and you'll never "just be a mechanic".

Naturally being a mechanic your working on live jobs, so you won't be a full time mechanic straight from the off because the risk is too high. The oldest and best workers normally get that title, so just do what I do and go round bike shops asking for work then once you've got a job you'll pick up what you want to do. Bike shops are a great place to work because there so friendly, and you can do lots of different roles. If I'm bored one day I'll clean down the bikes and shuffle about the clothes, or if I'm feeling cheery and fancy talking to people I'll go sell a few bikes.

Make yourself smart, write up a CV and stuff and then go round with your bike (if it's good enough) and show them what you can do and what you can offer to the team.

[onzatrip]

I've had 4 "bike shop" jobs, and you'll never "just be a mechanic".

Naturally being a mechanic your working on live jobs, so you won't be a full time mechanic straight from the off because the risk is too high. The oldest and best workers normally get that title, so just do what I do and go round bike shops asking for work then once you've got a job you'll pick up what you want to do. Bike shops are a great place to work because there so friendly, and you can do lots of different roles. If I'm bored one day I'll clean down the bikes and shuffle about the clothes, or if I'm feeling cheery and fancy talking to people I'll go sell a few bikes.

Make yourself smart, write up a CV and stuff and then go round with your bike (if it's good enough) and show them what you can do and what you can offer to the team.

thanks mate i can do that sounds like a plan just got a new bike so its all good there and and what do you mean show them what trials is about and how i go about doing it?? and by what i can offer to the team just blag what im good at eg being friendly etc etc ??

thanks

tris

[Pashley26]

thanks mate i can do that sounds like a plan just got a new bike so its all good there and and what do you mean show them what trials is about and how i go about doing it?? and by what i can offer to the team just blag what im good at eg being friendly etc etc ??

thanks

tris

Pretty much

I just turned up and had a chat with the boss, told him all about me and who I was. Told him I was used to working in high end shops and I was well routined and understood what it takes to work in a bike shop. Slagging off Hot Wheels' appalling service and lack of stock always goes down well because it shows you have a clue

I filled my CV with posh shit like "using analytical skills to up-sell product ranges" and stuff like that and bobs your uncle fanny's your aunt I had another job

[onzatrip]

Pretty much

I just turned up and had a chat with the boss, told him all about me and who I was. Told him I was used to working in high end shops and I was well routined and understood what it takes to work in a bike shop. Slagging off Hot Wheels' appalling service and lack of stock always goes down well because it shows you have a clue

I filled my CV with posh shit like "using analytical skills to up-sell product ranges" and stuff like that and bobs your uncle fanny's your aunt I had another job

so i could chat with a manger tell him who i am and what i can do tell him where ive worked before so can transfer the skills and slag off another bike shop to show that i have a clue whats going on in the type of enviroment that the bikes are in.

and up-selling shit etc is easy im working in a 4 star hotel as a waiter and have been for a year so i can do that kinda shit?

thanks man

[Pashley26]

so i could chat with a manger tell him who i am and what i can do tell him where ive worked before so can transfer the skills and slag off another bike shop to show that i have a clue whats going on in the type of enviroment that the bikes are in.

and up-selling shit etc is easy im working in a 4 star hotel as a waiter and have been for a year so i can do that kinda shit?

thanks man

Hot Wheels aren't another bike shop.

They import Mongoose and GT and all the "trendy" bikes, but they NEVER have any stock.

Have a chat with some friends who work and KNOW about bike shops then just use that information to show your in the know about whats happening with bikes at the moment.

You've added me on MSN now so I'll explain what I mean on there

[onzatrip]

Hot Wheels aren't another bike shop.

They import Mongoose and GT and all the "trendy" bikes, but they NEVER have any stock.

Have a chat with some friends who work and KNOW about bike shops then just use that information to show your in the know about whats happening with bikes at the moment.

You've added me on MSN now so I'll explain what I mean on there

thanks man

[David]

Try and get a place on a Cytech training course and become an accredited mechanic.

http://www.thecyclingexperts.co.uk/cytech/

[onzatrip]

thanks

[Luke Williams!]

i started on work experience and then became Saturday boy i used the shop alot and became really good friends with the owner a few years later on i went back and we got on as great mates and he offered me a job there i just made sure when i was there when i was saturday boy i learnt as much as i could and showed my worth

[Simpson]

Once you have changed 500 gear cables

Fixed 10,000 punctures

Set up 800 sets of shitty gears

Make sure the bells work on every bike you sell

When its rainy and nobody wants a bike

When you get your pay packet.

You will realise that its a crummy job, I lasted 3 weeks working in a bike shop and never went back.

[David]

Once you have changed 500 gear cables

Fixed 10,000 punctures

Set up 800 sets of shitty gears

Make sure the bells work on every bike you sell

When its rainy and nobody wants a bike

When you get your pay packet.

You will realise that its a crummy job, I lasted 3 weeks working in a bike shop and never went back.

I guess it depends on the kind of bikes your working on. Doing high-end bikes and more interesting jobs like fork services and bearing replacements is what keeps me going (3 years now =S). A lot of the time it is very repetitive and boring, though.

[Captain Scarlet]

As Pashley said, hardly any bike shops will take someone on as just a mechanic, that's more on the specialist side of things.

Designated cycle mechanics (with respective qualifications) would have been in the cycle trade for a bit before working to mechanic level (I couldn't imagine anyone new to cycle retail just starting out as a mechanic).

Most full time cycle mechanics I know of, have quite a few years under their belt to get where they are now, its almost like a career rather than something part time.

Edited June 7, 2009 by Captain Scarlet

[onzatrip]

As Pashley said, hardly any bike shops will take someone on as just a mechanic, that's more on the specialist side of things.

Designated cycle mechanics (with respective qualifications) would have been in the cycle trade for a bit before working to mechanic level (I couldn't imagine anyone new to cycle retail just starting out as a mechanic).

Most full time cycle mechanics I know of, have quite a few years under their belt to get where they are now, its almost like a career rather than something part time.

yeah i know im looking at doing some corses for it and i dont want it part itme i want a full time job

[Nick Manning]

The easiest way to get a job working on bikes full-time is to go to Halfords. The majority of the trials rider's in this country have worked for them at least once. I worked for them for 3 years. Unless you work for a specialist bike shop that deals with high end bikes, then it's never really gonna be great.

I found that after working on bikes all day, you'd spend less time fixing your's up, just because you got fed up of bike's.

[Robwalker]

and if your store is in the top 50 performing stores they pay for your cytech!

[Fixed Pants™]

Once you have changed 500 gear cables

Fixed 10,000 punctures

Set up 800 sets of shitty gears

Make sure the bells work on every bike you sell

When its rainy and nobody wants a bike

When you get your pay packet.

You will realise that its a crummy job, I lasted 3 weeks working in a bike shop and never went back.

It's not for you, evidently. Year and a half so far, and i'm only getting sick of it because we've had some staffing issues.