• =?UTF-8?Q?=E2=80=9DCritical=E2=80=9D=20bike=20technician?= =?UTF-8?Q?=20shortage=20EU-wide?=

    From Spike@aero.spike@mail.com to uk.rec.cycling on Mon Jun 30 14:54:55 2025
    From Newsgroup: uk.rec.cycling

    Shimano is trying to figure out why Europe has a rCLcriticalrCY bike mechanic shortage

    The components giant has launched a call for evidence aimed at tackling the growing shortage of skilled bike mechanics across the continent, which it
    says risks creating barriers to cycling

    by RYAN MALLON. MON, JUN 30, 2025 15:24

    Shimano has launched a call for evidence across the cycling industry, which
    the components giant says will form part of a report set to be published
    later this year, assessing the factors behind the worsening and rCLcriticalrCY shortage of skilled bicycle mechanics across Europe.

    The initiative, titled rCyNextgen Mechanics: Advancing Cycle Mechanic
    Standards & Careers TogetherrCO, aims to understand and tackle the ongoing rCLskill drainrCY, as experienced and skilled mechanics leave the industry and are replaced by untrained alternatives, and its potential impact on the
    uptake of cycling in general.

    According to Shimano Europe, as cycling continues to grow across Europe,
    driven by the increasing popularity of e-bikes, cargo bikes, and hire
    schemes, as well as successful active travel policies, the demand for high-quality repair and maintenance services is rCLrapidly outpacing the available supply of bicycle mechanicsrCY.

    rCLThis is leading to a shortage of skilled mechanics in many regions,rCY Shimano says. rCLThis is worsened by a skills crisis, with qualified
    mechanics leaving the industry and being replaced by untrained or
    uncertified individualsrCY

    [Full horror story at the link belowrCa]

    <https://road.cc/content/news/shimano-calls-bike-mechanic-shortage-evidence-314723>

    Comment: Of course, the growing European shortage of skilled bicycle technicians has got absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the self-righteous, self-entitled cyclists demanding everything for nothing, to
    be paid for by somebody else. No wonder bicycle shops have been going out
    of business.
    --
    Spike

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Spike@aero.spike@mail.com to uk.rec.cycling on Tue Jul 1 11:00:36 2025
    From Newsgroup: uk.rec.cycling

    Spike <aero.spike@mail.com> wrote:
    Shimano is trying to figure out why Europe has a rCLcriticalrCY bike mechanic shortage

    The components giant has launched a call for evidence aimed at tackling the growing shortage of skilled bike mechanics across the continent, which it says risks creating barriers to cycling

    by RYAN MALLON. MON, JUN 30, 2025 15:24

    Shimano has launched a call for evidence across the cycling industry, which the components giant says will form part of a report set to be published later this year, assessing the factors behind the worsening and rCLcriticalrCY
    shortage of skilled bicycle mechanics across Europe.

    The initiative, titled rCyNextgen Mechanics: Advancing Cycle Mechanic Standards & Careers TogetherrCO, aims to understand and tackle the ongoing rCLskill drainrCY, as experienced and skilled mechanics leave the industry and
    are replaced by untrained alternatives, and its potential impact on the uptake of cycling in general.

    According to Shimano Europe, as cycling continues to grow across Europe, driven by the increasing popularity of e-bikes, cargo bikes, and hire schemes, as well as successful active travel policies, the demand for high-quality repair and maintenance services is rCLrapidly outpacing the available supply of bicycle mechanicsrCY.

    rCLThis is leading to a shortage of skilled mechanics in many regions,rCY Shimano says. rCLThis is worsened by a skills crisis, with qualified mechanics leaving the industry and being replaced by untrained or
    uncertified individualsrCY

    [Full horror story at the link belowrCa]

    <https://road.cc/content/news/shimano-calls-bike-mechanic-shortage-evidence-314723>

    Comment: Of course, the growing European shortage of skilled bicycle technicians has got absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the self-righteous, self-entitled cyclists demanding everything for nothing, to be paid for by somebody else. No wonder bicycle shops have been going out
    of business.

    One of the comments to the above article:

    Quote:
    Micky Flavour | 13 min ago
    1 like

    As a former bike mechanic and assistant manager for a well know retailer (Evans) before the Sports Direct buy out. I feel qualified to chip in.

    Pay is probably the main factor, it's basically retail wages = sh*t

    Work life balance is retail hours, so yeah you're working weekends

    Trying to get parts for more obscure / exotic bikes was quite hard, with
    long wait times etc

    Internet has killed any small margain in parts or accessories

    Lycra w*nkers who've brought the latest BMC Time Machine and come in
    shouting at you why they are still slow on there local crit (i.e easy on
    the ales & pork pies would help)

    [LOL]

    Poorly coverted e-Bikes, basically help together buy zip ties and hope

    I'm thankfull I can just ride now, service my own bikes and be happy. I do still support my LBS because they need it the most.

    [rCa] Unquote
    --
    Spike

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From JNugent@JNugent73@mail.com to uk.rec.cycling on Tue Jul 1 12:05:12 2025
    From Newsgroup: uk.rec.cycling

    On 01/07/2025 12:00 PM, Spike wrote:
    Spike <aero.spike@mail.com> wrote:
    Shimano is trying to figure out why Europe has a rCLcriticalrCY bike mechanic
    shortage

    The components giant has launched a call for evidence aimed at tackling the >> growing shortage of skilled bike mechanics across the continent, which it
    says risks creating barriers to cycling

    by RYAN MALLON. MON, JUN 30, 2025 15:24

    Shimano has launched a call for evidence across the cycling industry, which >> the components giant says will form part of a report set to be published
    later this year, assessing the factors behind the worsening and rCLcriticalrCY
    shortage of skilled bicycle mechanics across Europe.

