Cycle Repairs (mobile)

snappyfish · 15 Sep 2016 at 20:21

How many of your guys and girls that cycle would call a mobile cycle mechanic?

If someone had plenty of experience (15+ years), with cytech training.

Would you allow someone to fix you bike at your home or workplace?

Stuff · 15 Sep 2016 at 22:10

snappyfish said:
Would you allow someone to fix you bike at your home or workplace?

Sure, cost-dependant. But that could be very convenient

SoliD · 15 Sep 2016 at 22:30

snappyfish said:
How many of your guys and girls that cycle would call a mobile cycle mechanic?

If someone had plenty of experience (15+ years), with cytech training.

Would you allow someone to fix you bike at your home or workplace?

Yes if required, but only taken my bike to a shop to be looked at once in about 3 years.

merlin · 15 Sep 2016 at 23:15

Yes, absolutely.

snappyfish · 15 Sep 2016 at 23:42

SoliD said:
Yes if required, but only taken my bike to a shop to be looked at once in about 3 years.

Clearly you have some nice bikes, you service them yourself? Or dont ride very often?

SoliD · 16 Sep 2016 at 00:05

snappyfish said:
Clearly you have some nice bikes, you service them yourself? Or dont ride very often?

Do all the work myself or talk to experienced friends. Used shop in majorca as obviously limited. Wuat is the reason for your question as looks like youre doing research.

bimbleuk · 16 Sep 2016 at 00:35

Yes definitely and a couple of colleagues and myself were using a reliable guy but he gave up recently due to lack of work.

snappyfish · 16 Sep 2016 at 07:31

SoliD said:
Do all the work myself or talk to experienced friends. Used shop in majorca as obviously limited. Wuat is the reason for your question as looks like youre doing research.

Yep, doing some research.

snappyfish · 16 Sep 2016 at 07:32

bimbleuk said:
Yes definitely and a couple of colleagues and myself were using a reliable guy but he gave up recently due to lack of work.

I suppose the area will dictate how busy you are also. what area do you live where the guy gave up due to lack of work?

snappyfish · 17 Sep 2016 at 19:47

Not many of you will then? Just the 3 people so far?

neil_g · 17 Sep 2016 at 20:17

diy here. With the right tools and a little knowledge there is a lot of money to be saved. So any paid service would need to be the right price.

Only thing I don't do is wheel build/true. And the pressing of the headset cups on the Patrol, those things were super tight. Lbs deployed the massive park press and only charged a few quid and also knocked some money off some other bits I got while I was there.

snappyfish · 17 Sep 2016 at 20:38

neil_g said:
diy here. With the right tools and a little knowledge there is a lot of money to be saved. So any paid service would need to be the right price.

Only thing I don't do is wheel build/true. And the pressing of the headset cups on the Patrol, those things were super tight. Lbs deployed the massive park press and only charged a few quid and also knocked some money off some other bits I got while I was there.

Good to hear. You'd be amazed how many inner tubes get replaced buy people that dont do tools.

bimbleuk · 18 Sep 2016 at 05:54

snappyfish said:
I suppose the area will dictate how busy you are also. what area do you live where the guy gave up due to lack of work?

It was around Swindon which which was a bit disappointing but there are a few cycle service centers it the area which didn't help.

We were using him for more specialized work but I guess there just wasn't the demand for that.

bimbleuk · 18 Sep 2016 at 06:01

mattyfez · 18 Sep 2016 at 11:46

I think thats a potential issue, sure there are those that will take thier bike in for a puncture, but I suspect many cyclists can do most maintenance, apart from headsets and fixing wheels.

The only time I get any general maintenance done by someone else is when its already in the shop for something I can't do, simply out of convenience/laziness.

snappyfish · 18 Sep 2016 at 12:44

It's something I am thinking about. Although we assume many can do it and it's simple. Repairs & servicing is a very busy side of the trade. Shops are crying out for good mechanics.

It's not just punctures, its everything related to bikes that create business daily.

Cables, chain sets, headsets, just taken out of shed service, tyres, tubes, gear adjustments and so on. The classic phrase I hear is

"just purchased this online" can you fit it for me"

I think some people assume bike shops are the only way, the mobile guys I see dont really have good websites or market themselves very well.

There is a company overseas who went on a version of Dragons den with a similar idea. Got invested started out with 1 or 2 vans and now have 34 vans which they franchise to mobile mechanics.

Jon33 · 18 Sep 2016 at 13:32

There were a couple of mobile mechanics on a recent sportive I did, seemed to always have a bike on the stand so he looked fairly busy. Don't think he was charging (I guessed he got paid by the sportive people to be there).

snappyfish · 18 Sep 2016 at 13:42

Jon33 said:
There were a couple of mobile mechanics on a recent sportive I did, seemed to always have a bike on the stand so he looked fairly busy. Don't think he was charging (I guessed he got paid by the sportive people to be there).

Yep, some people do "day rate" or "free days" for business and organisations, will hopefully drum up business later. Was at a council event recently and mobile mechanic was there for 8 hours on day rate.

Had about 25 staff members bring there bike for "advice" and general tweaks. In his words it was a "very productive day"

jpaul · 19 Sep 2016 at 07:59

I had misconception that bike sales were growing, that would support such a proposition, but stats like this seem to contradict that.

Principally a diy'er, except headsets/bb's, like for mobile car mechanics I am skeptical that, despite convenience, quality of service would be up there, versus a fully kitted/warm/light bike shop where work can be completed more efficiently in parallel with others (tool investment shared).
Early/late opening bike shops would be more compelling for me.

snappyfish · 21 Sep 2016 at 21:14

Bike sales are flat, bike repairs are constant!