Top 10 Reasons Bicycle Mechanics are A$$HOLES! Insider secrets revealed by a pro bike wrench! 

I rarely comment on RU-vid content, however, this was a great video! You have a clear passion for bikes and isn't that what it's all about!

Former bicycle mechanic for fifteen years or so. Everything in this video is 100% accurate. I used to have a customer who would bring me his bike in early spring and say, "I'm planning to ride this bike about 500 miles a week for the next six months. Fix everything that needs fixing to get me started, and schedule me for planned maintenance throughout the summer. I have a backup bike so you can have this one as long as you need it." Every once in a while he would call me to ask about possibly changing tires or this or that component. He valued my input and trusted me. When I quit the business I barely got a "Thanks for all your hard work" from the shop owner. But that customer tracked me down and sent me a lovely card and a nice bottle of wine. Thousands of customers I've forgotten, but one or two I'll never forget.

"I don't know how to make you feel better about that" has just become my new workplace mantra!

As a guy that built bikes at toys r us for 4 months 25 years ago I feel you. Also it’s crazy that we were building bikes we had no clue how to build and then they sold them to adults who threw their kids on them and told them “go child, I’m sure the slightly older child that assembled this bike was very qualified!”

"The feeling like flight" is exactly what came to mind when as a six year old I had finally challeged and won the balacing act that kept me moving in what could only be described as flying. Yes, pure bliss and I was in charge, not mom or cranky dad or any of the big bros. This was pure unadulterated me in motion. The one person I've always appreciated and accepted was the person with the wrench in his or her hands with a smile on their faces and a "not to worry" look as they then handed it all back with a "you're good to go" and a cautionary "don't run any red lights or you'll need more than me to fix things next time."

This really hit home. The worst is when the council has a week where you can put stuff that needs to go to the dump out on the sidewalk. People always brings in some crappy bike they've found and freak out when we tell them how much it will cost to fix. They throw it back and literally an hour later another person brings the same bike in...

Spot on. Was a bike mechanic for 12 years, a profession that was an extension of my love for bicycles. The one customer that understood me was an aircraft mechanic for a major airline. He said: “your job is a lot harder than mine because of changing “standards” different manufacturers solutions and the amount of spares you have to carry for different models and categories of bikes”. I found that the hardest part of being a bike mechanic was to deduce what the customer perceived as a problem and either educate him/her on what was going on (i e why your freehub goes tick tick tick) or presenting a solution. It’s a tough, fun, under payed and ungrateful job. One that I took great pride in doing until I finally lost the passion for it, went to university and became a social ed teacher. Kind regards from Sweden. You took the words straight out of my mouth.❤️

I started with a Walmart bike and dealt with rude bike shops, it just made me buy my own tools and work on my own bikes.

"The customer is always right.. IN MATTERS OF TASTE." Say the whole quote, every time.

Oh man that "we hate people" point is so spot on! Nothing I hate more than being interrupted from a job to listen to a 10 minute life story until they tell me they have a flat tire EDIT: Jesus christ some of y'all are acting like I shot a baby. It's a comment on the internet. Get off your high horse.

I have to say that my favourite bikes to repair are the old mountain bikes from the 90’s that have been out in the rain (likely since the 90’s). I work on those bikes taking them right down to the frame, clean all the parts, lube everything, clean and polish the frame and put it all back together. The work is always received with thankfulness. I pride myself on high quality work as well as keeping the customer informed. Yes it takes me longer to do a bike but at the end of the day it’s a passion and keeps them coming back. But I do have to say that some days after removing 5 seized square taper bb’s only to find completely destroyed caged bearings and rust, off of a 30yr old bike when I see another one walk in, it’s like really man! Lol!

You nailed it. I've been wrenching for most of the past seventeen years. The shop where I worked during covid closed down in August 2020 and the timing was perfect because I was finally OVER IT. I shifted to mobile repair as a solo gig, and kinda even resented that. Shifted again to professional trail building. The pay is way better, I actually get to ride my bike, and there are no customers to bother me. The current bike shop model is going to have to change to survive. I see space for co-ops and low-end shops with super low overhead, then space for high-end shops that will have to charge substantially more for labor to afford skilled mechanics. The shop that is everything to everybody is a dying model, and I don't know how to make you feel better about that.

