General Cycling Discussion - Do you work at a bike store? How did you get your job?

Just curious as to how some of you fellow bike mechs/bike store employees scored your jobs at your LBS or store..

One of my first jobs was as a shop rat. I was into BMX, and Windsurfing. I was hanging out in the Windsurfing shop and asked them if they needed help cleaning up and organizing..etc. They said "No, but check next door". Next door was the bike shop and I kinda knew the owner. I just asked if he needed help cleaning bikes, fixing flats...etc. He asked me if I knew anything about repairs and I did "some". He then asked if I knew how to rebuild a coaster brake. I did, so I said, "With my eyes closed". He made me put my money where my mouth was and had me do one blind-folded. I did, and he gave me the job.

My primary job was the maintenance of the rental fleet. (all single speed beach cruisers). I washed them, rebuilt hubs and bottom brackets all summer. Also helped out with any other repairs and kept the shop clean and organized. Swept floors, took out the garbage and YUCK! cleaned the bathroom. Worked there for like 4 years and loved it! Looking back, it was one of the best jobs I ever had.

L8R

My first job was at a shop, but it didn't really start out that way. I was on a team and this shop I was riding for was kinda snooty. But I'd always bug them about working there, they let me do bike cleaning outa their shop and take em home with me and I'd do the cleaning there. Anyways there was another shop that needed help that was affiliated but in competition with them. And since they were so snooty they figured I'd hurt their buisness... well after I started there, and worked there for a week and became one of the main mechanics there within that week(eventually ended up being head mech later on) they were always like come work for us and all that crap, well screw them, I was loyal to the shop that gave me a shot! And since then that uppity shop has closed it's doors, to bad for them huh.

Well I moved around a bit and that other shop also closed it's doors just recently (I haven't worked there in about 2 years) and I do some part time stuff in other shops....all the old shops I used to work for, i.e. fill in when they are short...or stuff like that and they still hook me up with cost on everything. It's a great setup!

I'm a computer tech now and hate every minute of it! I'm currently looking to get back into the bike industry out west.... as A2 said it is one of the best jobs I have ever had!

:beer:

When I was 16, I used to frequent the small neighborhood bike store. I was there so often (and usually nearly broke), that the guy asked if I wanted to work part-time. I said yes, and he put me to work doing flat repairs and wheel truing.

i worked in a bike store, that was going under, so my time was limited, but the onwer gave me two wheels(mt. bike and a road bike) and told me that if i change change the tube in both of them in less then ten minutes i had the job
what was the worse thing was, i didnt know my way around the shop, and it was one of those road tires that are the biggest pain the @ss to get the tire on w/o catching the tube and putting a hole in the tube
to this day i do not know if i did it in less the ten minutes though, i think he was going to hire me either way

No, but I applied to work at one once ... never filled out the application cause I decided it wasn't me.

I worked one summer at a bike store

It was a unique experience but one I don't think I want to repeat again. I mean...working with really expensive road bikes that I love was fine and all...just that I didn't like the people that much :/

Originally posted by KennethToronto
I worked one summer at a bike store

It was a unique experience but one I don't think I want to repeat again. I mean...working with really expensive road bikes that I love was fine and all...just that I didn't like the people that much :/

How could you not want to work at Duke's??

After spending many years in higher paying, high stress sales positions, I have come to rest in harmony as a service Mgr in a nicely run small shop. I knew the owner, he knew me. I rang him up, told him I wanted the position.

My reputation among my peers was sufficient...I am a bike geek and am now happier being broke than all the years of near 6 figure income combined...

Originally posted by a2psyklnut
He then asked if I knew how to rebuild a coaster brake. I did, so I said, "With my eyes closed". He made me put my money where my mouth was and had me do one blind-folded. I did, and he gave me the job.

Obi-Wan you have much to teach me.

Originally posted by DrGonzo
Obi-Wan you have much to teach me.

Much better, is Yoda :)

I started working for a shop part time when I was 21. Been in and out of there for 10 years. Now I'm in, as well as working as a bike tech for a big sporting goods retailer + my real 40hr a week job. I've always been a better mechanic than rider.:D