Bicycle mechanic

A bicycle mechanic is a mechanic who can perform a wide range of repairs on bicycles. A person who works in a cycling store is usually only considered a bike mechanic if that person has experience repairing bikes. Bike mechanics can be employed in various types of stores, ranging from large department stores to small local bike shops; cycling teams, or bicycle manufacturers.

Classification and wages

The New York State Department of Labor describes bicycle repair as a "realistic" occupation, meaning an occupation that would be enjoyed by somebody who likes "practical, hands-on problems," dealing with "real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery," and one that "does not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others." They classify it as a job that "usually requires a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work. In some cases, an associate's or bachelor's degree could be needed. Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees." They indicate an "annual wage" in the neighborhood of $25,000, but can earn up to a little more than $40,000. "In 2002, employment for bicycle repairers in New York was 360." ref|nyclabor

Skills and training

The skills involved in maintaining racing bicycles and other specialized bicycles of course go beyond the basics outlined in New York's "occupational brief." Well-known schools offering advanced training for bicycle mechanics include the [http://www.bikeschool.com/ United Bicycle Institute] of Ashland, Oregon and [http://www.bbinstitute.com/ Barnett Bicycle Institute] of Colorado Springs. The Park Tool Co., a well-known maker of bicycle mechanic's tools, has an outreach training program called the [http://www.parktool.com/clinics_training/parktoolschool.asp Park Tool School] which is made available at many local bike shops, taught by local bike shop personnel with the assistance of training materials and manuals from Park Tool.

One common avenue for entering the trade is to start as a bike builder or assembler at a local bike shop. This job can range from simply finishing the assembly started at the factory (attaching wheels and handlebars) to more thorough builds in which all systems are re-adjusted to a given level of quality. The range of assembly involvement varies from shop to shop.

Documentation

Among many references on bicycle repair, "Barnett's Manual"ref|barnett is a comprehensive four-volume set that includes detailed coverage and diagrams of bicycle components from many different manufacturers. The "Lonely Planet" cycling guideref|lonelyplanet says, "If you want to know more about maintaining your bike... "Richard's Bicycle Book"ref|richard is a classic. If you want to know absolutely everything get "Barnett's Manual"... or "Sutherland's Handbook."ref|sutherland."

References

# [http://www.nycareerzone.org/RenderProfileServlet;jsessionid=673501102294965518?onetsoc=49-3091.00 Bicycle repairers] (.pdf) New York State Department of Labor "Occupational Brief"
# cite book | title = Barnett's Manual: Analysis and Procedures for Bicycle Mechanics | first = John | last = Barnett | publisher = VeloPress | year = 2003 | id = ISBN 1-931382-29-8
# Connellan, I "et al." (2001), Lonely Planet Cycling Britain (Cycling Guides), Lonely Planet Publications, ISBN 1-86450-037-9
# cite book | title = Richard's 21st Century Bicycle Book | first = Howard | last = Sutherland | publisher = Sutherland Publications | year = 1995 | id = ISBN 0-914578-09-X
# cite book | title = Sutherland's Handbook for Bicycle Mechanics | first = Richard | last = Ballantine | publisher = Overlook TP | year = 2001 | id = ISBN 1-58567-112-6

ee also

*Bicycle
*Bicycle frame
*Bicycle tools
*Derailleur gears
*Derailleur hanger
*List of bicycle parts
*Local bike shop
*Mechanic
*Spoke wrench
*Wheelbuilding
*