I didn't say working in a bike shop is low skilled, just to clear that up. I said bikes aren't difficult to work on. As you say being quick and efficient is crucial and a valuable skill.
Sorry Molgrips, I wasn't specifically replying to you. More to Mooman who said:
Let’s not pretend fixing a bike is anything other than very simple. And whilst I accept ebikes complicate things … Your typical LBS mechanic will not be the fella actually fixing the issue; he will only check battery is charged,that there is no obvious sign of damage .. send it off to the experts under warranty.
And most LBS who are Bosch/Shimano ebike dealers will not send it away. You have diagnostic kit, you find out what's not working and you repair it. I've repaired maybe 100 ebikes without sending anything away. It's amazing how far you can get with a brain and a multi meter.
The bicycle and car mechanic jobs are not that different..
Echoing what's been said I do work in the motor trade as a mechanic and I cycle plus s
Do all all my maintenance too....
Its called fundamental mechanical principles..
How to use the knowledge and tools is how you apply the fundamental knowledge you have..for instance timing engines..do it once and you can time almost any engine using basic methods of yellow paint and human eye(or mirrors If access is tight..
But the key difference in car maintenance is the tools needed and the knowledge of how to use them..for example I did someones front wheel bearings recently and they were shocked at how many tools it took to do it and mostly how tight the bolts were done up meaning regular small hand tools wouldn't be sufficient to get the job done but mostly my knowledge got it done in 2 hours not 10..so mechanical knowledge is key ..especially with electrical systems..
There’s a difference between difficult and simply not knowing how to do something.
Not a great argument really. I don't know how to
Diagnose complex electrical issues on a car
But train me up and give me a little experience and hey presto... Complex electrical issue fixed and as I know what I'm doing now it isn't difficult. Difficulty is subjective
This is a good comment
I do challenge anyone who thinks bikes are simple and working on them is a low skilled job to spend a day in a bike workshop
I started out volunteering at a local bike recycling place. Turned up saying how I'd been working on my own bike for years blaa blaa blaa I know everything... Surprise surprise I was rubbish on anything but my own bikes...
Taken me a few years to get a good knowledge of most stuff that turns up now but everyday is still a school day and it's never boring but I have had to accept I'm never gonna be rich 😂
OP - you can’t really compare earnings between countries like that. You’d need to compare it relative to some other positions, because tax, healthcare, holiday/sickness, cost of living are so different.
