General Cycling Discussion - careers related to cycling

Just curious what type of jobs/careers could one get that are related or in the industry of cycling?

right now i am thinking bike shop owner, mechanic
bike builder, component maker etc

what other things can you add to the list

ILWU at the port handling the containers that carry everything, and the truck drivers
that carry the containers to the Distributor's loading dock.
fork lift driver in the Distributor's ware house, Inside sales taking the dealers orders
packers boxing the order up and the freight carriers UPS , Fed Ex etc, getting it to the retail shops.

There are also advocacy positions available here and there. States often have cycling coordinators, and then there's LAB and its various state-level sub-units. On top of those, rail-trail organizations sometimes employ full-time coordinators.

Transportation engineer.

Better money, and a real chance to make a difference in sensible transportation. I don't know the field very well (I'm civil) but I think you could specialize for non-auto transportation or sustainable transportation.

You'd need 4 years for the degree and 4 more years to get your license, but by that time there should be a really strong need. Starting now, a person should be ahead of the curve.

I spent 12 years in the bicycle business, starting as a shop mechanic, then working in a parts warehouse, then on the other end of the Bike'alog toll-free answer line. It was fun while it lasted, but the bike biz is populated by fanatics who are willing to live on ramen and tomato soup in order to be part of "the business". Competitive doesn't begin to describe it.

I'd say you should find a real job, something that pays the bills. Then you can afford to actually own a few bikes instead of drooling on unobtanium at trade shows.

Or form your own bicycle advocacy group and pay yourself a generous salary from it. San Francisco bicycle coalition pays himself $57,000 a year just for 20 hours of work. National Bicycle league has two employees making over $75,000 a year. Bike New York's Pamela Tice makes $98600 a year running that.

So bike mechanic guys don't really make much $ even for the mechanics for the pros?

Well, I just applied for the job of a communications specialist for a large bicycle club. It would be editing websites, preparing art for print and apparel and stuff like that. Not likely I'll get it. But it doesn't hurt to apply.

Regional sales rep for the bigger manufacturers.

Professional bicycle racer, and a contract with a professional team.

Do you want a job that involves actually touching bicycles, or just related to the industry?

Lots of warehouse, distribution, and assembly jobs, not always paid terribly well. Marketing and sales -- either internally at one of the big brands or wholesalers, or as a field sales rep.

What are your other interests? That might make it easier to narrow things down. Like government? Lobbyists, regulatory analysts, transportation policy? Elected official?

Like law? Patents, infringements, liability cases?

Want to encourage others to ride? Public health? Transportation advocacy organizations? Bikeshare programs?

Like writing? Cycling journalism, either popular magazines or trade press? Do other people like your writing? Enough to gain a following like Willie Wier/Dervla Murphy/Joe Kurmaskie etc?