As a customer, not a mechanic or owner, I can't imagine how difficult it must be to put up with us. Even the "good" customers can be super passionate about the sport and just can't stop talking and asking questions. Must be maddening. Doctors don't answer so many questions.

I had both negative and positive experiences. The local shop were so unpleasant that it drove me to learn from the internet how to do almost anything on my bikes, except for lacing and trueing wheels.They were also unable to deliver parts even from their local storage in less than a week, while I usually get them in 2-3 days when I order them online. But I also found a great shop in the nearby city where the people were very friendly and open. They laced me the wheels for my electric cruiser project. So I think it is a matter of luck to find a good shop.

Thank you for this video. I have been wrenching professionally for 7 years now and watching your video was like going through a therapy session. Your talking points really resonate and describe the working experience perfectly. I truly love bicycles and have found peace in this world through working and riding them.

Humble yourself is my motto ! There is a a lot I have learned in my life but so much more I can continue learning from any age group ! Love your work and love doing a good job for your customers ! The rewards for you are endless !

this is 100% accurate, I've been a mechanic for 30+ years, this is one of the finest explanation rants I've heard, could not have said it better myself

As a mechanic, you either die an apprentice, or live to see yourself become what you’ve always hated.

Dude, you opened much more of our daily boxes than I expected...props for the nice overview!! It's really is a topic one has to live for to keep up and also stay happy..

This is spot on and an absolutely brilliant explanation of what we see at our shops on a day to day. Thank for your videos and a great insight into the industry. Keep up the great work!!

Is it a plane is it a train no it’s BICICLE REPAIR MAN.

Andy, your presentation here is first rate-great job, and from the heart. As a lifelong mechanic, and shop owner (full time mechanic) for seventeen years, you struck a chord with your hierarchy statement: first a mechanic, secondly a rider, then a business owner. So true. Really, nice work here, and great thoughts.

Wow, so much of this is spot on. I worked in a shop out of high school for 6 years. the hardest problems were always people problems. service writing in a big shop is just soul crushing especially in the busy summer months. I deeply love bikes, but as soon as I managed to scrape together enough school to get a corporate office job I was out of there, which surprisingly has had a tremendously positive impact on both my mental and financial wellbeing. I do sometimes think about going back maybe a few days a month, hopefully just to work in the back doing tunes or new bike builds. I miss the hands on stuff, camaraderie, music and the culture. oh, and the prodeals are so hard to live without. great video, cheers.

Glad I found your channel and have learned more tips from watching your video on bike repairs or adjustments. Love your work keep up the great work! I've been a machine tech for almost 40 years and totally understand and dig this video. Have a Blessed day my Brother....

Gotta say, you did great. Being a life-long rider and semi-newbie wrencher, I really liked your take on the whole bike shop mechanic/owner/retail clerk experience. It validated a lot of my own experience dealing with older bike problems and confirmed all the trouble you guys go through to help me make things if not right, at least ride able. To that end, every month I take my local bike shop mechanics et al, a 15-pack of beer and a 6-pack of seltzer to say thank you for all you do and for always being there and patient with me as I do my best to learn about bike mechanics despite not being mechanically inclined. I also do it to let them know that I don't take for granted the guys at Two Wheel Drive here in Albuquerque, New Mexico and that I deeply value them. Kudos also to the owner, Charlie, whom I've done business with for about 40 years too! Thanks for the great video.

Amazing video. I was a mechanic on and off for about 13 years in total and I agree with all of this, especially the first 2 points. My boss once said that the ‘customers need to see us as doctors for bikes’ and paid us 14€ per hour. Complained that we were losing him money - sure, close the workshop and see how long you last. I enjoyed it apart from the marketed nonsense and working around crap designs and the unsociable hours. I’m glad that the only bikes I work on is mine and my kid’s bike 😉 best maintained bikes in the town

OMG. Shop mechanic, owner, and manager at many different businesses since 1979. You NAILED it. Absolutely. THANK-you. Now, if only we could get our customers to watch this before they’re allowed to come to the service counter. 😊

Greetings from Lake Tahoe! Love this. RU-vid served this up to me and I subscribed. This is very well done and I know it took some work so just realize so many people will appreciate this and be better customers for all types of businesses in the future because of it.🌲

30 years of being a bike mechanic. You just nailed it. You explained me to perfection.

