MJH100

I want to go to a mechanic institute, but can't aford it. Bicycle are my passion in life, and I want to make it my career. ANy suggestions on how I will get the cash?

Panthers007

Save your money. Only spend it on necessities.

And I went to United Bicycle Institute (UBI) in Ashland, Oregon in 1984. It was an intensive 2-week course. The first thing they had us do was learn to build a pair of 3X laced wheels. You could have cut the moan in the room with a knife. It was what everyone dreaded the most. But the instructor was excellent and we all built a wheelset that day. And came back on our own over the weekend to build more wheels. It was a fun and very well structured course. And Ashland is a lovely town with a volcano in the Cascade Range towering over it!

The other major school is Barnett's in Colorado Springs. It used to be run by Schwinn and only teach people to work on Schwinn's. Now they are run by the Barnett family and is non-brand specific. I haven't heard from any graduates from it regards how it's run and taught. But I can highly recommend UBI.

To your original query: How can you get money? What is this? Bank-Robbery 101? Save! Save! Save! Get 2 jobs. Walk dogs. Collect beer cans on the highway. Etc. Did I mention SAVE?

operator

I'd highly suggest staying away from being a mech unless you *really* have no other choice. Find a good shop with real experienced mechanics. Read through and learn barnetts, sutherlands. Wrench on your own bikes.

"Mechanic institute" training on your resume means jack **** to anyone reading your resume. Anyone that matters anyways.

Panthers007

Not true regards meaning squat. UBI makes their list of grads available to anyone interested in offering employment. I got quite a few offers from around the US.

But operator is correct about being aware that this could be a last resort sort of action. For instance - be apprised it's for lousy pay. Odd hours sometimes. And the clientele can sound like fingernails on a chalkboard! So be very certain that you want and need this sort of work.

If you're like me, going to "bike-school" was one of many things I studied. I ended up running a so-called underground shop for about 12 years - long story - but in the meantime I was studying psychology at Harvard, chemistry in MIT, an EMT course at a Boston-area hospital, organizing political-action, working as a radio DJ...the list goes on.

When I bowed out of bike-mechanics for around 10 years - I was waiting for bicycles to come back. This would happen, my sociological and economic backgrounds told me, when the economy had tanked and the idiots who caused it to tank would speak out against bicyclists as being responsible for the evils clawing at the doorstep of the Motherland! <Blow Trumpet here>

So...I'm baaaack!

vettefrc2000

Join the Army.

MJH100

i feel like u guys have shot down my dreams, you know you shouldnt try to make others miserable to. the fact is: im well aware of the people who have old bikes not worth the repair. But i want to be a mechanic, and one day work on professional bicycles. School is going to help with knowledge, and employers will take me seriose, now i know i can do it another route, but the schools gonna help. Any other negativity from people can go to hell.

Panthers007

If you read negativity into my statements - you are off base here. I wouldn't waste my fingers on telling you my experience and offering my view & advice. I did what you wish to do - and it was the right decision. Now let me introduce you to the rest of the Cast-Of-Characters:

operator - the forum hit & run destroyer of dreams and Chief Of Mean. He takes some getting used to, but it's nothing personal on his part - he's mean & nasty to everyone. Stick around - you'll get used to him.

vettefrc200 - unkown entity, but seems to enjoy dropping a bomb and running to the hills. There are many of these on any forum. Sometimes the attempt of humor works. Sometimes the bomb lands on a Children's Hospital in Hanoi.

Not sure? Ignore.

Follow your dreams, dude. It's the best way to live.

Gorilla Biscuit

Do the course mate, it is good to get the certificate. better having something, then nothing.

I have the cert III in mechanics, I got it at TAFE ( in australia) it is based around barnetts. also did a frame building course

I taught myself mechanics at a young age by pulling my bikes apart all the time & doing work experience when I was young. as I got older I learnt more & more by working with older guys in a busy shop in the city.

I just did the cert course so I can have it on paper, So people take you a little more serious when you say you're a bike mechanic plus, gives you a better advantage in the industry.


as for money- save save save, sell things you dont need or use anymore, get a second job if you need too. ALSO Ask a bike shop if you can do free work experience.

Jean Beetham Smith 

Although nothing replaces experience, a good grounding in theory is essential to the mastery of a task. Thats why states liscense professions (well, and to make all that money from liscense fees). Go to school and get all the experience you can.

As to your original question, I believe UBI is liscensed as a technical career school, and you can qualify for education loans.

sonatageek

How about this as a way to get the money together:

1. Take the repair classes at a bike coop in your area to get the basics down.
2. Check CL and garage sales and buy some cheap bikes and fix them up and flip them.
3. Once you have enough money saved sign up for the training and go for your dream.

This is sort of the path I took when I switched careers about 12 years ago -- went from non-profit community organizer/director to IT support. I learned stuff on my own over a few years and then made the switch and was lucky enough to find a company that provided training ( thank you Y2K ).

Another suggestion for building up the cash for the training would be to try to get a sales job at a bike shop. That would get you exposure and perhaps some tips/training from the mechanics there.

My suggestion for filtering 'negative' comments is to just think of that as a way to reality check what you want. Try to think of the variety of aspects of work that are related to what you want to do, and then you can plan in such a way that you have the maximum number of options.

geo8rge

As with most things it is a question of time and money. I would say get a job in any capacity at a LBS. Then you will be able to see if technical school is worth the money.

Also note that the ED world is not 'fair'. UBI and places like that have many students who are having their tuition paid by the government, or their parents, or other sources of unearned income. If you are paying with money you earned, be vary careful how you spend it.

