​It’s our final Mechanic Monday of February, and today we’re proud to feature David Wilson of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania!
 
For those of you who are unfamiliar with PBMA’s Mechanic Monday series, this is where we feature one mechanic each week who is chosen randomly from the pool of nominations that we receive. Mechanic Monday is all about mechanics supporting fellow mechanics, and we are proud to partner with Abbey Bike Tools, Cycling Industry News, and People for Bikes to share these great features with you.
 
David Wilson is a mechanic at Firth & Wilson Transport Cycles in Philadelphia, but he’s worked in bike shops in six states and two countries – including the bicycle mecca that is The Netherlands! We had a great conversation with David about his experience in the industry and all of the places that two wheels (and a wrench or two!) have taken him. Here’s some of what he shared with us, in his own words:
 
 
PBMA:  How did you become involved in cycling and cycling mechanics?
 
DW:  I have pretty much always had a bicycle beneath me. The Schwinn Stingray my parents bought me when I was six taught me about freedom and the thrill of exploration, but it was in the early 80s when I was in junior high that I got my first BMX bike and really got hooked. We would tear those things down and build them back up regularly. I even taught myself to build wheels when I had to replace a friend’s rear hub after breaking the hub flange because I bent his rear wheel  90-degrees by flexing the ACS Z-rim (on purpose of course). I got my first bike shop job when I was 19 on summer break from college. Since then I have worked almost exclusively in the bike industry as a mechanic, shop manager, bike messenger, frame builder, warranty/tech service for large distributor, and now shop owner specializing in cargo and city bikes.
 
 
PBMA:  Do you have a favorite moment or story from your time in the industry?
 
DW:  One of my favorite times in my cycling career was living in Durango, Colorado in the early 90s. I am not a bike racer, but I loved mountain biking and got to meet and work on the bikes of some of the best mountain bikers of the time because so many of them lived there or came through on the NORBA circuit. I was star-struck when Bob Roll moved to town and started frequenting the shop, which was weird because he was a roadie who was just starting to race mountain bikes.
 
 
PBMA:  What motivation or advice would you give to aspiring professional mechanics?
 
DW:  A few of the most important things I have found helpful over the years are to listen closely, be patient, and learn to work efficiently. An organized workbench is key! Also, be humble. Even though I have a spent a long time in the bike industry, I know I can still learn things from people with little to no experience.
 
 
PBMA:  What is your favorite tool?
 
DW:  My Eldi fender punch is the best! I brought two of them with me when I moved back from The Netherlands.
 
 
That’s all for this week! Thank you for following along with our series and sharing our support for our fellow mechanics. We’ll be back next week with a new feature. In the meantime, click here to learn more about our 2018 Mechanic Monday series, and here to learn more about how to nominate your favorite mechanic!

​It’s Mechanic Monday again, and this week we are excited to introduce you to Tuesday Frankus of Sioux Falls, South Dakota!
 
For those of you who are unfamiliar with PBMA’s Mechanic Monday series, this is where we feature one mechanic each week who is chosen randomly from the pool of nominations that we receive. Mechanic Monday is all about mechanics supporting fellow mechanics, and we are proud to partner with Abbey Bike Tools, Cycling Industry News, and People for Bikes to share these great features with you.
 
Tuesday Frankus is currently a mechanic at Spoke-N-Sport, a shop in Sioux Falls that she began riding for as a high school and college student. Her path to becoming a professional mechanic was not as direct as some of her peers, but it has given her a great and unique perspective on our industry and the depth and breadth of talent within it. We admire her outlook so much, and we are happy that we able to share it with you in her own words.
 
 
PBMA:  How did you become involved in cycling and cycling mechanics?
 
TF:  I have always loved riding bikes, first with the neighborhood kids, and then as I got older to just enjoy the day. It was something I started doing more heavily just before college when I found myself very unexpectedly car-less. I was never upset about having to ride anywhere; it was so relieving to get on my bike and forget about the day. The final push for me was later on a trip to Utah where I met some amazing cyclists. They didn't hesitate to let me hop on a bike that was worth more than anything I owned and ride to my heart’s content. When I returned home, I immediately purchased the closest thing I could afford to what I had ridden from Spoke-N-Sport and asked if the shop had any apprenticeship programs. In short the answer I got was no, but I was told to apply for a job anyway. Assuming it would be part-time sales and a slow process getting in the game, I gave it a shot; little did I know I would be belly flopping into the scene. After talking to the owner and expressing my love for riding and the want to learn more about taking care of my bike, I was offered a position as a mechanic. I declined, thinking I didn't have the skills or ability, but Chad Pickard said one thing that has pushed me through tough times ever since that day: "You can't teach passion". Of course I said yes after that; how could I not!
 