Great video! I’ve been to your shop and had you tune up my bike. You are awesome and do great work. I do need my handlebars tightened so I’ll be back in to see you. Thanks for the videos!

I'm a RU-vidr and a pro bike mechanic and you did a GREAT job on this video. It's hard to stand there and monologue for 14 minutes straight and be engaging and entertaining! Keep it up and you'll have to sell your shop to keep up with YT!

I loved this video. One of the best things you can do as a cyclist/bike rider is to find a bike mechanic that you can trust. I am fortunate that in Upstate NY where I spend summers, the only shop in town is a one-man operation. I can talk to him, discuss bikes with him, share riding stories, and know that he is honest and hard-working for his customers. It's different here in Florida where it is a constant rotation of mechanics. I buy the bike at one shop and wasn't happy with taking it there for repairs. I then choose another shop - and you guessed it, many of the mechanics there originally worked at the first shop. "The customer is always right, even when the customer is wrong" is a mantra that is practiced in order to be sure that the customer keeps returning to your store. When a customer comes into your shop complaining about something related to biking or your services, just say "you're right, but this is the necessary repair." Or, "you're right, it is frustrating to get a flat, but those can happen to anyone at anytime. Let's see what I can do to get you back on the road." I think customers vent to retail employees, doctors, bartenders, receptionists, etc. because they think that person will understand. THE BEST PART OF THIS VIDEO IS THE TRAIL/TRAIN STATION SHOT. MAKES ME WANT TO VISIT LAKE MILLS AND RIDE ON THAT TRAIL!!

Great video, I was a GM for a manufacturing company. I used to tell my customer service people tha the - Customer is Not Always Right. The skill came in telling the customer they were wrong and not pissing them off.

I am a retired teacher working part-time as an amateur bike mechanic. You are a natural communicator with a good analytical mind. Keep up the good work!

I'm not a bike mechanic, just a guy who's recently rediscovered his love for bicycles near middle age. But damn if some of your gripes don't feel relatable (working in a customer facing role). Big applause for this video.

last yr, age 28, i got a cheap old bike to commute with and i adore it! I'm a mess with social anxiety so taking my bike in was nerve wracking, so i let the mechanic know right off rhe bat that i knew nothing, i fully trusted his opinions and input, and that i fully understood that the work would take a while and to measure my expectations. i rlly just want to be as easy and painless of a customer as i can be! I'm not an athlete, just a dork who loves riding around rhe city on my bike and i love that there are shops that are about that life and not the hyper serious spandex-clad aero and weight obsessed hardcore dudes😄.

Good vid. 1000% accurate. The last shop I worked at I was the mechanic, inventory manager, sales, assistant manager, and a barista. I will add one thing I learned from my years in shops. No other profession is expected to have knowledge spanning decades of changes with so little pay.

My man, you put our lives of being bike mechanics in such great explanation for the rest of the world to comprehend. Thank you my brother. This video is very appreciated.

💯 accurate! I spent 17 years in the bicycle industry as a mechanic/salesperson, and managed two stores. I learned many great life lessons during those years that carried over to my career in law enforcement. And after 25 years as a LEO, I will still say that managing a bike shop is far more stressful! People always ask of me if I’m going to start up a bike shop when I retire. I always tell them I love bicycles too much to ever do that! Crappy pay, retail hours, and low margins. I’d have to be a fool to do that! So cheers to those that stay in the shop for decades or longer. We need you and appreciate what you put up with. Next time you want some service or advice from your local shop, take them some beer/food and make their day a little better.

