I know a guy who is a "work from home" bike mechanic. He does not sell parts he just does mechanic work, so you bring you bike to his house and fixes it and tells you which parts to buy if needed.
@@geemail369 After you walk in and give them your bike it feels like they just want you out of their shop, no time for small talk or anything. Feels like they just want to get rid of you. the mechanics are no good too. More than once have I fixed the bike myself after the bike shop " fixed it ". but i'm stupid, I keep giving them a chance even though I know the end result.
It would be a good idea at the start but as it goes on i think it will get boring because it will be the same thing but with diff terms and words and adding a little uniqueness with the shop
@@keithlawrencedecena6371 They could rotate shops for each "season" ie few episodes, I think metropolitan shops would be dealing with completely different bikes than ones close to mountains or trail centres.
A bike mechanic was my first job. What a learning experience it was, I ended up working there for 4 years. To this day I miss having all the tools I could ever need.
I loved my local bike shop. It closed down after almost 100 years. I moved and found a great new bike shop, it's now closed too. We need to support them and the people who work there! Many people are just throwing away bikes because they have nowhere to get them fixed and buying new, but this wasteful consumerism is doing massive environmental damage!
Same here. My local shop was great, got to know the mechanic and he'd always help with issues. Now it's closed.. And I've noticed most people don't want to do overhauls on their stuff, they'd rather throw it away and rebuy it than take the time to learn how to rebuild it. So stupid. Anything I've upgraded from gets kept in a box to be used again in the future.
difficult to support a local shop they they have almost nothing you would buy, and almost everything you have need will outperform what they sell, like full face helmet, components that are not on the market in Norway. also shops/online/importers need to bee willing to have parts that are new to the market, yes some are all tree at ones, some not, but the importer needs to have them, and shops should sell them, not sell me gear I don't want. I have a frame that is not sold in Norway at least not trough normal channels, unless you get somebody else to buy it for you and save on shipping and they get what they ordered and i get the frame, the guy servicing EXT shocks in Norway did that, he sold me his fork too, so I saved some money and time. if not I would have to order it directly from Geometron, pick up fork he sent, and frame separate, this saved me a lot of work. So he technically did not earn any money from importing the frame, he only earned money on the fork and coil for the Vorsprung coil conversion. Suspension tuner/service company is a part of the industry that you can earn money on, and if you combine it with importing or selling and working on bikes too that's even better if you have time and others to work with you. having good online presence is also a great help. I have archer D1X trail shifting system which has just hit the market in Norway, I had it long before, and had Rush Core for almost 2 years before it came to market here, and Catalyst pedals has not come to market here yet. headset for my new bike I could not get in a matching colour, so I went with a international shop, in this case it was Merlin cycles, only thing they had I was good component. of course I had to buy Mudhugger front and rear, no sold in Norway.
that's why a proper solid case out of plastic is a better option, I am not sure which will fit my Geometron G1 Large. I know proper cases for road bikes exist, solid plastic case, where bike is secured to a metal frame inside, with straps, wheels are secured on top of frame with straps and with straps to thee case. I don't remember seeing something as good for a MTB.
My second ever job was working for my LBS! Spent a summer in there just absorbing as much info and knowledge as I could. Sadly the owner retired at the end of that summer and no-one wanted to take the business on so I moved to the town's, errm... Halfords (sorry!!) and spent a while in there. Safe to say I've done my time fixing loads of BSO's!! I had to leave though as the joy of having your job and hobby as the same thing wore off, even the staff discounts couldn't make up for it so I moved on to pastures new. Thinking of going full circle now as I'm heading towards 40, the lure of working in a decent LBS again is getting strong. I vividly remember always learning something new every day, whether it was a new technique with the tools or a random trick for a given component, such a good test of the old grey matter every day. Suppose it helps that I enjoy working on my bikes as much as riding them. Just need to find a job that's near some great riding! More than happy to start at the bottom again, that's were most of the fun is.