 
PBMA:  Do you have a favorite moment or story from your time in the cycling industry so far?
 
TF:  Oh man, I have a ton! But some of my absolute favorite things I get to see are when the kids stop what they are doing to watch us work on bikes. They ask questions and they have genuine interest in what it takes to make a bike go. It makes me so happy to see a little (or big) girl come into a place and be surprised to see another girl pushing boundaries and taking time to share the passion and knowledge with them.
 
 
PBMA:  What motivation or advice would you give to women or girls who aspire to become professional bicycle mechanics?
 
TF:  I have always believed if there is a job you want, you have to prove that you are the best person for it. As a professional mechanic, I want to be that person, and that means hard work. I grew up with my dad and the biggest lesson I learned is to not be afraid to fight for what you want. I have never leaned on being a female as an easy way through the door, because we are so much more than that; we bring change and challenge to the table, and that means growth for everyone involved. I believe your effort, intention, and passion will always show in your work if you care about what you do, and those are the kinds of people who other people want around. Having passion for what you do is going to push you further and harder than doing something because it's been defined as right for you. I am thankful to have such an amazing work environment (yes, all dudes!) that won't hesitate to push me when I am at a standstill. I'm still learning, and we all should be! In some cases, it's harder to learn some things than others, but that’s all the more reason for me to dig deeper and be better.
 
 
PBMA:  What is your favorite tool?
 
TF:  My favorite everyday tool easily is the Park Tool "click-type" torque wrench. I know it's a safe answer but it is a tried and true one that gives our customers evidence that we care and put effort into safety when we replace, tune, or adjust anything on their bike. Also, maybe it's a personal preference because that click is so dang satisfying.
 
 
That’s all for this week! Thank you for following along with our series and sharing our support for our fellow mechanics. We’ll be back next week with a new feature. In the meantime, click here to learn more about our 2018 Mechanic Monday series, and here to learn more about how to nominate your favorite mechanic!

​It’s time for another installment of Mechanic Monday, and this week we are proud to feature Vince Gee of Natick, Massachusetts!
 
For those of you who are unfamiliar with PBMA’s Mechanic Monday series, this is where we feature one mechanic each week, who is chosen randomly from the pool of nominations that we receive. Mechanic Monday is all about mechanics supporting fellow mechanics, and we are proud to partner with Abbey Bike Tools, Cycling Industry News, and People for Bikes to share these great features with you.
 
Vince Gee is a legend in the world of professional bicycle mechanics. He has worked as a mechanic in every capacity our sport offers, from shops to neutral programs, pro teams, national teams, and more. Such depth of experience could easily go towards one’s ego, but Vince is the opposite; he is humble, friendly, and fun-loving. But the thing about legends like Vince is that their stories precede them; they rarely get to tell them in their own words. We wanted to give Vince that opportunity. Here’s what he had to say:
 
 
PBMA:  How did you become involved in cycling?
 
VG:  I tinkered with bikes as a kid since we had very little means to take my bike in to repair. So I quickly learned to take care of my own bikes. My first wheel build took HOURS and I think I folded it on my 2nd or 3rd ride from uneven spoke tension. I then met a guy in High School and he got me racing and helped get me a job at the shop he frequented. That was 1977 or so. I worked for two shops in my career. Skip's Bicycle Center from 1977 to 1984 (subsequently the shop closed in the late 80s) and The Bicycle Business from 1984 to 1994.(and is still operating) In 1993 and 1994 I volunteered to work with Andy Stone who was managing the West coast Neutral Support program for Mavic USA. I met quite a few people and in 1994 asked for a job on the Saturn team from the then head mechanic Fernando Tapia. I've been a Professional Team mechanic ever since 1995.
 
 
PBMA:  Do you have a favorite moment or story from your time in the industry?
 
VG:  Whew. There are lots from my career so far…
 
Just working the Giro D'Italia (twice). In general was super fun. AND by surprise we won the Pink Leader’s jersey the first year (2004, I think - Palo Salvodeli).
 
Freezing every single day of Criterium International. Such a hard two-day/three-stage race with a double day on day two, and we had to get up for an 8AM Stage 2A, PLUS it always fell on daylight savings time, so it was all minus one hour of sleep. Ouch! That was tough. But an "I did it!" feeling after we were done. I've done that race twice, and both were exactly the same situation (rain and cold + daylight savings time).
 
Having great mentors that raise the bar on how I should look at things and be diligent with my work.
Doing a sub-five-second wheel change (feeling good about that!) in Philly and doing a 30-second-PLUS wheel change in Gila that certainly took the rider out of the race because I was so bad (feeling bad about that one!). Such highs and lows, and life lessons in there for me.  
 