Very well done sir, you hit most points spot on. My second yr out of high school, I worked in a small shop for a couple of yrs, fast forward to 1980s and I was back in it in a much larger establishment for another 15+ yrs. I wrenched, I sold, service writer, inventory, cashier..almost everything. The general public has a deeply set belief that retail service employees are #1beneath contempt and #2 scheming to sell them something they dont need at every turn. To be fair I didnt encounter really bad customers very often, most were reasonable but the outliers..man they leave an impression. One guy in particular I will never forget. He asked for my help finding the pumps. When I kindly showed him the pump selection he looked puzzled so I asked him if he needed a floor pump or a frame/portable pump. Thats when he raised his voice and wanted to know why I was showing me this selection. I said I thought you asked about pumps sir. Then he gets angry and says.." I want pumps..not these" Confused even further I said gently these are pumps. Then he blows his top and yells at me..."pumps...pumps...!.show me pumps" All I could do was reassure him that these were indeed pumps. Thats when he points to his shoe and says. "PUMPS!...where your foot goes when you push down!" Holy crap he was trying to describe pedals! That is a true story. Ya know if I were to take my car to the dealer tomorrow and point at the seat belt and say..."I want a new engine in this car" and they did so ignoring the seat belt ..that would be MY fault for not correctly describing the part.

I bought a brand new entry-level aluminum Specialized road bike from a local shop 5 yrs ago and they included in 6-free tune-ups to be used that year. So I brought my bike in two days later after my $1000 purchase because my chain was rubbing, and the mechanic said that my bike sucks and I need to buy a more expensive one!

Jeeees, it's so good to hear someone being honest about the bike industry. I, like you, rode, then spannered, then owned a bike shop and you totally mirrored years of my feelings. Great vid, ❤🚲🚲

Self importance and the over confidence effect.

Found you recently and loving the content! This one cut to the core! One thing I enjoy and hate at the same time is how we go from working on a grocery store bike and then a $15k Ironman bike, then to a 30 year old hybrid, and then a full-squish ebike. Bikes are simple, right?

It took way too long for the algorithm to catch this channel. I Love this dude haha

Cool video. I'll definitely keep this in mind when I'm at my LBS next time! As someone who is eager to learn about bicycle mechanics I'm always bugging the guys behind the counter with questions. Keep up the good work!

TAKE UP FISHING!!! All you points are spot on. I got out of the cycling industry/retail shops in 2015. The tech, whiny customers, pay for sure, and overall lack of advancement opportunities turned what I loved into disgust.

this video is too real. Thanks for keeping it real and thanks for being there for everyone in your community!

Loved this. Especially #3. I was a tv/vcr tech in an earlier life. I had a customer complain about the cost to replace a small resistor. I simply told them they were right & replacing the part only cost a few dollars & they were paying for me to know which of the 100’s of parts to replace.

I’m a consumer who does his own maintenance, but I know my limits on what I can and want to do. You can do more damage if you don’t know what you’re doing or have the right tools. Sometimes, you have to admit defeat and let the experts take care of your bike. They have knowledge and the right tools. When I take my to the local bike shop, I tell them what’s wrong with the bike, answer all the questions, and let them do their magic.

Couple of feedback-y things. I liked the shortened intro and outro. I think the original one is too long most of the time. Although, the first time I saw it I liked it! Other thing: This is good content!! You are a real, down to earth presenter. And now that you are in your "off season", it is a great time to cook up content just like this. I wish you well on your RU-vid journey. P.S. I always learn something new about bike repair and maintenance with each of your new videos. Keep going.

"The customer, is always wrong" *Subscribed 😂

Subscribed. great video man. never thought about this, but love the topic.

Wow, am I ever glad I subscribed! Love the authenticity in your videos. This one is well scripted, and well worth sharing with friends. I'm at the beginning of my bike mechanic journey (while nearing retirement from my career) and I'm glad to keep learning from you.

Dude! You covered it! Great job! I can't think of anything that you missed. This is all so true and I am such a long time bike lover that I have invested majorly in my own workbench and all of my own tools. We are so fortunate these days to have so many RU-vid videos available that you can truly learn what it is you need to learn about maintaining your own equipment. I live in a small Town with two bicycle shops and while the mechanics are nice, the owners are A-holes, pretentious and a bit rude. From building my own wheels from scratch to maintaining my suspension, I do all of my own work with pleasure. I've screwed a few things up and broken a few things in the beginning but that's just fine. Riding on your machine that runs beautifully as a result of your own workmanship really adds to the wonderful experience of bicycle riding.

