Discussion
Having owned an ebike dealership / cafe for 15 years I retired last year. I’m bored. I’m going to do my Cytech 2 training and become a free lance mechanic. I’m 61 and don’t really want to do too much - certainly not be employed ! I’m based in Dorchester and will see how much demand there is - from puncture repairs to Bosch diagnostics / motor swaps. Should I base myself in my garage or do I need a workshop ? Is there a premium attached to bring Cytech 2 trained ? Should I just buy a mobile workshop van and offer home services ? Any input would be invaluable!
Timetoleave said:
Having owned an ebike dealership / cafe for 15 years I retired last year. I m bored. I m going to do my Cytech 2 training and become a free lance mechanic. I m 61 and don t really want to do too much - certainly not be employed ! I m based in Dorchester and will see how much demand there is - from puncture repairs to Bosch diagnostics / motor swaps. Should I base myself in my garage or do I need a workshop ? Is there a premium attached to bring Cytech 2 trained ? Should I just buy a mobile workshop van and offer home services ? Any input would be invaluable!
I’ve seen a few mobile cycle mechanics advertising on our local Facebook groups, they never seem to get replies. I can’t imagine it would be cost effective for you.A fair amount of outlay for not a lot of gain I think.
mike9009 said:
Not sure of the market, but if someone cannot repair a puncture or if an electric motor needs repairing (if that is your target market) I reckon a mobile repair service would work best.
With maybe the option of larger repairs (groupset change) being dropped at your garage.....
Alt:View.With maybe the option of larger repairs (groupset change) being dropped at your garage.....
Offer collection, then work from your garage
Thanks for the replies, chaps. My biggest fear - as confirmed this week by chatting to all the triathletes / spinners at the gym - is the simple fact that most people simply don’t have the money to pay for repairs. If their £500 carrera breaks down it stays broken down…proper cyclists want proper mechanics working on their prized bikes…and the work (quite rightly) has to be done to exacting standards. A conundrum !
You can base yourself from home and keep costs low. You won’t t have any problem getting Trade accounts as most will deal with Home mechanics, certainly the ones you need will do.
There are many home based mechanics around and they range from crap and doing very little business to very premium with amazing workshops working on £10k plus bikes exclusively.
There are many home based mechanics around and they range from crap and doing very little business to very premium with amazing workshops working on £10k plus bikes exclusively.
I must admit it’s a difficult industry.
The cost of repairs, when min wage is £15ph is economically unviable on a lot of bikes, and the guys with pricier bikes do a lot themselves. Bringing a bike in once every few years because the press fit BB needs replacing or the headset needs new bearings with 2 or 3 internally routed cables to contend with..
The cost of repairs, when min wage is £15ph is economically unviable on a lot of bikes, and the guys with pricier bikes do a lot themselves. Bringing a bike in once every few years because the press fit BB needs replacing or the headset needs new bearings with 2 or 3 internally routed cables to contend with..
We're you not already in the perfect position to guage demand from own a bike dealership?
I'd have thought a small van would be enough. A bike stand and a few bike tools. That said it's annoying how many proprietary tools are needed to work on different brand bikes. The socket for my Haibike crank was nearly £30 alone.
I'd have thought a small van would be enough. A bike stand and a few bike tools. That said it's annoying how many proprietary tools are needed to work on different brand bikes. The socket for my Haibike crank was nearly £30 alone.
dave123456 said:
I must admit it s a difficult industry.
The cost of repairs, when min wage is £15ph is economically unviable on a lot of bikes, and the guys with pricier bikes do a lot themselves. Bringing a bike in once every few years because the press fit BB needs replacing or the headset needs new bearings with 2 or 3 internally routed cables to contend with..
IMHO, the market is a bit broken on the maintenance side of things. I've had absolute pigs of a job done in my LBS and they've almost apologised asking for £40 for it. A motor mechanic would have cost 3 or 4 times as much for the same time. I accept motor mechanics have a lot of very expensive tools, but Park aren't exactly in it for the love of the game either. The cost of repairs, when min wage is £15ph is economically unviable on a lot of bikes, and the guys with pricier bikes do a lot themselves. Bringing a bike in once every few years because the press fit BB needs replacing or the headset needs new bearings with 2 or 3 internally routed cables to contend with..
Cycle Mechanics shouldn't be on Min-Wage, I know that's not what you said, I'm not arguing with you. It's a skilled job and based on the waiting times to get a job done in any shops near me, there's a surplus of demand.
