Some proper pedantic bell end's of the highest order
That's "bell ends". No apostrophe.
Well 'did' is shorter than 'done', so you actually spent more time making it wrong, which suggests that it wasn't intentional.
I'm not going to pretend that my English is always proper. I can make it proper, when it is required - I'm certinally not going to do that for condescending arses like yourself.
Rorschach, I prefer radio 4 as that's all I can get in the car. But I don't see how my intelligence can be measured by radio stations?
Assuming a 40 hour week minimum wage is 12700, so as a full time worker you can't be that far off
..if you're on 12.5ish, another 2.5ish K is a nice payrise. 2.5k more to any of us should be very much appreciated.
Neil the wheel, top marks )
Have you met people who listen to radio1?
innit, bruv!
[pendant]
[/pendant]In future I will conduct my manner
you might conduct yourself, but i don't think conducting your [i]manner[/i] really works...
😉 at Rorschach. it is that day, after all. 😀
Have you met people who listen to radio1?
I listen to Radio 1 🙂
Ive had the slap down on here for using colourful language.. People think they're clever by correcting you but in reality they were too stupid to realise what really happened.
doesn't take a lot of brains (I'm not saying bike mechanics are stupid, you need common sense but thats it really)
It may not take a lot of 'brains' but it does require a degree of skill to do a good job. I know plenty of very clever people who have no skills when it comes to manual tasks.
I'm not really making a point about salary, but don't confuse intelligence/brains with learned skills. You pay somebody based on the skills they have, not their intelligence (obviously sometimes the two are related).
Also, there is a fair degree of responsibility involved, there is the potential for bodily harm with a poorly maintained bike both for the rider and other people, certainly a lot more responsibility than a lot of better paid desk jobs that also require little in the way of brains 😉
njee20 - Member
I listen to Radio 1
I rest my case m'lud 😉
The skill of a good mechanic lies in being able to do it quickly and accurately. Anybody can fiddle about and get it right eventually, a good mechanic gets it right immediately with no messing around and no wastage.
I used to have a Kiwi mechanic who could build a dozen bikes a day whilst also dealing with all the walk-in repairs without even breaking sweat. We ended up offering him silly money to stay with us rather than return to NZ.
Back on topic! Don't forget most bike mechanics work weekends and bank holidays when your mates are riding, 20k defo top end of the wage scale too, though you can make a bit on the side doing repairs
interesting thread. for info, what does a typical lbs charge an hour for the mechanic?
Plenty of responsibility in the job if you ask me . If you mess up fixing somebodies brakes and they can't stop at a junction and crash you can be in deep sh1t . Far worse than messing up a companys IT system if you ask me .
What's the cost of the Cytech courses?
Yes right £12,700 is almost £15,000. That extra 18% to someone on £12.7K will mean a quite big change in their life (unless they live with mum and dad) eg being able to eat better/go out/have a holiday rather than just meaning they can now afford to buy an iPad.
Do bike mechanics work on Bank Holidays? Shops are always shut round my way.
As for £16-20k - to put it in perspective re responsibility, there are plenty people where I work (Ambulance Service) who who attend life-threatening emergencies earning less than that..............oh and they work bank Holidays, nights, weekends, Christmas and New Year too.
Thre is to my mind an obvious connection between the little we want to pay to get out bikes fixed, the low wages of most bike shop mechanics and the low standard of work done by many bike shop mechanics.
Unless yo really want to work with bikes you would be advised to use your mechanical skills eleswhere where you can earn much more
considering the nonsense I have seen on here from a variety of people "speaking as a bike shop mechanic" there is a huge skills gap to close.
BY a car for £15 000 you will pay £50 an hour++++ to have it serviced - but your £3000 bike you baulk at £2o an hour
As has been said already, fixing a bike isn't exactly rocket science. Basic understanding of mechanics, and some common sense is all you need.
The thread will only screw in/out ONE way... the rear hub only fits in ONE direction....