Hey! Man, I enjoyed your video. I feel you! I am an old retired IT guy (computers) and alot of what you experience/d is what the day to day technician experiences. People can be something else! Hang in there brotha, we need people like you man. Kiss the family!

Takes me back to working as a mechanic! Some memorable moments: - A customer who brought his ebike in saying the display didn't work. I was staring at this thing working perfectly. Eventually I asked were his glasses polarized? (Manufacturer oversight?) - An aluminium Cinelli road bike with a horrific creak impervious to every remedy until I eventually took the bottle cage off... - A customer who thought I was having him on when I said the cooling fins on Shimano drum brake internal gear hubs are cooling fins... - Replacing a spoke on a Campag wheel with the rim equivalent of internal cable routing - you had to thread the nipple in on a gear cable via the valve hole... - A customer with a road bike with circa 2008 Mavic Ksyriums, their bike howled and shuddered at speed, and another shop said it was probably vortex shedding off the frame! I asked if it happened at about 40 km/h and he said 'Yeah, why?' I lubed the freehub seal - to the uninitiated these tricks we learn might as well be magic - The triathlete who was unhappy with his Dura Ace 10spd front derailleur (tt friction shifter no less!), I test rode it and it was immaculate - ten mins later on the wind trainer, it turned out nobody ever told him that perhaps it might shift better if he didn't continue trying to put 300 watts in during the half-second it takes to change chainrings - The guy who bought a bike (paid in full) and took a year to collect it - it transpired that he was getting divorced and he didn't want his wife to have half of it! And so many more! Thanks for the great video

Was a “pro” mechanic for a couple of years and you are so right in all the points you made… made me smile. Retired now, and do it for a hobby for a select group of grateful customers 😊

This is exactly why I left the bicycle industry. Got tired of "big bike" changing sht for the sake of changing sht. I now work on airplanes.

For your first video man awesome !!!!! Keep going I will keep watching! Just a side bar how do I find a rear rock shock for my 1995 through 1997 as I’m not sure what year LTS-1 GT I have looked everywhere and can’t find a replacement and just wondering if you know of any connections, or if you know of any replacement, shocked that will work or is there a replacement new shock that I could utilize? Thank you in advance!!!! Anthony

Thanks for this man! I just got home from work as a.... you guessed it, a bike mechanic. Everything here is spot on. I love my job, my boss is great (though she is not mechanically inclined in any way). I'm a former bike messenger of 15 years and have toured around most of the world with my Sitar in a BOB trailer behind my bike. I ended up becoming a bike mechanic by accident, I was/am a professional musician and self employed luthier until covid hit. I wasn't really worried at all and figured everything would work itself out and it did. My friend needed help in her shop when nobody could travel here in Germany because of covid. She got insanely busy and only had a part time mechanic. She asked me to come help for a few weeks... it has been 3 years and I am still here. Basically, I love it, but yeah, I can relate to pretty much every point in this video. I ride a steel bike with mechanical disc brakes and an XT mountain bike drive train. That is my world touring rig. Working on 8000euro carbon fiber bikes is fun/not fun. Working on full suspension E-bikes is fun/not fun. My favourite work at the shop is old restoration work, 90's mountain bikes with LX groupsets or grandmas bike that was left to me in her will. One bonus for me is that my German isn't very good, I am Canadian who happened to end up here with little or no German language skills. So, I am saved the retail side of things. I leave that to my boss and it works out better for us both that way. She sells the bikes, I build them or fix them. Honestly, I don't even know what she pays me, she hands me an envelope full of cash once a month and I don't even count it.

Wow! You nailed it. I’ve been one of those customers, but have also experienced the mechanic that screws something up. Perspective here, I’m retired ride a lot and volunteer my semi-expertise at assembling bikes at a local shop. I understand the issues mechanics face, it’s ridiculous. But I love bikes and can usually figure things out (thanks dad), and it keeps me fresh. But they shop I get to play at has some issues you addressed here. Some are the customers fault, some the shops fault. It’s a tough life. I often wonder which are the worse bikes, the cheap as KMart or the $12,500.00 super bike from your fav brand.

I was a mechanic from the age of 15 to 32. I am not generally a very confident person, but I was very, very good at my job. I was routinely told so by appreciative customers, coworkers and my employers. I learned to like people, and I found a place that payed me enough. When a cross country move forced me to look more closely at my life I decided to quit all things bike for two main reasons not mentioned in this video. 1: I got so tired of trying to make very poorly designed, very expensive things work they way they were advertised. Quality control and engineering in the industry is awful, and manufacturers will not take any responsibility for it. I couldn’t continue taking peoples money for high end bikes knowing they were so poorly made. 2. Too many mechanics are total hacks. The stereotype holds, because it’s truer than it should be. It’s so hard to work with a customer who doesn’t trust you, and they usually have pretty good reason not to trust bicycle mechanics. Sometimes I miss it, but 9 years out I’m happier, healthier and I’ve found another thing I’m very good at, and my customers appreciate me far more. It’s so much more rewarding.

You did a fantastic job with the video and hit every point perfectly, every year the IRONMAN competition goes right past our house and I stand and watch as over 1,000 bikes go past after they just swam in the lake down below us and I too am a passive bike mechanic and I am glad that I never tried to make a living at it because I'd be broke. Also customers don't realize the cost of parts either, they seem to think you keep every part in your back pocket just for their bike with no charge. I made a living driving tractor-trailers for 37 years and I don't think I'll do too much bicycle repair anymore either.

Brother I can relate, I started out 40 years ago as a Mechanic working on 2 cycle and 4 cycle small engines. Chainsaws, trimmers lawn mowers etc… I work in a little mountain community in Northern CA, I bought the business I have worked at 10 years ago. I know all that you say is true and correct. We are passionate people we repair persons. I like your channel and I subscribed. The wife and I have bought new fat tire electric bikes and have been having a lot of fun. Thank you for taking time to make this video.

As a former bike shop mechanic, I just had to watch this video, and I have to say, I agree with just about all of it. I personally think, however, that more emphasis needs to be placed on the fact that the bicycle industry just sucks all the way around. I'm in my mid-50s, now, and when I see how much quality has declined, how manufacturing has shifted almost entirely to China, how prices have risen out of all proportion to rationality over the course of my life, it makes me want to cry. I can no longer afford the level of quality in a bicycle that I would have absolutely demanded 30 years ago, a level of quality which was commonplace and affordable at any decent bike shop in the 1980s and 1990s. At the same time, it has become nearly impossible to even find high quality, simple bicycles and parts at any price.

I have been amazed how poorly paid bike mechanics are. You are right, bikes are so complicated these days and the accepted rate for certain repairs is too low. I have to say though, that 98% of my customers are really nice people 🙂

After too many years in computer support, I feel you. Great videos - helping me tinker with my 15 year old hybrid (stout aluminium frame and fully mechanic), thanks!

Great video! I went into an independent bike shop 15 years or so ago to buy one for myself. I was out of shape, overweight and had no idea what I should get. The owner directed me and I chose the not very expensive Raleigh. I ride it quite often over the years and realized......I literally never even had a flat ( I did upgrade at purchase to better tubes or tires or both). Not only that after an initial tune up some time after purchase I haven't had any problems with it. I am incredibly pleased with the outcome. I know I would not be pleased if I picked one myself from a department store.

Well said! I’ve been a in the bike industry for almost 50 years! Started at 13 sweeping floors and assembling bikes. Managed shops owned a shop been a sales rep and worked for a couple different manufacturers and always have found a way to be a bike mechanic! Which is what I’m doing now in semi retirement. My favorite thing about my job is turning someone on to riding a bike. My least favorite is someone discounting me for not knowing what the latest greatest new technology is. ( cuz I don’t care what the new tec is) I could spend all day just staring at a well used old double diamond Italian road bike from the 70s 🤠

As a novice biker who is growing in experience and enthusiasm for the sport. I have to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. I have met some amazing bike mechs, and some horrible mechs, but I began to feel like I need to learn how to take care of my bike specifically just to avoid the drama. Your video has helped me to better understand. So even if I prefer you guys to not be A$$holes, I now appreciate your perspective and surrender all judgements. Thank you for being honest and for the hard work and skill set you posses. May your company grow and may many people learn to humble themselves in the ride.