From a simple business point of view, I can't understand it. Demand is higher than supply, but the industry seems really reluctant on increased labour costs. £10 to repair a puncture today, it was £10 5 years ago. Tyres cost way more, tubes way more, but the poor guy doing it... £30k a year seems to be the ceiling on Bike Mechanic salaries outside of London, £15.30 an hour, I assume they're relying on the wide-eyed youngsters who just want a job in the industry. Even at that, the Shop can't be making a huge amount from it, even if they're making money from the parts they're fitting.
Riders are spending £300+ on a cassette these days, well SRAM users anyway, I don't know why the industry / market values the Mechanics so poorly.
P-Jay said:
IMHO, the market is a bit broken on the maintenance side of things. I've had absolute pigs of a job done in my LBS and they've almost apologised asking for £40 for it. A motor mechanic would have cost 3 or 4 times as much for the same time. I accept motor mechanics have a lot of very expensive tools, but Park aren't exactly in it for the love of the game either.
Cycle Mechanics shouldn't be on Min-Wage, I know that's not what you said, I'm not arguing with you. It's a skilled job and based on the waiting times to get a job done in any shops near me, there's a surplus of demand.
From a simple business point of view, I can't understand it. Demand is higher than supply, but the industry seems really reluctant on increased labour costs. £10 to repair a puncture today, it was £10 5 years ago. Tyres cost way more, tubes way more, but the poor guy doing it... £30k a year seems to be the ceiling on Bike Mechanic salaries outside of London, £15.30 an hour, I assume they're relying on the wide-eyed youngsters who just want a job in the industry. Even at that, the Shop can't be making a huge amount from it, even if they're making money from the parts they're fitting.
Riders are spending £300+ on a cassette these days, well SRAM users anyway, I don't know why the industry / market values the Mechanics so poorly.
The majority of people who spend £300 on a cassette, will be enthusiasts who are quite capable of fitting that new cassette and would not trust the LBS to do it. Cycle Mechanics shouldn't be on Min-Wage, I know that's not what you said, I'm not arguing with you. It's a skilled job and based on the waiting times to get a job done in any shops near me, there's a surplus of demand.
From a simple business point of view, I can't understand it. Demand is higher than supply, but the industry seems really reluctant on increased labour costs. £10 to repair a puncture today, it was £10 5 years ago. Tyres cost way more, tubes way more, but the poor guy doing it... £30k a year seems to be the ceiling on Bike Mechanic salaries outside of London, £15.30 an hour, I assume they're relying on the wide-eyed youngsters who just want a job in the industry. Even at that, the Shop can't be making a huge amount from it, even if they're making money from the parts they're fitting.
Riders are spending £300+ on a cassette these days, well SRAM users anyway, I don't know why the industry / market values the Mechanics so poorly.
I would argue that the bicycle industry of today is similar to where the motorcycle industry was in the 70s and 80s. Garages would be servicing Granny's Puch Maxi, whilst the parts department were selling things to the bloke with a Commando.
Foss62 said:
The majority of people who spend £300 on a cassette, will be enthusiasts who are quite capable of fitting that new cassette and would not trust the LBS to do it.
I'm not sure that's true - the people with £300 cassettes are either sponsored or have plenty of spare money to throw at a hobby, but maybe not time, and want to spend that time training/riding not messing with the bike. Or just people who don't have mechanical skills.Now, move down to £50-100 cassettes (UItegra) and there'll be plenty of people willing to have a crack, but I there's many many more people at that spending level than Dura-Ace of course.
Gareth79 said:
Foss62 said:
The majority of people who spend £300 on a cassette, will be enthusiasts who are quite capable of fitting that new cassette and would not trust the LBS to do it.
I'm not sure that's true - the people with £300 cassettes are either sponsored or have plenty of spare money to throw at a hobby, but maybe not time, and want to spend that time training/riding not messing with the bike. Or just people who don't have mechanical skills.Now, move down to £50-100 cassettes (UItegra) and there'll be plenty of people willing to have a crack, but I there's many many more people at that spending level than Dura-Ace of course.
Foss62 said:
The majority of people who spend £300 on a cassette, will be enthusiasts who are quite capable of fitting that new cassette and would not trust the LBS to do it.
