The concepts is good, but the better mechanics just aren’t people persons. Teaching a class like that is as much about presentation as anything else. You have to hold their interest and you can’t talk down to them or you won’t gain the long term benefits to which bikeolounger refers. A good question to ask, “how can an LBS increase perceived or actual value added?”
One of the value increases of running a bike repair class is that the students get to know the people at the LBS better and therefore will become loyal customers of that shop, buying stuff from them even if the student knows that they could pick up their parts online cheaper and faster.
Get customers in the door. It’s the whole point of signage, advertising, blogs, a phone, etc.
Sure, an increasing number of people walking thru the shop might go buy their stuff online after groping it in the shop, but folks that don’t come in, don’t buy anything from you, either.
If folks see your store as a resource, rather than simply a place hawking goods, they’re more likely to perceive a stake in the health of the place.
Frank sells me coffee at Sova, but I also feel I have a stake in how well his business does in relation to my neighborhood, etc…
And, yeah, I’ve definitely gone to the LBS to have them un**ck my work!
re: “… the better mechanics just aren’t people persons.”
That’s not always true. My favorite mechanic at my favorite LBS is very friendly. When he’s not busy in the back he comes out front to help with sales. He often strikes up conversations with customers about their bikes, or their favorite places to ride, etc. Several times he’s seen me buying tools and asked me questions about how I’ll be using them, just to be sure I’m getting the right tools for the job. Once he saved me money by telling me I didn’t need really need a particular tool, and explained how I could use a tool I already owned to get the job done.
Of course, everyone in that shop is helpful and friendly. It’s the only business of any kind where the owner has come up to me while I was looking at an expensive item, asked how I was going to use it, and then advised me that a less expensive model from the same manufacturer would work just as well for my intended purposes. That sort of treatment has made me a loyal customer; I always go there first for anything I need, and only purchase from other shops or online if I need it right away and they don’t have it.
Am I the only reader here who doesn’t own/work at a bike shop?
BTW, I took a Park class. Not cheap, but I really enjoyed it. It had to be a money maker. I understand the usually sell them out at the shop I go to.
My church is starting a bicycle repair/maintanance cooperative in connection with Habitat for Humanity. People who need a bike for basic transportation can fix up a donated machine that had been gathering dust in someone’s garage; people who can’t afford the LBS’s rates can come in and use our tools. We’ll offer instruction to anyone who doesn’t know how.
Now if the Kickstand were in cahoots with the junkyard and peoples bicycles were mysteriously disappearing, the only alternative would be for people to keep buying new ones and fueling the local economy.
In the UK, bike shops generally make fairly low margins on selling bikes, but are quids-in on spares, tools, accessories and services (which includes training).
I just started teaching mechanics classes after work for my local non-profit bicycle shop. In our progressive bike town, students actually pay cash to take the class. I really believe that a little awareness in general bike maintenance goes a long way. Knowing exactly when professional help is necessary for a bicycle, saves a lot of hassle for all parties involved. Less hassle goes a long way toward keeping bikes off of car racks and under people. I suspect it keeps morale up for pro bike mechanics, who will hopefully get to focus more on skilled repair, worthy of their talents.
Numerous bicycle stations have appeared on our pages before, including Cycle Center in Chicago, Bikestation in California, Bike Central in New Zealand and Cycle2City in Australia. Adding to Australia’s bike station innovation comes the Green Pod, a modular facility from Brisbane’s Penny Farthings Pushbikes.
About the size of a parking space for one car, the Green Pod comes in two configurations: one with a single shower and changing room along with 10 lockers and parking for as many bicycles, and the other with double those facilities. The pod features a solar hot water system, electronic locking system, LED lighting activated by motion sensors, timed showers and a grey water treatment unit that discharges grey water into green areas. The unit can be integrated into indoor or outdoor applications, and it operates on a 12V DC system that can be powered by solar panels on the roof. Also part of the pod is a self-cleaning mechanism that can detect when no one’s inside and lock its doors for some self-cleaning, according to a report in Catapult. Access is via swipe card for registered users.
The first Green Pod is now being used at Queensland University of Technology
When I was young, I was rather a dab hand at fixing punctures and other bicycle repairs and maintenance. No more.