Certificates from these schools do not prevent people from entering the trade, and customers are not afraid of uncertified mechanics. So the paper is only worth the knowledge you get.

If your area is underserved You might consider working informally too. Learn to make friends and let it be known you work on bikes. Learning to market yourself may be more important that actually fixing bikes, which others can do.

Why don't you buy a book on wheel building and build yourself some fancy wheels. You don't nee UBI for that. Fish bikes out of the trash repair them and sell them. See what happens.

You should talk to people locally like at bicycle clubs ect. If there aren't any start one.

You should also consider other professions, the kind that pay better.

"you can qualify for education loans." Currently education loans in the USA are not dischargeable in bankruptcy court under most circumstances. DANGER DANGER DANGER is all I can say. I know for a fact such loans destroy many people.

vettefrc2000

You asked for advise. I worked at a LBS before I went into the Army. I was trained as an airframe mechanic. During the recession of 91 I worked for Huffy Service First building retail bikes. I am currently a PhD candidate and a VP of Quality. I overhaul bikes for fun.

You have gotten some great advise. Go get a job at an LBS. Find out who is the best mechanic and then pick their brain. You do not need to go to "bike" school.

vettefrc2000

Really?

He asked how he could get money for school. I told him how he could. It is what I did. Worked out pretty well for me.

I love working on bikes. I was up wrenching on a CL Fuji Touring Series V last night. I just do not think you need to go to "bike" school to learn the art.

jtgotsjets

go to a local bike shop and ask how many of their mechanics when to school to learn how to fix bikes. ask them how many professional bike they work on in a week... month... year...

most people with pro-level bikes know enough about them that they don't need to take them into the mechanics very often. you never see classic cars at the shop, do you? no, their owners know enough about them to keep them running.

i dont mean to trash on your dreams, but you seem to have a highly optimistic and unrealistic view on what being a bicycle mechanic is. i'm not saying its not for you, and i'm not saying you shouldn't pursue it. what i am saying is that you shouldn't expect that bike school is going to get you to these mythical pro repair shops that don't really exist.

Panthers007

This was the impression you left. I believe in encouraging people to pursue their dreams. And your point was to not bother. 2 weeks at UBI would immerse him in the world he hopes to build.

MJH100

My local LBS doesnt take me seriose, they are snobbs, they just hired in this 17 year old who knows less then me, to build bikes, and do sales/random stuff. Im 21 by the way

operator

Lol

Clordio

First of all, I can't tell if you are with a shop or not but GET WITH ONE IMMEDIATELY!

My LBS didn't take me serious for a long time, mainly because I rode a fixed gear. I had applied many times and they never gave me a call. One day I was in there and a customer had some questions but the staff were busy. I talked to the guy and helped him out. I guess the head guy there saw me and asked me if I wanted to interview for the job.

A couple of weeks later I'm working there. Now, it's not glorious in the beginning; you have to work to make it glorious. I've only been working for a month and I can already tell I'm much better at the wrench then selling people overpriced specialized stuff. My basic plan is to keep performing and getting better, making sure the manager notices how fast I'm learning and how competent I am with the tools and eventually moving to the back room where repairs are the priority over selling new bikes and crap.

I highly suggest getting on at a bike shop ASAP and learning hands on. There will be people there who can teach you many things. One of the guys I work with is an awesome wheel builder and has already agreed to teach me. Make connections, talk, and ask questions.

Above all be persistent. I used to like working on cars, I now LOVE working on bikes. It doesn't pay much but it's pretty rewarding when that 30 year old bike rolls out of the shop like new.

operator

Well, you just said what I was going to write, so i'm just going to requote it. The OP is taking much, much too much stock in a bike school education. The industry isn't regulated, it's not unionized, there is no formal apprenticeship program in place. There is no real industry certification. The pay sucks even for very experienced mechanics. This is why there are so many hack, garbage mechanics out there. As long as bicycles are treated as recreational toys, bike mechanics as an profession will never grow up.

Don't worry, that feeling will end pretty quickly.

Work in this industry for a while and all that's left after two years is a void and you'll wish you were dead as well.

If you want people to take you seriose (sic), start by learning how to write english.

vettefrc2000

The money you would spend on school would be better spent on tools. The best way to learn is by doing. I do not know where you live but there may be members who would be willing to help you learn.

Volunteering at a co-op is not a bad idea. Don't get me wrong. I love going to school. I think bike school would be fun. You stated your problem was financing. So free training is a good way to go.

Also, some skills translate well to others. When I went to airframe school I learned to weld, braze, rig controls use mills and lathes etc. I learned how to build an airplane. If you can build an airplane you will find bikes are easy.

vettefrc2000

No,

You missed my point altogether.

He asked how to get cash. I gave him an option.

Panthers007

Well in that case - he could get a J O B.....

MJH100

figured it out. Some one mentioned putting in free aprentice time. And the fact that its not unionized, and the money would be spent better torwards other stuff (tools). Well if my LBS doesnt take me seriose, theres two other shops with in 20 miles from me, that ive never step foot in. and my home-shop (the one that i buy all my parts from) said that they have a back up repair line of a week, if u take a junk bike that needs a tune up (listening in on conversions therE) that being said, these other mentioned, might be in the same situation, If I voluntered for them, maybe i wouldnt get a job, but I would gain expierence. I already have a job that pays the same amount that my so called :desired" job pays. I think Ive gained some thing threw this post.

Panthers007

Good for you! Follow your dreams, man. And a dictionary wouldn't kill you either. One's writing adds to one's first impressions others have for one another.

Good luck!

MJH100

I can't belieave your killing me on the way I write. I wonder if you would make fun of the way I talk out loud.