with fixing junk bikes, did you ever tell the customer I can fix this but go and buy a proper bike? I hope you earned well enough and id not have to work too much, so it was worth your time and it was financially good decision. it would be annoying to do this work and have to tell how great those bikes are and how great their other options are. if someone asks I say the truth no matter how bad their bike is. and if it's not bad I don't try to force them into a new bike. I guess that's why some have their own shop and only sell what they find and tested and trust. if I had a bikeshop, I would have a quite unique mix of inventory most probably have never heard out of those non bike research wrenching geeks. not everyone is a walking bicycle cyclopedia. only one I would trust is a proper shop, that I know they work on bikes like mine and I know has good reputation and has the experience. other than that I only trust my self. BSO's is something I see a lot of, shame, free bikes ppl get by buying certain amount of electronics, or just cheap bikes from local sports store, the tidings have see, crazy, reverse fork is a common once, and of course everything at wrong angle. I fixed a lot of stupid mistakes for many, some things I can't fix like broken, failed stuff or stuff that requires tools nobody has in a multi tool, like sockets for bolt on wheels, brakes, to adjust wire. So when ppl ask me why their bikes are like that, I tell the truth. at least they learned something from it. sad to see many ride with bikes that are failing or are about to loose a wheel. maybe basic bicycle maintenance should be mandatory at school? it's ridiculous what I have seen, I won't mention it all.
Oi Will,put your tea down and get on with me bike !!! .Wight mountain is my local bike shop and these guys are some of the nicest people I've ever met ,they always make you feel welcome and don't take the piss to much when you go in with something completely stupid .Really good vid Blake and I bet Doddy nearly passed out when he saw Russ's retro bike collection .
So true, I was leaving for Slovenia with a mate but my front axle seized, called my LBS, and even though they were about to close the owner still spend 30 minutes drilling out the fucked axle. Replaced the axle and only charged me for the parts, what a blooody hero! Needles to say I'm a fan of my LBS :)
I work in a Halfords and I wish our bike departments could be a little more like this, I even recognised a few of the bikes in this video including the little river Apollo jewel towards the end, kiss of life is right, they're only about £100 new! Sadly Halfords is very commercial so only a few of us are in it for the love of biking, and to the rest it might as well be Tesco! However if you seek out the right people we will go above and beyond and really take an interest, great vid!
@@harrystephenson5446 yeah that would be ideal, however the lbs near me are sadly a bit dodgy and pay less than here, I know I would enjoy it more but I've still got to eat!
@@oliveradams7348 you can make the store you work at, and your name, a place for customers to know and refer to. You can create your own LBS where you are. Keep the passion alive and it'll work out.
@@zakrowe1301 with passion in your heart and a basic mechanical knowledge, with a willingness to serve the public so they have a smooth lasting ride experience. Wether that be a $100 bike or a $10,000 bike. That bike you work on is some ones possible pleasure, and as a bicycle mechanic, every bike must be respected. In my opinion. I'm a bicycle repair man.
I appreciate this look at a good local shop, Blake. We have so many options--be it mail-order or chain stores or eBay or thrift stores and yard sales or even friends who have frames and gear to share--but a good local shop should be one of the cornerstones of our cycling experience. Not always possible, I know from my own experience of living here and there, but a good one is like a clubhouse and that's a beautiful thing. And these days, my favorite local bike shop is Quick Release Bicycles in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. And there have been a couple of commutes over the years when I've limped up to the front door in need of something which I blew out en route to work. And Josh has even let me borrow a bike as he works on mine that day. I've got a friend in him.
You gotta support your local bike shop! We lost ours a couple of years ago and I found Halfrauds to be pretty useless! Oh and the bicycle shaped object will do its job just fine as long as it's not abused looked after the same as any other multi thousand pound machine. 😉
Every bike shop near me is terrible. If ever I need to use one, it always feels like they're annoyed with me for disturbing them! They never have answers to my questions or have anything in stock and their prices are shocking!
Credit where credit is due, give your custom to a bike shop that deserves it like this one. Unlike some I've been to, where they literally magpie parts off your kit whilst it's in, loan it to customer's etc. Otherwise we're just supporting businesses that help no one.
