Comments on: Wanted: Bicycle Mechanics

By: Bike mechanic - London Fixed-gear and Single-speed

Bike mechanic - London Fixed-gear and Single-speed — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:33:07 +0000

[...] http://thebikeshow.net/wanted-bicycle-mechanics/ check the dates on that and I think you might find the Guardian source…. read the comments for some pay related comments and some interesting words from Ninon (Bicycle Workshop). [...]

By: therese

therese — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:51:50 +0000

celia and i also offer bicycle mechanics training, either bespoke one-to-one or in a one day workshop covering basic maintenance, perhaps a good way to start if interested and want to learn some basics (before an accredited course). our one day course is £60 and will be running each month in 2010. therese

By: Timo

Timo — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:25:48 +0000

Very interesting show again. I work at the bike shop myself, and we have same problem here in Finland. Not enough skilled bike mechanics. And wages are low here also.

By: vorsprung

vorsprung — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:46:28 +0000

Here in the West Country there doesn’t seem to be a shortage of bike mechanics

There is a good shop place in Exeter and a good place in Taunton

Plus there are plenty of other one man bands who live on their reputation.

Mind you I live far enough away from them that I do most of my bike fixing myself. The last time I used the shop in Taunton was to replace a rusted out headset

By: Jack

Jack — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:11:59 +0000

@matt: the LBMA was the most recent attempt to ‘organise’ bike messengers/couriers in London (since defunct, read more here). Buffalo Bill, a former LBMA chair, talked about it on the show a few years back.

Listen again here: http://thebikeshow.net/23-may-show-giro-ditalia/
(from about 8 minutes in)

But it’s a difficult profession to organise into anything resembling. “Herding cats” as Bill put it in the interview.

By: matt

matt — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:59:12 +0000

Slightly off topic but sort of related (pay and conditions), has anyone ever attempted to organise cycle couriers in a union?

By: Sean

Sean — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:00:44 +0000

can’t argue with cytech’s credentials, but if you see the raft of industry sponsors on our site, from Campagnolo to Hope to Specialized and many more, you’ll see the industry very much recognises our training also.

By: Sean

Sean — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:21:46 +0000

yes, the survey results did seem pretty depressing! I can only assume the average is taking into account school age and 16-18 year old Saturady staff.

By: Mark - Association of Cycle Traders

Mark - Association of Cycle Traders — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:20:48 +0000

Sorry, forgot to add that a new trade survey is being launched in the New Year and that will give us a more up to date insight into issues around bike mechanic shortages, including pay.

By: Mark - Association of Cycle Traders

Mark - Association of Cycle Traders — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:19:29 +0000

Great show.

Wages for mechanics remain low. Ninon’s point about people not staying long is a key point and is very much related to low wages and the mindset that being a mechanic and working in a bike shop is really just a stop-gap before “getting a real job” or going to college / uni.

Cytech is the cycle industry’s recognised training and accreditation scheme with over 500 shops accredited nationwide. Cytech courses are now also available to members of the public.

By: Jack

Jack — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:20:47 +0000

Thanks, Sean! There's also this 2008 trade survey on the subject: # The average wage for a mechanic remains less than £14,000. # However the number earning less than £10,000 has reduced.

By: Sean

Sean — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:19:10 +0000

Pay for cycle mechanics goes from £40 per day at the bottom end through to the Sky team mechanic at £52K per anum.

A head mechanic can expect to earn £20-£25K per anum. Yes, having your own business is the main way to go above this.

I qualified with a City and Guilds VSQ level 2 in Cycle Maintenance and repair whenI went into the trade. This allowed me to go into jobs at bike shops at a higher rate than staff who had been in the trade for some time, but who were not qualified. My starting salary at a leading bike shop was £20K.

By: Jack

Jack — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:18:08 +0000

Good point, Bill G. You’re right I should have asked directly about that.

Maybe Sean or someone with knowledge in this area can weigh in with some ranges for bicycle mechanic pay scales?

By: Bill G

Bill G — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:33:32 +0000

A very interesting show again, but one crib, no one mentioned earning power.
How much can a trained bike mechanic expect to earn after say, three years?
Is the bike industry like hair dressing where you need to own the business to do well financially?
There is a lot more to life than money but it does pay the bills.
If anyone in East London wants to learn how to maintain their own bike I can highly recommend the evening course run by Redbridge LCC:
http://www.redbridgelcc.org.uk/
It is run thru’ out the year and a snip at £40.