I just stumbled on you, Farmer and...really glad I did!! As a former retail employee and manager...all 10 reasons rang true. But...number 4 thru 1...EXQUISITE!!!! And also some of the many reasons why I got the hell out of retail. I sold hi-fi and stereo gear for awhile and, like you, had a real passion and love for it...but dealing with people who only had an AM clock radio by their bed got a bit trying. Great job on your first script reading, too, man!!

My first wrenching experience was Easter Sunday 1971 when 5 year old me took the training wheels off my bike because my dad was taking too long. I’ve worked on all types of industrial equipment and for the past 25 years elevators and escalators. Just finished working on my grand daughters first bike. Saw myself in almost all your points. Spot on!

Very well thought out video! For reason #4, the reason this rings true in a clinical sense is because many folks who ate talented at fixing or creating solutions for mechanical problems are like me, the have Aspergers. Temple Grandin has spoken at length about this subject, and how people on the Autism spectrum are often the best ones for finding and designing solutions for mechanical problems. The American education system does folks on the Autism spectrum an enormous disservice by removing shop classes and not teaching kids how to use tools.I was a bike mechanic for ten years, and I too was an asshole. I watched as the faces of two undercover FSA representatives went sour when I explained how FSA manufactured inferior products which led to countless shifting issues on road bicycles equipped with their cranks and chainrings. I didn’t realize until well after the fact that I was being a complete jerk, and really just thought that dealing with other people’s feelings was too complicated anyhow. I quit being a bike mechanic and started a new career in IT, which I didn’t love like I did with cycling, but I got paid a 6 figure income so it was worth the tradeoff for me.

I was a bike mechanic for almost 20 years and let me say that everything you mentioned is true. Bike mechanics are almost looked down too, as people think we shouldn't be charging to fix a flat that we fixed last year and now it's flat again...lol.

Airframe and Powerplant mechanics are often started under 20 an hour. They often get shafted into not making much more. It’s not a good reason to treat customers willing to pay you for your services like crap.

Sounds about right. 10 years as a pro mechanic here and just got out last month. I lost my passion for it and found myself far too grumpy. A decade in service to find myself service writing almost every day and never actually wrenching was not my idea of where I wanted to be. I'm now following my passion for bikes in a different role (marketing and media) at the same shop. Nothing can kill my love for bikes, not even shitty customers.

I was a full time pro mechanic for over a dozen years in the 80s and 90s at one of the premier stores in Boston, now gone defunct. It was a glorious and simpler time but even then this video would have been spot on. Crazy hours, commuting an hour by bike, retail...! One highlight was when a fabulous customer made all the techs tee shirts from the Monty Python Bicycle Repairman skit, reading on the back "In a world full of Supermen..." and on the front "...there is only ONE Bicycle Repairman". Kudos to all bicycle repairmen in the world, we are comrades for sure.

A local shop laced a wheel for me. I brought rim, hub, and spokes (triple confirmed spoke length via online spoke calculators). It was both a success and a failure. He laced the wheel perfectly, and as I'm paying he said "The spokes were too long, so it will be difficult or impossible to true the wheel later." WTF. Why not call me and I will get appropriate length spokes? Top shop, top mechanic, but failed by not making a simple phone call.

Man, I love your videos but more importantly, I love your honesty and perspective on niche service/retail industry. As a musician, I can absolutely relate to everything you discuss!! And as such, when I go to a bike shop, I'm fully willing to admit I know NOTHING and try to learn a little something from those who DO!😁🎸🚲

lol, a star is born. You had me dying the hold show. I’m a pro entertainer. And you kept me engaged. Keep it up. And don’t let anyone tell you . Your wrong. 😂😂😂

Well done, especially being the first video in that format. I liked it being different from the norm. More of these would be welcomed by me.

I've been at this 'game' for a while and almost every single one of these I've been there, I've done that, and this video was 100% on the ball! Though number 3 is my personal favorite. I've had customers try to tell me what's wrong with this country, and would NOT shut up long enough for me to even ask for a number so we can contact him when the bike was done. I was literally thinking to myself "My God man, I'm your mechanic not your therapist!"