You know a bike shop's gonna be good when it's filled with retro stuff. You know they're proper enthusiasts and not just there to sell you the latest stuff.
one of the best, I am sure there are many more shops like that, but I haven't' been to a good shop yet, but I know they exist. this is just an example.
I was in there last week as the lads were doing a few upgrades for me. They are all top blokes, professional and most of all passionate at what they do. Their prices are bloody brilliant as well! 😁
Very nice shop. In our city Topolcany in Slovakia we have also nice shops, but when i look on yours shops, there are lot of features and those we must buy in Eshops. I mean we need better shops where people see this new thing for riding. I like this videos from UK :)
I would love to work in a bike shop but im worried that the wages wouldn't be enough to pay the mortgage and feed three kids. most of the local bike shops are closing around my way due to the beast that is the internet.
Same I'd love to work in a shop but number one are low wages and I like what I make now even as a student. And probably the biggest thing, it's not all about working on nice beautiful mountain bikes. I've heard the majority is working on junk bikes that have been heavily neglected. It's a lot less fun when it's no longer a pretty mtb.
geddy1972 Having worked in a few shops I can tell ya that the people in this industry are in it for the passion not money. A lot of people also become sales reps to make ends meet.
my nearest local bike shop is solent cycles in Fareham Hampshire.I hardly ever go in there as they never keep a lot of stuff on the shelves and its always more expensive than everywhere else. I get the impression they are only interested in selling bikes and not much else.
I think shops should incorporate internet into their shop, use it to sell, and market them selves. also not a bad idea to add the shop to trailforks, not many do, but I add evry shop I find in Norway to trailforks. easier it is for people to find you easier it is to get custommers.
@@geddy1972 hard to have a good inventory of things that you can't be sure ppl will buy. like some have shimano cranks, mavic wheels, this and that but some might not want those mavic wheel, those shimano cranks ,they might want race face, cane creek, or what ever. my bike has a lot of parts most shops won't sell, or have heard of. same with clothing and gear. there are many choices, but more they have in stock better deal they get, but harder it is to sell it all, so a lot will be several weeks of special order waiting. which for me is nto worth it this is why they only have the absolutely necessary gear. and the safer options, like helmets, jerseys, socks, there will probably be some body who buys it at some time. but a person like me will not find what he or she is looking for in most shops, at least not evry single thing, I might find some things I want or think is good enough or fit my needs. but then I would have to travel over the country to visit all shops that sell those components, and then order what else I can't find on that big journey, I have a lot of components that are not even sold here, but some are getting to the market here, I got many before they came to the market here, also some components they have get out of stock fast, for example Chris king headsets, Maxxis tyres, everything POC, so I have to order from international shops. I got these components long before they were in Norway: Pedaling Innovations Catalyst pedals, Archer D1X trail, Cush Core, Revgrips, I could not wait until they came to the market, I knew they would benefit me a great deal, so I had to buy them. So for me online shops, and international shops are necessary, also buying directly from manufacturer, Like I did with Revgrips, Pedaling Innovations , Archer for example.
My local bike shop bcs bikes in college station Texas USA.They are putting a coffee shop in the shop.I spend alot of money there.I build my own but I do a mechanical background.
In my town (Russia) a bike shops with gt/norco bikes don’t even has their own mechanics and the sellers mostly low-paid just graduates that don’t care about anything. But this shop usually has good end of the season deals.
At my bike shop the parts are free but you have to fix your own bike it’s pretty cool and you can change out ur old bikes for like mtb, bmx, cruisers and stuff like that
My local bike shop isn't like this. They aren't really interested in mountain bikers any more, because with the ever changing technology they can't meet our needs like online shops can. Their new lifeblood here in Norway is ebikes, where people are spending the same kind of money as high end mountain bikes, but they'll come back to the shop to get it fixed and serviced in the same way they would a car.
@@smokedsalmon3907 yep. Chased him round the town then came up behind him without him knowing & dived on him. Some locals donated money to local bike shop to fix my bike. Even got in the paper.