When you get into the realms of suspension tuning, geo tweaking, etc - imho, you're no longer in 'bike mechanic' territory, you're now a specialist (Loco, TF, J-Tech, etc)
(In the same way a 'car engine tuner' is much more than a 'car mechanic')
EDIT : [b]TJ[/b]
BY a car for £15 000 you will pay £50 an hour++++ to have it serviced - but your £3000 bike you baulk at £2o an hour
Most customers at a LBS won't drop £3k on a bike. More like £100-400?
As for £16-20k - to put it in perspective re responsibility, there are plenty people where I work (Ambulance Service) who [b]who attend life-threatening emergencies[/b]
Are there? Paramedic pay scale starts at £21,176 according to [url= http://www.prospects.ac.uk/paramedic_salary.htm ]this[/url], so I'm not convinced that's valid. I imagine there are call centre folk on less though.
As for £16-20k - to put it in perspective re responsibility, there are plenty people where I work (Ambulance Service) who who attend life-threatening emergencies
Even if true, that just highlights the madness rather than justifying anything. If those people are genuinely paid that little and genuinely have that level of responsibility that's an argument for paying them more, not paying bike mechanics less.
Paramedic pay scale starts at £21,176 according to this, so I'm not convinced that's valid.
I'm not entirely sure that it's only paramedics that attend emergencies
I was at university for eight years, and have gone through the correct use of language and have come out the other side. I totes can do what I want done with English.
I'd love to be a bike mechanic.
The skill of a good mechanic lies in being able to do it quickly and accurately.
this is the key thing here. I can do practically everything that a bike mechanic does, but it probably takes me 2 or 3 times as long.
I stripped and rebuilt a bike the other day (down to nuts and bolts) and it took about 5-6 hours. I doubt that would be satisfactory in a shop.
what would be interesting would be to consider the total hourly cost of employment of a bike mechanic (i.e. including employer NI contributions, benefits, etc.) compared to the shop's charges for workshop spannering e.g. £22 for a bottom bracket installation
twice!
I'd love to be a bike mechanic.
as would a lot of people. this probably has more to do with the low pay scale than anything else.
Agreedthat's an argument for paying them more, not paying bike mechanics less.
If you doubt me amedias, ECSW's (Emergency Care Support Workers) are on [url= http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/details/default.aspx?id=766 ]Band 3[/url] and even with unsocial working allowance some are not on £20k.
In my area they can 1st respond to up to 7 Cat'A' ie. life-threatening calls per shift. The fact that they have to do this, with relatively basic training, is another story altogether.
I am astonished by that woody. Don't think it happens here
That's a daft avenue to pursue though, and let's be honest bike shop mechanics are not the ones who should be on the receiving end.
What about sportsfolk, who really do have no responsibility whatsoever, other than to entertain, and get millions.
TJ - that's exactly what the Ambulance Trust Clinical Director said at a meeting 2 weeks ago. In fact he said point blank that it wasn't true...........until the figures were produced.I am astonished by that woody. Don't think it happens here
njee20 - Member
What about sportsfolk, who really do have no responsibility whatsoever, other than to entertain, and get millions.
...and are the best at what they do.
[quote=njee20]
That's a daft avenue to pursue though, and let's be honest bike shop mechanics are not the ones who should be on the receiving end.
What about sportsfolk, who really do have no responsibility whatsoever, other than to entertain, and get millions.
Unfortunately, products I use most likely pay their wages. Given the choice, I'd rather have nothing to do with them, but that's unlikely.
I doubt you're going to get a crowd of 50,000 people cheering on the OP as he replaces a bottom bracket though.What about sportsfolk, who really do have no responsibility whatsoever, other than to entertain, and get millions.
No, but it was an example based on the fact people were saying "ambulance crew have to go and look at bits of person splattered around, and thus deserve more money than bike mechanics".
Comparing professions in that way is utter tosh.
e.g. £22 for a bottom bracket installation
I'd love to be able to get away with that. I usually ask £6 and absorb the extra on the difficult ones that are rusted in place and have to be got out with the angle grinder.
