Powered by Outside

What makes one a "Professional" Bike Mechanic?

PB Forum :: Mechanics' Lounge
What makes one a "Professional" Bike Mechanic?
  • Previous Page
 Post Message | Latest Comment
Author Message
flag nanda
Posted: Nov 15, 2007 at 17:06 Quote
So, after reading a few threads in this forum it has gotten me to wondering --> What qualifications makes one a "Professional" Bike Mechanic?

I have been wrenching part-time on bikes for more than 20 years and have a far more extensive collection of job specific tools than my LBS but I wouldn't consider myself a professional. Having seen their work, the two bike mechanics at my local bike shop will never be allowed to touch any of my rides... I know a few shop owners that have been in the game for many, many years that have the real experience and broad base of knowledge necessary to diagnose and fix almost anything that I would have no problem whatsoever calling true professionals. I laughably see 18 year old shop-rats passing themselves off as "professional", but they would be lost on anything apart from simple repairs on a recent-vintage mountain bike. There are places like John Barnett's Institute that offer certification programs (if you are lucky enough to live in Colorado), but realistically, how many mechanics are going to go to the trouble? Not everyone is going to be a Sheldon Brown...

So - what makes one deserving of the moniker "Professional Bike Mechanic"?
flag ajsngklsagkjsdag
Posted: Nov 15, 2007 at 17:11 Quote
i would say when you can identify and fix any problem quickly and easily on all kinds of bikes with minimal tools (for on site fixes) you are a Professional
flag frolosophy
Posted: Nov 15, 2007 at 17:12 Quote
a simple answer to your question is this; a professional bike mechanic is someone who services bikes as his/her profession. you dont have to be a professional mechanic to be an amazing one though.
flag nateb
Posted: Nov 15, 2007 at 17:12 Quote
In my opinion, when someone does something for a living it is their profession, this makes them a professional at whatever that may be. If you earn your living as a bike mechanic, you are a professional bike mechanic. It is not dependant on skill or ability.

www.dictionary.com reveals - "Profession - undertaken or engaged in as a means of livelihood or for gain"

nate
flag smackyasscakes
Posted: Nov 15, 2007 at 19:14 Quote
I agree, a professional is different than skilled.
flag t-j-b
Posted: Nov 16, 2007 at 9:30 Quote
I see professional as having the knowledge and ability to diagnose and fix anything on any bike (it is possible), and being able to do it fast and efficiently, in my eyes anyway. I know that the definition is of someone making a living out of it, but i you were to ask me to recommend a professional mechanic those are the qualities i would think of, and i would obviously recommend me LOL! Wink
flag markdeejay
Posted: Nov 17, 2007 at 8:37 Quote
i think professional would be someone who makes a living at it, pays all of his/her bills by doing it. that does not make them good. a seasoned and expert mechanic is hard to find and when you do find one or become one you will know. they are usually somewhat humble but confident and live eat drink sleep bikes.
i have been a wrench for 11 years and did not think i was really all that good. i took extreme pride in my work (still do) but the first time someone walked into the shop asking for me by name i knew people must like what i do.
flag w-e-w
Posted: Nov 19, 2007 at 12:22 Quote
Technically, I would argue that there is no such thing as a professional mechanic as there is no body governing the practice, training, continued development, or qualifications of such a title, as there is with Engineers, Doctors, Lawyers, Accountants, etc. Without a governing body, the term "professional" is just a subjective title.

If you define it simply as someone making a living working on bikes, then the guy assembling bikes, lawn furniture, and BBQ's at Walmart is a Professional Bike Mechanic.

It would be fair enough to call any mechanic working on a Pro team a "Pro".

When I worked at certain bike shop in Halifax, NS, all of the mechanics were Barnett's trained and certified.

It's an interesting point though... with bikes getting more an more techincal, there is almost justification for some sort of certification. You can't just trust that a guy knows his stuff just because he works at a bike shop, that is for sure, and a truly top notch mechanic is of great value to riders and businesses!
flag bmdacunha
Posted: Nov 19, 2007 at 12:29 Quote
if it is your prefession then you are a professional
flag charlz
Posted: Nov 19, 2007 at 15:51 Quote
well, actualy there is also a place in montreal that give certification for mountain bike mecanics, forks, brakes, complete bike tune-up etc www.technocycle.ca

Im 16 years old and already have 3 different certifications related to bike mecanics so =i'd say the age does not madder. If your work for it you'll get pro and be abble to live as your full time job.
flag barnz0rz
Posted: Nov 20, 2007 at 22:22 Quote
I've been a mechanic for 3 years now. I wouldn't really consider myself a "professional" as I would see one, because I feel like I need to learn a lot more. But, from personal experience, when you see people riding and you worked on their bike and they tell you they are totally stoked on it, that's a pretty good feeling. When you work on someones bike, they're paying for it (not bringing it to you for a free warranty tune up or something like that), and they bring it back to you next time they need work done, you're obviously doing something right. It helps when you fix something and they don't have to bring it back because you messed up. Those are indications of professionalisim.

Fixing bikes should be considered a trade. It would help with a lot of things. I went to UBI and they want to open a school in Canada. The problem is the Canadian government won't recognize bike repair as a trade, and as a result won't offer a private institution such as UBI the tax breaks and permits it would require to operate.
flag thud
Posted: Nov 20, 2007 at 22:25 Quote
if u have apprentised under a really good mechanic for numerous years or have gone to school
flag i-t-o
Posted: Nov 22, 2007 at 3:11 Quote
thud wrote:
if u have apprentised under a really good mechanic for numerous years or have gone to school

Typically the "schooled" mechanics are completely useless in an actual shop. I've worked with guys from numerous mechanic schools and by and large they are slow and sloppy.

However courses are very useful for current mechanics to broaden their skill area and refine work on more specialized parts of the bike (ie. suspension clinics, wheel building courses, and brake bleeding courses).

A professional mechanic is the guy in the back of the shop riding his bike everyday, who knows were he left every single bolt and wrench on his bench, and would rather slit your throat than let you touch his bench. Chances are he is grouchy, has stabbed someone (not fatally), drinks excessively, smokes pot, listens to more music than you knew existed, doesn't deal with customers, and is miles cooler than you.

P.S. Tattoos are a must, as is a beard, and a fear of getting his photo taken for some odd, unexplained reason (typically because he fears you are a government spy).
flag blazz
Posted: Nov 22, 2007 at 3:17 Quote
ito- wrote:
thud wrote:
if u have apprentised under a really good mechanic for numerous years or have gone to school

Typically the "schooled" mechanics are completely useless in an actual shop. I've worked with guys from numerous mechanic schools and by and large they are slow and sloppy.

However courses are very useful for current mechanics to broaden their skill area and refine work on more specialized parts of the bike (ie. suspension clinics, wheel building courses, and brake bleeding courses).

A professional mechanic is the guy in the back of the shop riding his bike everyday, who knows were he left every single bolt and wrench on his bench, and would rather slit your throat than let you touch his bench. Chances are he is grouchy, has stabbed someone (not fatally), drinks excessively, smokes pot, listens to more music than you knew existed, doesn't deal with customers, and is miles cooler than you.

P.S. Tattoos are a must, as is a beard, and a fear of getting his photo taken for some odd, unexplained reason (typically because he fears you are a government spy).

hehehe That is so truth in a weird kinda way!
  • Previous Page

 


Copyright © 2000 - 2026. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv65 0.009126
Mobile Version of Website