I would argue that the bicycle industry of today is similar to where the motorcycle industry was in the 70s and 80s. Garages would be servicing Granny's Puch Maxi, whilst the parts department were selling things to the bloke with a Commando.
Commando?I would argue that the bicycle industry of today is similar to where the motorcycle industry was in the 70s and 80s. Garages would be servicing Granny's Puch Maxi, whilst the parts department were selling things to the bloke with a Commando.
mikecassie said:
Gareth79 said:
Foss62 said:
The majority of people who spend £300 on a cassette, will be enthusiasts who are quite capable of fitting that new cassette and would not trust the LBS to do it.
I'm not sure that's true - the people with £300 cassettes are either sponsored or have plenty of spare money to throw at a hobby, but maybe not time, and want to spend that time training/riding not messing with the bike. Or just people who don't have mechanical skills.Now, move down to £50-100 cassettes (UItegra) and there'll be plenty of people willing to have a crack, but I there's many many more people at that spending level than Dura-Ace of course.
No doubt many others would say the same, but of absolute necessity I got a commuting inner tube replacement down to a few minutes over the years and minor running repairs are surely part of the experience for anyone who goes out on Sunday rides of 30-100 miles? Why would such a person then get someone else to change a tyre, cable, chain or cassette?
I’ve run fairly fragile road bikes for over 50 years for virtually all of my cycling and never had to take one to a LBS for repairs or maintenance. I just can’t see that anyone could possibly deal with that sort of hassle.
It sort of boils down to convenience. It’s easier to do it yourself than have to book a slot in a bike shop’s diary, put your bike in the car and be without it for as long as it takes.
I had my cars ceramic coated and wash them myself because there’s nowhere within a 25 mile radius of me that would do a decent job.
I had my cars ceramic coated and wash them myself because there’s nowhere within a 25 mile radius of me that would do a decent job.
Foss62 said:
mikecassie said:
Gareth79 said:
Foss62 said:
The majority of people who spend £300 on a cassette, will be enthusiasts who are quite capable of fitting that new cassette and would not trust the LBS to do it.
I'm not sure that's true - the people with £300 cassettes are either sponsored or have plenty of spare money to throw at a hobby, but maybe not time, and want to spend that time training/riding not messing with the bike. Or just people who don't have mechanical skills.Now, move down to £50-100 cassettes (UItegra) and there'll be plenty of people willing to have a crack, but I there's many many more people at that spending level than Dura-Ace of course.
No doubt many others would say the same, but of absolute necessity I got a commuting inner tube replacement down to a few minutes over the years and minor running repairs are surely part of the experience for anyone who goes out on Sunday rides of 30-100 miles? Why would such a person then get someone else to change a tyre, cable, chain or cassette?
I ve run fairly fragile road bikes for over 50 years for virtually all of my cycling and never had to take one to a LBS for repairs or maintenance. I just can t see that anyone could possibly deal with that sort of hassle.
Just back from my Cytech level one course. Fairly basic stuff ahead of the level 2. But….even after 14 years of running the ebike business I learnt some new things and realised I did other things completely incorrectly - don’t worry, my mechanics did the customer-facing / cash-generating stuff. Trainer told us that the mechanics at balfes aim for up to 6 services a day. At 180-220 per service (presumably plus parts). So somebody’s making something. But then again I know how much it costs to run a shop like that. Rent, rates, VAT, utilities, insurance, salaries + NI, pensions, holiday , sick pay, on-going training, subscriptions, professional fees, music licence, financing of stock, wastage, theft, tools, consumables, waste collection, social media, warranty work, PDIs, downtime, phone calls, banking and card terminal fees, financing charges, tying up working capital when you could invest it in an ETF / tracker….snd the other 290 things that you don’t expect but still need paying…the bike business is a funny old thing. Whether you’re at PWC, a 16 year old apprentice or an old guy who owns the shop…it remains a mystery !
Just a fyi, my London based Council offers frequent Dr Bike free repair sessions over various parts of town (see link below). Our Council promotes bike use quite extensively, and it appears they have a decent budget on such "green" schemes for a number of years.
https://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/events/dr-bike-se...
Maybe something to explore if such scheme bike repair scheme exist with your Council? I doubt it will make you a million
but it ties nicely with your interest.
https://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/events/dr-bike-se...
Maybe something to explore if such scheme bike repair scheme exist with your Council? I doubt it will make you a million
but it ties nicely with your interest. Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff