Bicycle Mechanics - For the female mechanics out there...

I know there's got to be more out there! I thought it might be nice to start a thread to introduce yourself, converse, vent, etc. I've been working as a mechanic for 3 years now and I've become well aware at how exceptional, lonely, gratifying, frustrating, etc. it can be working in an otherwise "manly" profession.

So maybe some questions to start off:

How old are you and where are you located?

How long have you been a mechanic?

Employed or a self-proclaimed grease monkey?

What level of mechanic would you place yourself at (i.e beginner, intermediate, advanced).

Are you a mountain biker, cyclist, or something in between?

What are your current rides?

Favorite part about being a mechanic?

Least Favorite part about being a mechanic?

Feel free to add questions you would like to ask too!


I guess I should start off by answering my own questions...
How old are you and where are you located? I'm 25 and located in the SF bay area.
How long have you been a mechanic? About 3 years.
Employed or a self-proclaimed grease monkey? Employed.
What level of mechanic would you place yourself at (i.e beginner, intermediate, advanced)? Advanced.
Are you a mountain biker, cyclist, or something in between? Both! I started off much more of a mountain biker but lately I have found a love for the wide open roads.
What are your current rides? I have a frakenbike Marin as my MTB. Honestly, it's a bit of a beater at this point. However, my new love is my Soma ES I built up recently.
Favorite part about being a mechanic, and not so favorite part? Being able to learn everything there is to know about something I am so passionate about has been absolutely awesome. Building up and repairing bikes is something I know I will never get bored of. I also love educating others, especially other women, on bike mechanics and showing them that being a female is by no means a handicap.
Least favorite part about being a mechanic I was very unaware until I started this job, but unfortunately there is still a surprising number of people that don't believe women can adequately understand mechanics. Honestly it use to piss me off quite a bit, and it still does but I've become more accustomed to it for the sake of not allowing their crappy attitude from dampening all the enjoyment I do get out of my job.

unfortunately there is still a surprising number of people that don't believe women can adequately understand mechanics.

Technically-minded chicks are my favourite people :)

Paging BianchiGirl....

I'm 51 and I'm in Atlanta.
I've been employed as a mechanic for a little over a year. Paid to work on peoples bikes for about 5 years and been working on bikes since I was 8. I used to be in the news media, worked part time at a shop then things worked out for a full time gig.
I think I'm advanced, but I'm not afraid to admit I see new stuff all the time.
I'm a roadie, commuter, utility cyclist depending on my mood.
I have a surly LHT, a bamboo bike, A steel lugged Pinarello and a carbon Fuji.
My favorite part of being a mechanic is solving a puzzle and getting stuff to work right. Figuring out a solution is very rewarding.
My least favorite part is people who expect my expertise for nothing. It's just a bike, right?

When I quit my job in TV, I got a lot of grief about taking such a menial, blue collar, get-your-hands-dirty kind of job. I don't get the "women can't be mechanics because they don't understand such complicated things" from customers, except maybe from recent immigrants. I get more of the, "You're an adult, not a slacker, what are you doing this for?" To which I always answer, the Wright Brothers were bicycle mechanics-I think that's good company.

My preferred LBS is owned and operated by a woman:

http://www.chainreactioncycleryllc.com/

She worked as a mechanic for many years at an established shop that closed down several years ago, and started her own shop after that.

When I attended Barnett's school, the head instructor was female. Wasn't an issue for me, or any of my fellow students. Her skills and knowledge were deep.
She went on to do a column in Bicycling Magazine for a while. One of the better mechanics I've ever watched at work.

My co-mechanic is a woman. It is extremely frustrating when male customers ask me if she is "any good" or something like that. It hasn't happened many times, fortunately.

We have a female mechanic/salesperson in our shop... she just doesn't hang out here on BF. It's great to have her here. Also, our part time fit expert is also a woman. In most cases, there's no downside -- she's as good as any of us with most stuff, a star on the sales floor, and having a mixed sex staff helps at the retail level.

I ran a Bike Technician school for a few years and there was a definite difference in general between the men and women in the course. The biggest challenge with the women was lack of confidence. Often they knew the answer to a problem but did not believe in themselves. The biggest problem for the men was overconfidence, resulting in misdiagnosis and even broken parts!

Hands are Hands - Mechanic or Surgeon - Artist or Framer - We all need to recognize each others skills...

Hands are Hands - Mechanic or Surgeon - Artist or Framer - We all need to recognize each others skills...
True, but those hands are guided by the mind and the real skill is between the ears of whoever's hands you are paying to do the work. That knows no sex boundaries.

Hands are Hands - Mechanic or Surgeon - Artist or Framer - We all need to recognize each others skills...

Indeed - those who have not done mechanical or other "manual" work do not understand one is not "good with your hands" but rather with your brain. In addition to knowledge about ever-changing technology an expert bike mechanic applies skills and knowledge in logical troubleshooting, math, physics, chemistry, biomechanics and communication. Beyond that one needs to be a creative thinker, as there is always a problem that nobody has seen before and for which there is no standard fix.

As the old joke goes - it's $5.00 to tighten the part and $95.00 to know which one and how much.

It's great to hear about females doing mechanical (dirty) work. I am so tired of hearing about equal rights for women and then when there's something to be lifted or dirty, dangerous work; "can you guys do that". Start doing these jobs and equal pay / equal treatment will quickly follow.

Hello I am not currently employed as a Mechanic or shop employee but if I could do more than live paycheck to paycheck working in the business I would love to do it again.

How old are you and where are you located? My home is Camp Hill Pa but i travel frequently to So Jersey and as Professional driver I roam the country in general

How long have you been a mechanic? I guess I have been working on bikies since I was 16 or so, since we had to fix our own flats rather than go to the shop. I simply got tired of waiting for my brother so I did it myself.

Employed or a self-proclaimed grease monkey? Not currently employed as a mechanic

What level of mechanic would you place yourself at (i.e beginner, intermediate, advanced). I have not worked on any 'modern' bikes, that is bike newer than my '99 Bianchi w/ 9spd Campi but I consider myself an advanced mechanic since I know how to prep a frame, heat and bend a bent dropout, and with a bit of practice could likely start building wheels again.

Are you a mountain biker, cyclist, or something in between? Road more than mountain, infact my mountain bike has 700c wheels and No it is not a 'cross bike (though I do own one) nor a '29er.

What are your current rides? see my signature

Favorite part about being a mechanic? Helping someone solve a problema dn creating a work of art.

Least Favorite part about being a mechanic? Getting dirty and not having the right tool for the job

From '89 until '95 I worked at several shops in the greater Boston area and did everything from backroom builder, sales, stock, special order, custom builds, race team support (including driver) warehouse manager, service writer and sort of shop forewoman. I also did neutral support for a Pan Mass challenge ride a few times and once was drafted to ride in a support vehicle at Killington. I was almost invited to go to Greece witht he USCF juniors but lacked a USCF mechanic liscense. I still do most of own work except the frame prep I do not have the tools for.

Hello I am not currently employed as a Mechanic or shop employee but if I could do more than live paycheck to paycheck working in the business I would love to do it again.

How old are you and where are you located? My home is Camp Hill Pa but i travel frequently to So Jersey and as Professional driver I roam the country in general

How long have you been a mechanic? I guess I have been working on bikies since I was 16 or so, since we had to fix our own flats rather than go to the shop. I simply got tired of waiting for my brother so I did it myself.

Employed or a self-proclaimed grease monkey? Not currently employed as a mechanic

What level of mechanic would you place yourself at (i.e beginner, intermediate, advanced). I have not worked on any 'modern' bikes, that is bike newer than my '99 Bianchi w/ 9spd Campi but I consider myself an advanced mechanic since I know how to prep a frame, heat and bend a bent dropout, and with a bit of practice could likely start building wheels again.

Are you a mountain biker, cyclist, or something in between? Road more than mountain, infact my mountain bike has 700c wheels and No it is not a 'cross bike (though I do own one) nor a '29er.

What are your current rides? see my signature

Favorite part about being a mechanic? Helping someone solve a problema dn creating a work of art.

Least Favorite part about being a mechanic? Getting dirty and not having the right tool for the job

From '89 until '95 I worked at several shops in the greater Boston area and did everything from backroom builder, sales, stock, special order, custom builds, race team support (including driver) warehouse manager, service writer and sort of shop forewoman. I also did neutral support for a Pan Mass challenge ride a few times and once was drafted to ride in a support vehicle at Killington. I was almost invited to go to Greece witht he USCF juniors but lacked a USCF mechanic liscense. I still do most of own work except the frame prep I do not have the tools for.


Noticed how you dodged part A of question 1.:lol:

There are a lot of women mechanics here. Not sure where you got the idea that it is gender dominant.

There are a lot of women mechanics here. Not sure where you got the idea that it is gender dominant.

Indeed. One of my favorite people (never mind mechanics) is Beth Hamon at Citybikes in Portland. Multi-talented, and knows her bike stuff.

Glad to see so many contributors to the thread. Keep it going! And Bianchigirl and Chop61, thanks for contributing too! I have to say that one of my favorite feeling about being a mechanic is when you finally figure out a puzzle and get something to work right - rewarding is definitely the best way to describe it. Chop61 - I absolutely must see a pic of this bamboo bike! Bianchigirl, I have to say one of the things I have never done is to heat a frame and realign the dropouts. Honestly, never heard of that being done actually. What exactly do you use to heat the frame/fork with that doesn't damage the paint?


There are a lot of women mechanics here. Not sure where you got the idea that it is gender dominant.

It's a big reason of why I started this thread, was to have a place for all the female mechanics in here to converse, etc. I'm not aware of who on here fits this description, thus I created this thread. But I have to say, to claim that being a bike mechanic is not a male-predominant profession/hobby is a little silly. I'll leave it at that.

Indeed. One of my favorite people (never mind mechanics) is Beth Hamon at Citybikes in Portland. Multi-talented, and knows her bike stuff.

I recently visited Portland for vacation and is what I consider a little bit of heaven on earth, haha. I don't think I ever visited Citybikes, but I did come across a slew of other bike shops that I had to check out. I did visit one bike shop off of Alberta St. that had a ton of stuff in cheap/used bins. I wish my bike shop would support such a thing. What part of Portland is Citybikes located?

CityBikes is on SE Ankeney, there are two locations, one at SE 20th and one around SE 6th (not sure of the exact x-street). Really good shop.