    The initiative, titled rCyNextgen Mechanics: Advancing Cycle Mechanic
    Standards & Careers TogetherrCO, aims to understand and tackle the ongoing >> rCLskill drainrCY, as experienced and skilled mechanics leave the industry and
    are replaced by untrained alternatives, and its potential impact on the
    uptake of cycling in general.

    According to Shimano Europe, as cycling continues to grow across Europe,
    driven by the increasing popularity of e-bikes, cargo bikes, and hire
    schemes, as well as successful active travel policies, the demand for
    high-quality repair and maintenance services is rCLrapidly outpacing the
    available supply of bicycle mechanicsrCY.

    rCLThis is leading to a shortage of skilled mechanics in many regions,rCY
    Shimano says. rCLThis is worsened by a skills crisis, with qualified
    mechanics leaving the industry and being replaced by untrained or
    uncertified individualsrCY

    [Full horror story at the link belowrCa]

    <https://road.cc/content/news/shimano-calls-bike-mechanic-shortage-evidence-314723>

    Comment: Of course, the growing European shortage of skilled bicycle
    technicians has got absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the
    self-righteous, self-entitled cyclists demanding everything for nothing, to >> be paid for by somebody else. No wonder bicycle shops have been going out
    of business.

    One of the comments to the above article:

    Quote:
    Micky Flavour | 13 min ago
    1 like

    As a former bike mechanic and assistant manager for a well know retailer (Evans) before the Sports Direct buy out. I feel qualified to chip in.

    Pay is probably the main factor, it's basically retail wages = sh*t

    Work life balance is retail hours, so yeah you're working weekends

    Trying to get parts for more obscure / exotic bikes was quite hard, with
    long wait times etc

    Internet has killed any small margain in parts or accessories

    Lycra w*nkers who've brought the latest BMC Time Machine and come in
    shouting at you why they are still slow on there local crit (i.e easy on
    the ales & pork pies would help)

    [LOL]

    Poorly coverted e-Bikes, basically help together buy zip ties and hope

    I'm thankfull I can just ride now, service my own bikes and be happy. I do still support my LBS because they need it the most.

    [rCa] Unquote

    Would it really matter if every local "LBS" (yes, aware of the
    tautology) closed down?

    There'd still be Halfords.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Spike@aero.spike@mail.com to uk.rec.cycling on Tue Jul 1 11:46:16 2025
    From Newsgroup: uk.rec.cycling

    JNugent <JNugent73@mail.com> wrote:
    On 01/07/2025 12:00 PM, Spike wrote:
    Spike <aero.spike@mail.com> wrote:
    Shimano is trying to figure out why Europe has a rCLcriticalrCY bike mechanic
    shortage

    The components giant has launched a call for evidence aimed at tackling the >>> growing shortage of skilled bike mechanics across the continent, which it >>> says risks creating barriers to cycling

    by RYAN MALLON. MON, JUN 30, 2025 15:24

    Shimano has launched a call for evidence across the cycling industry, which >>> the components giant says will form part of a report set to be published >>> later this year, assessing the factors behind the worsening and rCLcriticalrCY
    shortage of skilled bicycle mechanics across Europe.

    The initiative, titled rCyNextgen Mechanics: Advancing Cycle Mechanic
    Standards & Careers TogetherrCO, aims to understand and tackle the ongoing >>> rCLskill drainrCY, as experienced and skilled mechanics leave the industry and
    are replaced by untrained alternatives, and its potential impact on the
    uptake of cycling in general.

    According to Shimano Europe, as cycling continues to grow across Europe, >>> driven by the increasing popularity of e-bikes, cargo bikes, and hire
    schemes, as well as successful active travel policies, the demand for
    high-quality repair and maintenance services is rCLrapidly outpacing the >>> available supply of bicycle mechanicsrCY.

    rCLThis is leading to a shortage of skilled mechanics in many regions,rCY >>> Shimano says. rCLThis is worsened by a skills crisis, with qualified
    mechanics leaving the industry and being replaced by untrained or
    uncertified individualsrCY

    [Full horror story at the link belowrCa]

    <https://road.cc/content/news/shimano-calls-bike-mechanic-shortage-evidence-314723>

    Comment: Of course, the growing European shortage of skilled bicycle
    technicians has got absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the
    self-righteous, self-entitled cyclists demanding everything for nothing, to >>> be paid for by somebody else. No wonder bicycle shops have been going out >>> of business.

    One of the comments to the above article:

    Quote:
    Micky Flavour | 13 min ago
    1 like

    As a former bike mechanic and assistant manager for a well know retailer
    (Evans) before the Sports Direct buy out. I feel qualified to chip in.

    Pay is probably the main factor, it's basically retail wages = sh*t

    Work life balance is retail hours, so yeah you're working weekends

    Trying to get parts for more obscure / exotic bikes was quite hard, with
    long wait times etc

    Internet has killed any small margain in parts or accessories

    Lycra w*nkers who've brought the latest BMC Time Machine and come in
    shouting at you why they are still slow on there local crit (i.e easy on
    the ales & pork pies would help)

    [LOL]

    Poorly coverted e-Bikes, basically help together buy zip ties and hope

    I'm thankfull I can just ride now, service my own bikes and be happy. I do >> still support my LBS because they need it the most.

    [rCa] Unquote

    Would it really matter if every local "LBS" (yes, aware of the
    tautology) closed down?

    There'd still be Halfords.

    With the obvious parsimony displayed by cyclists, it shouldnrCOt be too long before Halfords rules the roost.
    --
    Spike

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2