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Cycling industry needs 45,000 mechanics right now, and it's an AI-proof job (www.cyclingweekly.com)

submitted 5 days ago by FartsWithAnAccent@lemmy.world to c/micromobility@lemmy.world

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[-] Semester3383@lemmy.world 37 points 4 days ago

Yeah, but how much are they going to pay them?

I worked in bike shops for a few years. Most repairs are dead simple once you understand the basic principles, and the harder things are more often replace rather than fix (e.g., most bearings are sealed cartridge units now, bottom brackets are serviceable, etc.). But the last place I worked, I was making only a little over minimum wage. Maybe that's survivable in the EU; it's not in Chicago.

[-] echodot@feddit.uk 18 points 3 days ago

It's not survivable in the EU. It's just that you would qualify for government assistance whereas in the US you're probably told to go live in a cardboard box. The problem is it doesn't really fix the underlying issue which is that as soon as anyone is offered a better paying job they'll disappear.

No one's going to put in the effort to get certified if the job is known not to pay very well.

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[-] HerbGrower@slrpnk.net 7 points 3 days ago

No longer in the EU but UK minimum wage is comfortably survivable in most of the country. Might be fucked in London though.

[-] Crashumbc@lemmy.world 17 points 3 days ago

there's no money in it

[-] Agent641@lemmy.world 7 points 3 days ago

Not until you get drafted as mechanic on one of the big bicycle Formula 1 teams like red bull or McLaren OH WAIT

[-] lntl@lemmy.ml 6 points 3 days ago

A reading from the book of the prophet Scott Biram:

Well you can spend all your life makin lots of money, but only Jesus gonna save you honey

[-] Crashumbc@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

If only he existed

[-] lntl@lemmy.ml 0 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Buy fancy things with all that money you earn but, them fancy things ain't cooling honey when you burn

Scott H Biram (5:5)

[-] Nastybutler@lemmy.world 137 points 5 days ago

Too bad it pays for shit

[-] hallettj@leminal.space 33 points 4 days ago

I guess so. I was curious if there is a similar projected demand in the US. I don't know if that info is on this page, but it does show the median annual wage to be $38k https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes493091.htm

[-] crispbacon99@lemmy.zip 36 points 4 days ago

Practically starvation wages. Especially nowadays. These stats are from 23

[-] evidences@lemmy.world 24 points 4 days ago

Yeah that's trash and I bet the only places with any actual job market for bike mechanics stateside are high COL areas.

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[-] Elting@piefed.social 16 points 4 days ago

Anybody with half a brain an allen wrench and an inclination can fix their own bike.

[-] Katana314@lemmy.world 11 points 4 days ago

Yeah…unfortunately that act of self sufficiency gets more difficult when I have an electric motor on my back wheel and any maintenance on that wheel requires disassembling it.

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[-] artyom@piefed.social 16 points 4 days ago

Lots of AI-proof trades that pay well. HVAC, welding, plumbing, mechanics, etc.

[-] Mulligrubs@lemmy.world 15 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

HVAC starting wage of $18.00 in 2026? (quick search)

So, like 80s minimum wage ($6.00 an hour then is $18 an hour today). I made that at Qwik Stop. I'm not joking.

I'm sorry kids I am older and know I could barely make it in 80s and you have it so much worse.

I had to eat packets of ramen for years, always had roommates, couldn't afford a car or pet. I'm really sorry

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[-] Donebrach@lemmy.world 18 points 3 days ago

No one’s gonna rent a room on a bike mechanic salary.

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[-] greedytacothief@lemmy.dbzer0.com 12 points 3 days ago

Everyone thinks fixing a bike is simple until some ass hat routes cables through the headset

[-] HertzDentalBar@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 3 days ago

I just imagine brake cables incorrectly routed into the riders helmet, every time they apply brakes it smashes their face into the handle bars

[-] huquad@lemmy.ml 26 points 4 days ago

"X" needs [underpaid] workers right now!

[-] myyass@lemmy.world 16 points 4 days ago

Anything related to repair is in demand, but not for the right pay. I quit doing my job--different field--to do something else. Got tired of it. I really enjoyed the morons that tried to fix it themselves or cut corners find out how expensive the bill is to fix their mistakes.

[-] tangosox@lemmy.world 11 points 3 days ago

I do it all myself and just follow guides very slowly. Haven't had a problem in 7 years, not everyone that does DIY is a moron.

[-] HerbGrower@slrpnk.net 7 points 3 days ago

And some things don't need professional quality. Did my own plastering for some patches of wall. Is it as perfectly smooth as getting a plasterer in? Maybe not if you look very closely. So just stop looking so closely at the wall. Plus learnt for next time if I need to do it again I can probably do a somewhat better job.

[-] myyass@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago

I commend you for that. I have no problem with anyone fixing their own things. My only gripe is fixing other peoples mistakes. 35K espresso machine breaks, catastrophically, I spent a week fixing it as I've never seen this kind of damage. Then basically spent a few hours interrogating the customer if they changed the settings. Finally they cracked and said yes, the milk wasn't working so they turned it off. They didn't. So the entire system kept running and created calcification all throughout the path and blew out all the connectors on the boiler. I should have charged double for that experience; hence why I don't feel like doing that line of work anymore.

[-] Eat_Your_Paisley@lemmy.world 22 points 4 days ago

I used to volunteer at a co-op repairing bikes and running a repair course. When I couldn't teach the course one of the local mechanics would teach it, I don't know how any of them could survive on a single income

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[-] schwim@piefed.zip 30 points 5 days ago

I don't know if I believe that 90% of people use the shop for their repairs.

[-] Octavio@piefed.social 36 points 5 days ago

I tried adjusting my own derailleur once.

Shop for me from then on.

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[-] perishthethought@piefed.social 25 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Totally anecdotal, but in my area, if you try to book an appointment at any local bike shop for a repair other than a flat tire, they'll give you a date a month away. We need more mechanics here too.

But I'm learning to do more on my own now.

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[-] lntl@lemmy.ml 13 points 4 days ago

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.

[-] HerbGrower@slrpnk.net 4 points 3 days ago

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.

[-] lntl@lemmy.ml 4 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

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 :)

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this post was submitted on 02 Oct 2026

263 points (96.1% liked)

micromobility - Bikes, scooters, boards: Whatever floats your goat, this is micromobility

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