Das Rant
By C.G.

Calling All Bicycle Mechanics

Woohah.

You know, it’s kind of interesting that because we here at MBT write about mountain bikes, a lot of people out in cyberspace assume we’re die hard environmentalists. Just ask the EIC (Editor's Note: No, please don’t) to share some tales about emails we’ve received around here by extremists on both side of the coin; either chastising us for destroying the ground with our horrible tires or praising us for the lack of pollution we deposit at recreational areas. As a mechanic by trade, I’ve never really concerned myself much of an activist in either extreme. I’m not afraid to admit that it is gas-powered engines (first in cars then later in small engine repair) that have led me ultimately to wrenching on bicycles. For me it was a natural transition and an exercise in simplicity first and foremost; environmental benefits were an added bonus.

I bring these things up because I can’t help but wonder if there are any other mechanics out there that took the quite unorthodox path to bicycle wrenching that I did. I mean, while auto mechanics was a legitimate course/major when I was in high school, I don’t seem to recall bicycle mechanics being an option. Back in those days trade schools were the big alternative to college and once again automotive mechanics was a popular choice by many. Sure, bicycle mechanic institutes do exist these days but they’re few and far between. As a result it’s fairly safe to assume most bicycle mechanics out there must have been self-taught.

Let this article represent an open call to all of the bicycle mechanics out there. I would be very interested in hearing how you got to where you are. I’ll run any interesting submissions in a future installment of this column. Oh and if you’re an environmental crusader, send those gripes to my colleagues (Editor's Note: Thanks a lot. I'll forward them to your inbox.)