Apprentice Mechanic Full Time
Part or Full Time. Starting pay $15 per hour. Pay will advance with skill.
Must be highly motivated, mechanically inclined, outgoing and career minded.
We are looking for an apprentice mechanic who loves bicycles. You will learn every aspect of bicycle repair and to build wheels. You must not have an elitist attitude about bicycles, meaning: if you only want to work on the expensive fancy bikes, look elsewhere. You must work well with people and not mind if the customer watches you work (you will understand this better when you see our shop in person). You are extremely organized and clean. You are friendly and a good listener. Being out-going is a plus.
You WILL read a lot about bicycle mechanics! You will have reading assignments and expected to report what you have learned. After your apprenticeship you will move to Journeyman status and have a full time, year round position. This is a career position and the candidate be responsible for their own continuing education and advancement, but you will be assigned reading and homework! However, the main drive must come from your own desire to learn bike mechanics through study and reading. We have an extensive professional library at the shop for you to select books from.
Testing, lots of reading, study and peer review will be included in your regimen. Three month reviews will test your resolve and knowledge. After 2 year apprenticeship is completed you will become a Journeyman Mechanic and after 5 years Master Mechanic status will be earned. Higher pay will accompany your advancement. Experienced Professional Bicycle Mechanics earn $25 to $30 per hour or more!
Graduation from United Bicycle Institute or Barnett Bicycle Institute is a plus but not required. These schools give you a good foundation and show that you are willing to learn and are motivated to do a good job, but they are only 2 week courses.
Responsibilities will include but are not limited to: customer service, general bike repair, house keeping duties, opening and closing procedures, being an environmental & recycling steward*.
Professional Journeyman (2 years minimum shop experience) Full Time Starting pay $22 per hour.
A highly motivated, mechanically inclined, and career oriented person. You must be willing to learn from senior mechanics and be open to our method of bike repair. You do not have an elitist attitude about bicycles. If you only want to work on nice bikes, look elsewhere. You work well with people and do not mind if the customer watches you work. You must be clean and organized. You are friendly and a good listener. You love to read about bicycle mechanics. This is a career position and the candidate control their own education. You will be assigned reading and homework, but the main drive must come from your own desire to learn more about bicycle mechanics. After 5 years (or less DOE) with us, you will receive Master Mechanic status. Testing, lots of reading and study and peer review will be included in your regimen. Higher pay will accompany each 6 month review if you show advancement.
Responsibilities will include but are not limited to: customer service, general bike repair, house keeping duties, opening and closing procedures, being an environmental & recycling steward1.
Professional Master Bicycle Mechanic (5 years minimum shop experience) Full Time Starting pay $30 per hour.
Responsibilities: General Repair and Service of bicycles, Wheel Building, Internal Gear Hub Service, Custom Bike Builds, New Bike Assembly, Service Writing. You will keep a clean and orderly workbench. You will follow best practices (example: laying out parts on a rag in order as you disassemble a hub). You will be an environmental steward and limit your use of toxic chemicals and understand how to recycle items properly. You will encourage customers to repair rather than replace whenever possible. You will do one hour of off-the-clock continuing education or reading at least 2 nights per week. This will include reading assignments and online education like Shimano S-Tec and SRAM STU. Failure to do so will result in a limited pay increases! (You have to be on top of your game to earn top pay). You will never be afraid to ask questions or look up technical specifications or service instructions. You are open to our way of doing bicycle repair and are flexible. You will learn to use a Lathe.
Responsibilities will include but are not limited to: customer service, general bike repair, house keeping duties, opening and closing procedures, being an environmental & recycling steward1.
Owner / Master Mechanic
Aaron Founded the bike shop on April 7th, 1997 and has 36 years experience.
He founded Bike Works a year before in the winter of 1995/96
Aaron does it all, but his passion is bicycle repair. He doesn't mind if you watch him work. Aaron rides to work everyday.
Master Mechanic
Val passed away on August 10th, 2011
Val was the owner of Bikesmith that used to be on 45th in Wallingford.
Everyone's Responsibilities
* Caring for the environment is important if humanity is to continue to exist. It is EVERYONES job! It includes making adjustments to your work life and home life. It means doing things like recycling, using less, buying in bulk, and conservation (using less energy is very important). Right now humanity uses way more energy than the Earth can sustainably provide. We are using hundreds of years worth of energy (in the form of fossil fuels) every day. It cannot go on much longer. Driving a car too much is bad for the planet. The less we do of it the better. Riding a bike doesn't hurt the planet at all. Not even a scratch! Everyone can ride a bike, or a trike or a recumbent or a recumbent trike or a hand cycle or an ebike. Our main goal is to encourage bike use for daily transport. If you are unable to ride sometimes, take the bus!