I had a recent conversation at work. None of us even repairs punctures anymore. It is just too much hassle, and gets our hands and work clothes dirty. It looks like we are not the only ones to think so. Take a look at:
The clamps on top of a car to hold a bike when traveling to an event, road, trail that is farther than you want to pedal. Also good for testing your ability to judge the clearance/height of parking decks, garages, and fast food drive up windows. Example: http://tinyurl.com/n9rvfo
While I was in Halifax to see the new Star Trek film in IMAX, my friend Rob Martell took me to a bike shop that was also part CAFE; they had the most delicious sandwiches.
Maybe the Kickstand might try that? Assuming they have the room, of course. They already have some furniture:
20080402
That’s a good start; a place to lounge and drink the coffee. They’ll need some TABLES and CHAIRS now, too, for those who want full meals. Heck, they’re all mechanics; maybe they could make some furniture out of old bike parts? It’d fit the theme and would be quite inexpensive.
I took bicycle repair classes at Ohio City Bicycle Coop. The whole series cost about $80, but now I will carry that knowledge with me the rest of my life. Bike shops should realize that they will not lose customers by educating them. Their costumers in turn will ride more often and will end up buying more stuff.
Methinks Thistle may be the Cassandra of the Kickstand!
Park Tool School is a cool thing. We’ve done a few, and the fees are good for the cash flow.
Selling more parts and LOTS more tools is good, too.
So is the repair work when customer does most of his own work, and finds himself over his head…
…and carrots?
The Kickstand needs sustainable money. The shot in the arm that a couple classes provide are fine but there needs to be a long term solution.
The concepts is good, but the better mechanics just aren’t people persons. Teaching a class like that is as much about presentation as anything else. You have to hold their interest and you can’t talk down to them or you won’t gain the long term benefits to which bikeolounger refers. A good question to ask, “how can an LBS increase perceived or actual value added?”
One of the value increases of running a bike repair class is that the students get to know the people at the LBS better and therefore will become loyal customers of that shop, buying stuff from them even if the student knows that they could pick up their parts online cheaper and faster.
Get customers in the door. It’s the whole point of signage, advertising, blogs, a phone, etc.
Sure, an increasing number of people walking thru the shop might go buy their stuff online after groping it in the shop, but folks that don’t come in, don’t buy anything from you, either.
If folks see your store as a resource, rather than simply a place hawking goods, they’re more likely to perceive a stake in the health of the place.
Frank sells me coffee at Sova, but I also feel I have a stake in how well his business does in relation to my neighborhood, etc…
And, yeah, I’ve definitely gone to the LBS to have them un**ck my work!
re: “… the better mechanics just aren’t people persons.”
That’s not always true. My favorite mechanic at my favorite LBS is very friendly. When he’s not busy in the back he comes out front to help with sales. He often strikes up conversations with customers about their bikes, or their favorite places to ride, etc. Several times he’s seen me buying tools and asked me questions about how I’ll be using them, just to be sure I’m getting the right tools for the job. Once he saved me money by telling me I didn’t need really need a particular tool, and explained how I could use a tool I already owned to get the job done.
Of course, everyone in that shop is helpful and friendly. It’s the only business of any kind where the owner has come up to me while I was looking at an expensive item, asked how I was going to use it, and then advised me that a less expensive model from the same manufacturer would work just as well for my intended purposes. That sort of treatment has made me a loyal customer; I always go there first for anything I need, and only purchase from other shops or online if I need it right away and they don’t have it.
Am I the only reader here who doesn’t own/work at a bike shop?
BTW, I took a Park class. Not cheap, but I really enjoyed it. It had to be a money maker. I understand the usually sell them out at the shop I go to.
My church is starting a bicycle repair/maintanance cooperative in connection with Habitat for Humanity. People who need a bike for basic transportation can fix up a donated machine that had been gathering dust in someone’s garage; people who can’t afford the LBS’s rates can come in and use our tools. We’ll offer instruction to anyone who doesn’t know how.
Now if the Kickstand were in cahoots with the junkyard and peoples bicycles were mysteriously disappearing, the only alternative would be for people to keep buying new ones and fueling the local economy.
In the UK, bike shops generally make fairly low margins on selling bikes, but are quids-in on spares, tools, accessories and services (which includes training).
what popped out[tube] in 1st picture ,is that a thorn or just artist error
Ok, so is anyone else confused as to why yehuda says “peas” in the last frame? Did i miss a joke somewhere?
