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Cycling industry needs 45,000 mechanics right now, and it's an AI-proof job
(www.cyclingweekly.com)
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this post was submitted on 02 Oct 2026
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micromobility - Bikes, scooters, boards: Whatever floats your goat, this is micromobility
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Ebikes, bicycles, scooters, skateboards, longboards, eboards, motorcycles, skates, unicycles, heelies, or an office chair: Whatever floats your goat, this is all things micromobility!
"Transportation using lightweight vehicles such as bicycles or scooters, especially electric ones that may be borrowed as part of a self-service rental program in which people rent vehicles for short-term use within a town or city.
micromobility is seen as a potential solution to moving people more efficiently around cities"
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I worked as a mechanic in a bike shop for a few years: we were the Trek shop for the area. While there are plenty of things the average person can do and get pretty close to correct, there were soo many tickets that came in for botched repair jobs, stripped hardware, and shit setups.
I think everyone should be able to fix a flat tire and lubricate a drivetrain. But beyond that, bring it to a person who has the knowledge and very specific proprietary tools to do the job. It's possible you can use some pliers and a hammer to do what you're doing, but you'll probably damage components and then need to bring it to a shop anyway.
Yeah I was taught by a bunch of punks how to fix up old bikes including my own. Recently trued my wife's wheel
That is exactly how I got started! Your next step is to quit your corporate day job and apply at your LBS and then we'll be twins ; )
Curious where you're located that any shop is turning away repair work if you didn't buy it there.
I have been into 2 bike shops to ask if they stocked any chain wax. First one (Halfords) had no idea what that was and didn't stock it. The second (Local independent) immediately knew what I was asking about when I mentioned drip on being used to top it up between immersion dipping it in melted wax, just didn't have any stock of what I was specifically after.
Fair enough as it was a pretty small shop. But I know who I would trust more.
I know what you're talking about! I've been mixing paraffin wax and oil together and dipping my drivetrain for awhile. Did I mention I started as a hobby mechanic?
There is definitely a difference between a BSO retailer and a LBS, but also between shops for the different types of riding. Some shops specialize in mountain, some road, some commuting. I imagine that some are now even specializing in ebikes, but I haven't seen it with my own eyes in the wild. Go where the knowledge, tools, and parts are for your ride... which is probably the local independent :)
Yeah 99% of people have probably never heard of it, stop being a fancy snob. Most of us just oil our chains.
I don't think its being a fancy snob to expect a bike mechanic to be an expert on bikes. Look up anything about chain lubrication and you will very quickly see wax being mentioned as an option, its hardly some obscure bit of secret knowledge. Other major chain shops which sell bikes stock it too, like Decathlon. Its just that I can get to Halfords in under 10 minutes while Decathlon is about an hours ride away going through like 3 towns.
I can lube a drivetrain but I cannot and I repeat cannot tune one. I tried and fucked my trek bike up. All the tutorials aren't helpful to me