Fascinating thread
I really take my hat of to nurses & teachers who work silly hours with incredible responsibility for very little pay
The stark differences in wages between the private and public sector is crazy
The country is lucky that there are people who have such a caring passion for work that they'll enter such careers knowing that the wages will be low
Regarding bike mechanics - is £20k a good wage? I used to be a car mechanic and would expect to be on £30K to £35K by now
That job required 4 years training during an apprenticeship, which probably makes the £20K seem fair
As someone mentioned above - if you want to get into the trade & make money, then you need to be a specialist.
Be a suspension specialist or the best wheel builder in your county - if you've got a great skill which is better than other peoples, then you'll get paid accordingly
Is it? You are the only one using emotive language.No, but it was an example based on the fact people were saying "ambulance crew have to go and look at bits of person splattered around, and thus deserve more money than bike mechanics".Comparing professions in that way is utter tosh.
It was actually a comparison between the level of skill and responsibility of the two jobs and the similar remuneration each enjoys. 🙄
To be a "qualified" cycle mechanic doesn't take 4 years training....
I'd love to be able to get away with that. I usually ask £6 and absorb the extra on the difficult ones that are rusted in place and have to be got out with the angle grinder.
come to London, I was quoted £45 to fit a headset and BB. Even when I suggested that the frame was stripped, prepped and ready and that they wouldn't have to fit any parts afterwards they wouldn't budge.
Be a suspension specialist or the best wheel builder in your county - if you've got a great skill which is better than other peoples, then you'll get paid accordingly
+1 especially if you take pride in your work (a rarity these days it seems) and acquire a reputation as such
[i]BY a car for £15 000 you will pay £50 an hour++++ to have it serviced - but your £3000 bike you baulk at £2o an hour[/i]
Are you suggesting there is any parity between the complex mechanics of a modern car and a push bike?
Woody - wasn't doubting you, I had just not researched it and have no first-hand experience in that area to draw on so my 'if its true' comment was just me showing my ignorance of the situation, not casting doubt on it.
And thanks for providing the link for us! I do like it when people back up a claim with the evidence 🙂
As a few people have alluded to previously; the wages paid to a mechanic in a bike shop is directly related to what [u]you[/u] are prepared to pay for his labour. And i disagree with the points above about the job carying a lot of responsibility.
Personally, i think 20k is a very good wage for tinkering with bikes all day. That said, you'd struggle to make a decent living on that much - especially when you have family commitments to pay for.
Any any comaprison to the wages of professional sports people is irrelevant.
Regarding bike mechanics - is £20k a good wage? I used to be a car mechanic and would expect to be on £30K to £35K by now
You might expect it, I doubt you'd find many people willing to pay that much though!
£16-20k isn't a great salary, but it does seem to line up with the skillset I'd expect someone to have for working at that level. It's more of an enthusiasts job and thus historically I suspect companies don't have any issue recruiting at low level salaries. As suggested, a star performer would probably earn more. I wouldn't see it as an unskilled job either, to be a good mechanic you would need a decent level of knowledge and experience.
It was actually a comparison between the level of skill and responsibility of the two jobs and the similar remuneration each enjoys
Was it? What is the level of skill required to be an Emergency Care Support Worker, compared to a fully Cytech qualified mechanic?
The NHS job description for the role is this:
to use advanced driving skills under blue light and normal traffic conditions to respond to emergency and routine calls as required.To [b]support a qualified practitioner[/b] in the provision of high quality and effective clinical and personal care and the transportation of patients
From [url= http://www.unison.org.uk/file/ECA%20RESOURCE%20PACK%203340.pdf ]here[/url].
Now to me, that seems reasonable, in the grand scheme of things (insofar as all NHS employees are woefully underpaid).
That's a band 3 job, so 16,110 to 19,077. A similar range to a fully qualified mechanic.
