Bicycle Mechanic
Description:
A bicycle mechanic services and repairs bicycles.
Tasks and Duties:
- assembles new bicycles that are delivered to the bicycle shop
- checks bicycles before they go on sale
- services and repairs bicycles brought in by customers
- may be responsible for updating and maintaining stock such as bicycle parts and accessories
- may be involved in sales work and general shop duties such as answering the phone, serving customers and opening the shop.
- Experienced bicycle mechanics may work for regional or national cycling teams on tour.
Skills:
Bicycle mechanics need good problem-solving skills to repair bicycles and good communication skills to deal with customers. They need organisational skills to manage their day, as they may have to combine mechanic duties with shop duties.
Knowledge:
A bicycle mechanic needs to know how bicycles work, and how to repair and service them.
Personal Qualities:
Bicycle mechanics need to have a pleasant, outgoing personality to deal effectively with customers. They should have patience and the ability to work well under pressure.
Physical Requirements:
Bicycle mechanics need to be good at working with their hands and they need to have good hand-eye co-ordination to carry out servicing and repairing duties. They should be able to stand all day on the shop or workshop floor.
Educational Requirements:
There are no specific educational requirements for bicycle mechanics but an interest in mechanical tasks is an advantage.
Entry Requirements:
There are no specific entry requirements for bicycle mechanics
Useful Experience
Experience working part-time after school or at weekends at a local bicycle shop is useful for bicycle mechanics. Any job that involves working with mechanical equipment or in a retail environment would also be useful.
Training on the job
Bicycle mechanics usually develop their skills on the job. They may also attend courses run by bicycle manufacturers.
Work Places
Bicycle mechanics usually work indoors in a bicycle shop. If they work for cycling teams they are likely to travel both nationally and internationally.
Salary
The salary for bicycle mechanics usually ranges from $48,000 to $70,000 per year.