Bought my old Dyno Coaster stretch cruiser from this place back in the mid 90's. Not sure if its still the same crew now, but still obviously a great shop!
I use to live on the Island and left for the bright lights. Popped over last summer stumbled into Wight Mountain. Great staff and love the retro bikes. Puts other bike shops to shame
Raleigh Burner FTW!!! That so takes me back. That era I thought they were sexy as, but was busy being stoked enough with my old Mongoose Californian; couldn't do tricks but any bikes were freedom and how you got to your mates house. After that I then went racer as it was "the most sensible bike to buy to ride to school on" according to my folks wallet (MTBs were too new and maybe a fad!) even though I then spent most of my time riding it round local woods on it's pretty slick 23mm tyres. Then gradually came back to owning my first MTB 10+ years ago, and now have gone into proper MTB trails years later. TBH I still have that old racer I've had 25+ years sat at work for lunch rides still! Wish I still had that old BMX though. P.S. Shout out to good Hants bike shops: Lots are nice and knowledgable and been really helpful but special mentions to G.A. Cycles in So'ton - big curly haired bloke there really knows his shit and they have lots of parts like old Shimano hub parts I needed in stock, and Dan at Port Solent Cycle Surgery too, for really knowing the MTBs he's selling, and a chap at Solent Cycles worked out modern alternative replacements to put on my old hardtail. Aaron at Chase Cycles is doing a good, passionate job of currently answering questions on a new gravel bike too. When it comes to bikes know your local people and know your bike. I trust myself better than anyone to fix up my bike and make it run sweet, but if it goes wrong, it's something I don't know or is un-googlable, I know what shops around me properly know their shit.
I work at the local bike shop. Only person I don’t like is the manager and no one likes him cause the only people he’s nice to are customers. The mechanics are fun and I’ve got a lot of old bikes that I use for practice with their supervision
Ugh, here in nl theres so many bikers and bike shops that bike mechanics really dont get paid that much. They aren't as passionate as the ones in other countries and also not as friendly as the ones in your local bike shop. Most of them dont really like their job cause it doesn't pay much better than being a garbage collector. Big sad when I walk in a bike shop wanting to ask a question and they don't have time to answer and the only thing i can do is leave the bike to get it back a week later hoping the fix wasn't to expensive. It sucks. My life is so miserable lmao maybe im complaining a bit much xD
I have a "real job" but I'm lucky enough to work part time at a shop and other than being on my bike its the best time of the week. Great vid good too see the same stuff happens "over the pond" lol
I would love to work in a bike shop and just learn about everything. I’m on 14 though so tell I can drive to work I’ll just keep learning and trying stuff on my own bikes
Nah, my local bikeshop is more like a business that couldn't sell ski's during the summer so they begrudgingly drag the bikes out. Will charge you an arm and a leg and be 3 weeks out if you want to get your brakes bleed, and are annoyed if you ask any questions about a bike you're buying (not that they know anything about them anyways). Made that mistake once. Was hoping for the type of experience you outlined here, just wasn't the case unfortunately.
If a bike shop like this were in the states, I’d be there daily.. Here, if they smell you as a new rider, they WILL rob you. 3 of 4 in my area are crooks. One spot tried to over charge me for things that came standard on the bike.. One owner wouldn’t let me in the dam store. The 3 white dudes in front of me had no problems.. I love MTBing, but’s it’s been tough for me.. luckily I found one that I could trust..
Common issue...But some more forward thinking shops are multi channel...e.g. merlin cycles. That way they have enough volume for good pricing online and in their store
They also have v limited range, and cater to ur average cyclist, nothing but low-mid range common items, as impossible to stock all the many variants. Its a hard job.
a shop that sells online and locally is not a bad idea, also match the prices to other shops.even some online shops don't lower the prices to the rest of the market. I just buy as much as possible in one order, fro moen shop thus saving on shipping, and saving time, but if I can't I just buy each item at where it's cheapest.
Wish there was a shop like this around here. The ones we have are filled with condescending pretentious wankers that know little to nothing about customer service and are just hell-bent on margins.