30 years of this next August & you are RIGHT ON ! loved it ! From Les Paul's hometown.

After 35 years in business, you are talking from my heart

Never knew my bike mechanic had so much animosity towards me... I always thought they were super nice and helpful.

This is why I only order parts online. And I’ve learned to service my own bikes. The only thing I’ve never tried was wheel building, but with the resources out there I’m confident I could do this too. All this without ever having to talk to another actual person.

These are all the reasons that I love mountain bikes as a hobby, but not a profession. Great video.

Thanks for the video. GRACE and RESPECT are key to all relationships. A daily lesson for me.

Been a bike mechanic in the same shop for 34 years. It amazes me to this day that, somehow, even people in the industry, believe that bike mechanics took some weird bike repair Hippocratic Oath and we're supposed to work on anything and everything that is pushed or dragged into the shop. Heaven forbid we turn something down just because we would lose our rear end working on something that someone has had for 50 years and it's just such a special bike and means the world to them.

I'm truly impressed by how many if your arguments also apply to us Physicians. We spend at least a decade of our lives getting a medical education, plus hundreds of additional hours every year just to try to keep up, but it's become literally impossible because the scientific knowledge changes every single day. We're also increasingly and consistently worse paid, despite of the insane amount of knowledge needed and liability involved. Additionally, we're increasingly frustrated by the total disconnect between patient expectations and what we can do within the constraints of health care systems.

Sadly the bike shops have no shortage of bull$hit artist. Most mechanics don’t go through any formal training or industry certification. I’ve been a race mechanic, shop mechanic and a manufacturer and after decades nothing has changed much. I recently visited several local bike shops searching for a specific size bike for my 7 year old granddaughter and I can’t begin to tell you how much misinformation. I was given by a barista posing as a bike expert. It made me cringe. I didn’t debate them or call them out I simply told them I’ll let them know if I need them.

Great advice for interactions with any specialty shop. Everything you explained applies to my vintage VW mechanic’s shop, vintage hi-fi shop, etc.

The thing I see most often is most people don't know the difference between a tire and a wheel. Lots of people call tires wheels. Then get upset if I correct them. I also found that in many places, who you know, matters way more than what you know. I tried for many years to get a job at bike shops in northern Michigan. Thankfully after moving to Ohio I found some work in several bike shops. I totally agree with all the sentiments expressed here. I quit paying for most services at bike shops many years ago, because I much prefer to do the work myself. You have a new subscriber. Thanks.

Love the video! I love working on my old, steel, 9-speed bikes but electronic shifting, disc brakes and through axles scare me. I'm happy as hell that there are great local mechanics who know how to take care of all that stuff for other people. And don't get me started about tubeless.

Great video, man! There was a lot you presented that I've never considered. I 100% agree the manufacturers create issues with their marketing.

Nailed it brother! Former mechanic while going to school for engineering. I had SO many engineers and "professionals" come into the shop over a 5 year period that knew it all. They treated my coworkers and I like dirt at time and through tantrums when we couldn't recreate squeaks in pedals, bbs or dusty seat stays without riding the bikes for ourselves in the parking lot. Explaining why (our then) $39.00 tune-up was a good value when the bike they just bought for their kids only cost $69.00 at Walmart was always a chore. 18 years later, I still go into my LBS for advice when I get stuck on the latest bb tech, a pivot bolt torque specs or sram brake bleed I mess up at home - why? Because I learned to learn from other people and be humble. Let's give people some grace and be chill. Now as for bike sales staff - there could be a whole video series on young 20-nothings trying to size up potential customers when they walk in the door at a Trek store :)

I grew up a bike mechanic. It became very evident that there is not enough “magic” to a bike. People will pay much more if something has an engine for repair. Engines have more mystery, bikes look too simple and therefore should be cheap to repair.

I tip my bike mechanics very well. One time I told a guy I'd give him $50 extra if he could have it done it done by the end of the day. I made sure the shop owner didn't hear me of course. He got it done for me. Also, I don't try to tell them what needs replaced or anything. I just tell them the basic symtoms and tell them "do what you gotta do". They appreciate that. 😂

Great video. Nails all the problems and our love for bicycles. Now, whose apron are you wearing at the end?