I'm always impressed by the depth of knowledge here in C&V - both about the bikes themselves, and their care and feeding.

It seems to me that we have a disproportionate number of professionals who actively participate in this forum, so I thought I would post a poll to learn what proportion of you have had more than an avocational interest in cycling - (aside from flipping that is.)

So... Tell us if you were a professional mechanic, salesman, racer, builder, distributor or shop owner or otherwise were engaged with cycling in the past or present.

As for me, C&V is just a hobby, and aside from the many rusted trash-picked cruisers I collected, disassembled and reassembled as a child, practically everything I know I learned right here (or from Sheldon Brown.com.)

What if you're a picker of rusty trash bikes who so happens to put most local professional mechanics to shame?

Self-trumpeting not intended.

-Kurt

only an amateur, even by "Hobbiest" standards.

Another hobbyist, but always grateful for and fascinated by the advice of the pros who frequent this forum

Was an entry level shop mech back in the mid 80's. Built lots of Rosses, and when lucky, an Ibis. But since then just muck about with bikes on my own.
.

I will have a racing license some day. Today is not that day.

Go ahead an gloat, Kurt -- You've earned it - But unless your pay check came that way I'm afraid you'll have to vote "hobbiest"!

I worked in the industry from 1984-2000 as a Salesman, Assembler, Mechanic, Service and Store Manager. I also raced on the Road, X-C, DH and Trials.
I now have a small repair shop working on bikes and occasionally flipping one or two of them.

The cool thing for me is that what we call C & V now was 'the norm' for me working in the shop back then; the days when the sales floor was filled with
drop bar road bikes at every price point and for every discipline, and the four or five mountain bikes in the corner of the store were the 'new' kid on the block.

'hobbyist' implies one pursues his hobbies in his spare time. but if you're not employed (not the same as unemployed) or are retired, 'spare time' falls short of defining the time and work commitment. still, there's a great gulf between this and being pro. i'll probably never be paid for my hobby like a pro. [insert low wage joke here.] i guess what i'm saying is ... er ... what i'm asking is, are these our only choices?

Bike hobbiest. Pro Automotive Technician.

I consider myself a hobby flipper guy. Mainly because in my opinion your not a Pro unless you make a good living at something.

Former Pro now a Hobbyist.
"......professional mechanic, salesman, racer....."
Yes, Yes, kinda
7 Years between 2 shops also on USCF teams for both shops.
Now I eBay, flip, strip, paint..... I do what ever the heck I want.

Not even sure I'm a good hobbyist, but I know what things I like to do....
...none of which will ever earn me anything but general good will....

...well, except the gigolo thing, that kind of fell through...

I'm just:
"that guy in that house over there-he fixes bikes."
"that guy over there on that steel bike, ask him..."
"the guy in Nashville may have some parts for that...
"..if he doesn't have it, you'll have to look on the internet."
"that old guy over there, he may buy that thing.."
"the bike shop told me to call you...."
"why are those women laughing?"

My primary calling is as a minister, but I do work part time as a bike mechanic/saleman to supplement my income. Although I work at a shop, I'm a hobbiest that gets paid for enjoying his hobby. I do flip bikes, but most of my flips fund other projects or upgrade components.

there are hundreds if not thouands of very accomplished golfers in the u.s. alone that have become pros on tour, a mini tour, or at the club level, that, financially, are barely getting by. most do this for a while, break down, and leave the sport to sell insurance... or follow some other 'professional' endeavour where they might more easily make a good living. nitpicking, yeah, but it's something of an appropriate example of the poor, but talented professional.

I plugged in hobbyist...however, I was an ASE Certified Auto Mechanic a long time ago. I also wrenched and raced bikes back in the mid 1970's. I have a high mechanical aptitude and love tinkering and bikes are a helluva lot more affordable than Porsche and Cessna.

Aaron

I worked in shops in the 80s both in the States and in Europe. I raced some locally. I've had the touring bug for a long time. Now I'm a hobbyist. I work on my bikes, help friends work on their bikes, and from time to time can't resist picking up another bike.

The thing about a hobbyist, is if you pick a small niche, you can become a "subject matter expert", and more knowledgable than many "pros".

I am an engineer by education, and spent over 30 years in operations and maintenance management. Never worked in a bike shop. Never raced either.

Hobbiest until I got hired. hobbiest/professional? I have only been through 3 C&V bikes though

Thrifty Bill - It doesn't matter how good of a bike restorer/mechanic/collector/aficionado/cognoscenti you are - (I know a lot of you are darn good) - It only matters if you have worked at it professionally for your moola!

Remind me to do some menial job for some shop and get paid a few bucks for it.

-Kurt

I make bike parts for my job. Most are for modern bikes but some are for older bikes. Here is a step I made recently for a high-wheel bike. This was a gift to another collector who was helpful on one of my projects.




29 806 by barnstormerbikes, on Flickr


I may use the word "professional" to describe making a living with my crafts, frame building and metal fabrication but I wouldn't call myself a "bike industry professional" but more due to my objectives and behavior.

I would describe most of you with the whatever accolade you thought suited you best. As long as you aspire to gain mastery and are absolutely serious about your level of workmanship and how you describe your skills to the people you trade with, you are a pro in my book.

Bumbling, non-mechanically inclined fool and part-time thread stripper was not an option, so I picked amateur. I like mechanics and I love to build stuff though, but given my condition (waaaay to trembling hands) I'm out for all serious attempts at doing something that requires any dexterity in a professional way.

Happy to be a honest and humble hobbiest.

I knew a guy who did lettering and stripes on hotrods that shook so bad he couldn't hold a cup of coffee. I never saw him paint in person but his work was perfect and all brush.