2007 almanac - League of American Bicyclists

3
MECHANIC
Brett Flemming
Vancouver, Wash.
How long.have.you.been.a.bicycle.
mechanic?
I have been really lucky in life to have
found out early what my gift is: I’ve always
been able to look at mechanical devices
and figure out how they work. After high
school, my plan was to get some experience
in a bike shop for a summer, then
ride across the United States, then open
my own shop. I worked 54 hours my first
week at a shop in Sioux City, Iowa. I never
have ridden across the United States, and I
never have opened my own store — but I
have built a great career in bicycling.
Tell me about.your.favorite.ride:.
My favorite ride now is to the airport. It
is an amazing secret weapon of efficiency
— much more convenient that driving
or being picked up. I live in Vancouver,
Wash., and my cycling is now mainly recreational
riding. So whenever I fly I always
ride my bike to the airport. There is a bike
path that goes right to the Portland, Ore.
airport, and when I walk out of luggage
claim, my bike is right there.
What is a day.in.your.life.like?.
As corporate service and training manager
at the Bike Gallery, my passion is to show
other bike shops how to do what we have
done at the Bike Gallery. Bicycle service
departments need to be professionalized
in such a way as to generate enough
revenue to compensate bicycle mechanics
at the same rate as other mechanics (auto,
airplane, etc.). I speak at National Bicycle
Dealers Association conferences around
the country, and work to continue to improve
the Bike Gallery.
What skills are vital.for.all.cyclists.
to.know?
You really have to be comfortable on your
bike, and I don’t mean your butt never
hurts. I mean that to feel safe on a bike,
you have to really be in control and know
what that feels like and be comfortable
with that. Then you are going to be safer.
Make sure that you know flat tire repair,
basic maintenance, shifting and riding
skills. If people wrap their minds around
these four topics, they’ll have the most fun
and enjoyment.
What would you change.about.
bicycling.culture?.
Everything bikes accomplish are good
things: decreasing congestion, healthier
living. This is a cool business to be in. I’d
like it if retailers were willing and able to
pay market level for good mechanics. I
want bicycle mechanics to be able to do
what they love and make enough money
to support themselves and their families.
What is your favorite.bike?.
I own six bikes, and I love them all. A sentimental
favorite is a 1978 Trek 910 Road
Bike with classic friction shifting, with
some modern little conveniences here and
there. It is a very fine steel frame road bike
with Columbus tubing, one of the earliest
high-end handmade Treks.
American Bicyclist 11
MECHANIC