13/10/2026
Did you know that there is a shortage of bike mechanics..! That probably explains why I'm so busy.
Currently the shortage is reported at 45,000 across Europe, and that's just to meet current demand. A report published by NextGen Mechanics initiative and European Cycling Industries (ECI), predicts that 105,000 new bike mechanics would be needed to meet growing demand by 2032... just 6 years!
Shimano's State of the Nation survey found that over 200 million people across Europe experience barriers to maintaining their bikes - access to maintenance and maintenance complexity were found as significant bottlenecks and barriers, meaning that many people cycle less, and approx 7 million have stopped cycling altogether.
Those are all big numbers!! I'm just a tiny part of a very large industry.
One of my very clear memories after starting at Dentons in the late 80s was one of Ron's wise comments. He was sat on his stool next to his wheel building jig, probably rubbing some Vaseline into the cracked skin of his fingers (cracked from years of turning a spoke key), he was maybe even listening to the test match on the transistor radio on the shelf above his bench, probably even getting ready to make another cup of tea... he said, with his wry smile, "you'll never be a rich man as a bike mechanic...", and he was absolutely right, almost 40 years later, it's still true... you do it for the love of bikes, not the love of money.
But relatively poor pay/profit isn't the only aspect of why there is such a shortage of mechanics. Technology, the range of different bike types, ebikes, electronic systems, then the required skills, tools and ability have moved on at an incredible rate. Compared to bikes from only 10 years ago, current bikes are more complex, with integrated routing, hydraulics, electronic systems, ebike diagnostics etc. And through all this rapid change, bike mechanic hourly pay/salary has remained basic.
Lots of things, not just pay, need to change in the industry to entice people in, and to also keep them once they start. From Cycling Weekly, "The NextGen Mechanics report closes with 27 recommendations across workforce development, recruitment, vocational education, the economics of bike maintenance and industry coordination. The core finding sits underneath all of them. A bicycle that cannot be repaired is a bicycle that stops being ridden, and Europe is quietly running short of the people who keep that from happening".
After 3 years working for myself, I'm having to let people know that I cannot repair their bikes because I'm fully booked. The constant bike fixing work and the admin required for the work I can actually do, means that sometimes I can't even reply to some requests. It's great being busy and in demand, but not great that I can't help some people.
Being a bike mechanic is seen as an AI proof job, and it's relatively easy to become a bike mechanic… but,
🔧it's not easy to become a good mechanic, there are lots of bad ones
🔧it's not easy to gain good, long term experience across a varied range of bikes to give you the extensive knowledge you need
🔧it's not easy to stay current in a rapidly changing environment
🔧it's not easy to understand all the complexities and range of technologies and bike styles
🔧it's not easy to keep equipped with all the tools and equipment you need
🔧it's not easy to stick at it, when your passion becomes business, staying motivated and keen is tough
🔧it's not easy to make a living, as I said, you have to do this for the love of bikes, not the love of money
Social media is full of posts and articles about this shortage, but here's the guys at GCN Tech discussing the issue, https://www.facebook.com/reel/1836883247308228
