The World Needs Bicycle Mechanics

That's......creative? (Image by A. Andonopoulos)

Ask any bicycle mechanic who has wrenched on bicycles for many years. They will tell you, the world needs mechanics. How do I know this is true?

Well, obviously, I am a bicycle mechanic. But besides the obvious, it is our clients who "tell" us this by how they attempt to do things concerning their bicycles. This can range from a fairly innocuous misunderstanding of an accessory to full blown dangerous situations. 

Sometimes I shake my head and think how hard this person tried to do what they did and somehow, their solution worked, even if it was technically wrong. Sometimes I wonder how the person who owns a certain bike with a very dangerous modification even made it into the repair shop alive. I feel as though some of these mechanical miscreants must have personal protectors who live in a shadow realm and somehow or another guide these folks through life. Because if I did what they did?? Surely I would have died before now. 

My mechanic friend, Ari, who wrenches for a shop in the suburban Chicago area, sent me the image shown above. In case you haven't seen "it" yet, the rack is mounted to the brake shoe studs. I literally laughed out loud when I saw this one. Ari sent it with the text, "You've never seen this before". 

He was correct. I've never seen THAT before. Wow! 

Of course, I've also seen my fair share of "horrors". Here are a few from my time as a retail mechanic.....

A case of all the wrong things

Here we have an example showing why people had incompatible expectations based upon marketing which misled them. Carbon is lighter, skinny tires go faster (with really high pressures, 'natch), and a complete disregard for where the person was at physically. And yes, racing bikes once had really skinny tires. 

I don't recall the outcome of this one, but this was obviously a very dangerous set up. The leverage the bars/extensions would create while riding were forces that steer tube were never designed to see. And think about how putting ALL the rider's weight on the saddle must have felt like. Ouch!

I see the cranks were off in this image. Must have been a drive train replacement or a bottom bracket issue, but this was so long ago I don't recall anymore why the bike originally came in. 

Handle bar won't stay put, ya say? Gimme dat drill!

 Modifications like this were rather common, actually. Brute repairs with standard fasteners and using ordinary household tools at hand. The really great thing about this one is that the installer didn't even bother to tighten the nut on the bolt. But it is a Nylock nut, so I will tip my cap there!

I always found it amazing how most folks who did things like this had no concept of structural integrity or engineering. Mechanically some of these mods I saw were on the right track, but the execution, materials used, and the aforementioned thought for structural integrity and engineering were often way off. Such was the case with my next example.....

 This was a mount for a front basket. Yep! Just drill right through that stanchion! I appreciate the "J" hook idea, which clamps the back end of the stanchion here. I also see the jamb nut idea, which is rather advanced in my experience dealing with these kinds of mods. But the sharp, cut-off threaded section, that's a bold move! 

Putting yourself at risk of cutting yourself wide open is a choice. Not to mention weakening that "suspension fork" by drilling through it.  But when you look at this, the really baffling choice is the length the bolt was cut off at. Is this also a foot peg? I don't quite follow it......

But all of that, while spectacular and shocking as it may be, are just examples of how mechanics are a necessary element in the world of cycling. Sure.....there is YouTube, and you maybe can learn to wrench on your own bicycles. But mechanics know how to use the tools, not just the execution of procedures. Mechanics understand how things should feel when they go together so parts don't get damaged or destroyed. Mechanics understand what questions to ask so they can avoid ordering the wrong parts. And so much more.... 

A recent example was a client at the Collective who had an old Schwinn with the Positron drive train. Now, you may or may not know about those systems, an oddball Shimano deal which didn't last long. But well versed mechanics know all about those. And to get that gear cluster off the rear wheel? Yeah.....they do not make THAT tool anymore, so my client was fortunate that I do have it. Which is another reason we need mechanics. Old knowledge and old, out of production tools, are invaluable when needed. Not to mention knowing how to deal with a Positron drive train. 

Anyway, being a bicycle mechanic is rewarding at times. Too bad our society doesn't often see the need to reward mechanics and value them better than they do. Hopefully bicycle mechanics will always be around, but as I wrote not long ago, it would seem that the trade isn't very attractive to young folks. Well......you could always just have some shade tree "repair person" tackle your needs. Hopefully the results won't look like the above examples.