Nope, I’m confused, too. And what the heck is Joe holding?
I just started teaching mechanics classes after work for my local non-profit bicycle shop. In our progressive bike town, students actually pay cash to take the class. I really believe that a little awareness in general bike maintenance goes a long way. Knowing exactly when professional help is necessary for a bicycle, saves a lot of hassle for all parties involved. Less hassle goes a long way toward keeping bikes off of car racks and under people. I suspect it keeps morale up for pro bike mechanics, who will hopefully get to focus more on skilled repair, worthy of their talents.
Evan wrote:
“Less hassle goes a long way toward keeping bikes off of car racks and under people.”
Kevin’s comment:
What’s a “car rack”? Is that a type of repair stand? I’ve never heard of it.
Numerous bicycle stations have appeared on our pages before, including Cycle Center in Chicago, Bikestation in California, Bike Central in New Zealand and Cycle2City in Australia. Adding to Australia’s bike station innovation comes the Green Pod, a modular facility from Brisbane’s Penny Farthings Pushbikes.
About the size of a parking space for one car, the Green Pod comes in two configurations: one with a single shower and changing room along with 10 lockers and parking for as many bicycles, and the other with double those facilities. The pod features a solar hot water system, electronic locking system, LED lighting activated by motion sensors, timed showers and a grey water treatment unit that discharges grey water into green areas. The unit can be integrated into indoor or outdoor applications, and it operates on a 12V DC system that can be powered by solar panels on the roof. Also part of the pod is a self-cleaning mechanism that can detect when no one’s inside and lock its doors for some self-cleaning, according to a report in Catapult. Access is via swipe card for registered users.
The first Green Pod is now being used at Queensland University of Technology
When I was young, I was rather a dab hand at fixing punctures and other bicycle repairs and maintenance. No more.
I had a recent conversation at work. None of us even repairs punctures anymore. It is just too much hassle, and gets our hands and work clothes dirty. It looks like we are not the only ones to think so. Take a look at:
http://amsterdamize.com/2009/04/23/flats-400-years-bilbao/
or
http://www.copenhagenize.com/2008/04/when-your-bikes-in-shop.html
or
http://karlmccracken.sweat365.com/2009/04/24/roadside-repairs/
The clamps on top of a car to hold a bike when traveling to an event, road, trail that is farther than you want to pedal. Also good for testing your ability to judge the clearance/height of parking decks, garages, and fast food drive up windows. Example: http://tinyurl.com/n9rvfo
“Peas”?
I’ll fix my own flat, rather than walking 20 minutes to an hour in order to arrive at the nearest bike shop.
@Here’s an idea
Those are cool. Not sure how the one in the underground garage operates on solar though…
While I was in Halifax to see the new Star Trek film in IMAX, my friend Rob Martell took me to a bike shop that was also part CAFE; they had the most delicious sandwiches.
Maybe the Kickstand might try that? Assuming they have the room, of course. They already have some furniture:
20080402
That’s a good start; a place to lounge and drink the coffee. They’ll need some TABLES and CHAIRS now, too, for those who want full meals. Heck, they’re all mechanics; maybe they could make some furniture out of old bike parts? It’d fit the theme and would be quite inexpensive.
“The Kickstand Cyclery and Cafe.” I’d eat there.
If they’re going to add a cafe, then perhaps they could use these for barstools: http://www.wallbike.com/content/JPG/brooksdomus.jpg
I took bicycle repair classes at Ohio City Bicycle Coop. The whole series cost about $80, but now I will carry that knowledge with me the rest of my life. Bike shops should realize that they will not lose customers by educating them. Their costumers in turn will ride more often and will end up buying more stuff.
“The Kickstand Cyclery and Cafe.”
They’d better serve PB&Banana!
Kevin
@kevrob: So long as you mean “PEA Butter & Banana!”
What’s pea butter? Check it out:
http://www.peabutter.ca
I’m allergic to peanuts but pea butter tastes virtually identical and causes allergic people no problems.
Hm… now that I think about it, maybe THAT’S what Yehuda was talking about when he mentioned “peas…”
thistle got fit man
@life on 2 wheels: Yes. I bet her husband appreciates that.