The second shop I worked for had an Oxy-Acetylene tank set and they did steel frame repairs, such as tube replacements and dropout replacements, just to name a few. The owner encouraged all of us to build a frame in our career there. I built four frames in my ten years there. I don't call myself a frame builder by any means. But it was nice to learn that part of the bicycle. I’m currently building a steel frame as we speak. It's been 25 years since my last fame build.
 
BUT possibly one of the things that sticks in my memory the most was gluing 60 tubulars in one day. Granted, the rims were prepped (old wheels with previous layers of glue on them) so I "only" had to prep the tires and stick them on. But it still felt magical that I could accomplish such a thing. AND they were super tight Conti Sprinter tubulars.
 
 
PBMA:  What motivation or advice would you give to aspiring mechanics?
 
VG:  Keep at it. Listen and learn. Watch and learn. Love what you do.
 
Try not to settle for "good enough." It’s applicable at times, but "good enough" usually isn't the case. I look at my job as someone could always be better than me and take my job from me. So I want to raise the bar so my skills are a commodity that the "boss" still wants me around for.
 
Make time to ride your bike. It's usually what got us into this industry. So don't give that up because you are too busy to ride.
 
Meet people. Network! That (networking) is how I got my foot in the door on most of my gigs. There are MANY mechanics that can run circles around me in many facets (I've never serviced a suspension front or rear for example - guys can do that in their sleep and I can't AT ALL). I was lucky because I met and networked with people.
 
If you are going to buy your own tools, buy good ones. Poor quality tools make the job so hard.
 
 
PBMA:  What is your favorite tool?
 
VG:  My favorite tools are some that I really don't use. But are memories of past jobs…
 
I have a facing tool that faces the down tube shifter bosses of old steel frames. I'll NEVER use that again. But it is so cool and does only one "small" part of the job.
 
I have Shimano and Mavic proprietary "splined" head set wrenches, a Campy "PB" wrench that was gifted to me, and gold-plated Shimano cone wrenched that were gifted to me.
 
Of the tools I do use, possibly my favorite(s) are my buttery smooth Shimano CN-TL32 chain tool, and related-but-not-related is the Abbey Track (1/8th chain) chain whip that is mega long. I bent and broke many of chain whips trying to get track cogs off sprinter wheels, so I bugged Jason Quade to make it for me since I loved his Crombie/Whip combo. The Abbey track whip is super robust and with its long handle actually makes it easy. I've never failed to get a cog off a wheel with that whip.
 
 
Vince’s stories are inspiring to even the most veteran mechanics, and his advice to aspiring mechanics is something that all of us should take to heart. We look forward to seeing Vince at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show in Hartford, Connecticut this week, and we hope that anyone who has the opportunity to attend the show will come visit us too!
 
 
That’s all for this week! Thank you for following along with our series and sharing our support for our fellow mechanics. We’ll be back next week with a new feature. In the meantime, click here to learn more about our 2018 Mechanic Monday series, and here to learn more about how to nominate your favorite mechanic!

We're excited to share our first ever video interview.  Jude Monica from Magura USA talks brakes, training and travel.  If you've never met this "Oil Man" yourself and you see him at an event make the effort!

​We are back with our first February installment of Mechanic Monday, and this week we are excited to feature Kelly Valyou of Austin, Texas!
 
For those of you who are unfamiliar with PBMA’s Mechanic Monday series, this is where we feature one mechanic each week, who is chosen randomly from the pool of nominations that we receive. Mechanic Monday is all about mechanics supporting fellow mechanics, and we are proud to partner with Abbey Bike Tools, Cycling Industry News, and People for Bikes to share these great features with you.
 
Kelly Valyou is a self-described “pro mechanic by day and mountain biker at heart.” She was actually nominated for our 2016-2017 Mechanic of the Week series, but her schedule was so busy last year (more on that later!) that we only recently had time to catch up with her. Here is some of what she had to say, in her own words, about her experiences in the cycling industry so far.
 
 
PBMA:  How did you become involved in cycling and/or cycling mechanics?


KV:  I became a normal visitor at my local bike shop in upstate NY, where I purchased my first “real” bike with all of my savings. Over some time, one of the employees at the shop suggested that I apply to the shop because I was there all the time. That was the beginning of my career in the cycling industry. I went from sales, to management over the years. While working for a shop in AZ, I wanted a change. I figured I should move into the next level within our industry and an area that I had a high level of interest-to learn the mechanics of a bike.  As it turns out, I became very good at it. I look at problem solving, in all aspects, differently since I’ve become a mechanic.
 
 
PBMA:  What motivates you to excel as one of the few women mechanics in our industry?
 
KV:  The thought of me making a difference in a male-dominated industry keeps me motivated. To hopefully make a change in the way things “have been done” keeps me moving forward. To allow women to be treated as equals in our little world of cycling with coworkers, customers, and beyond. To just keep fighting this exhausting fight for women, is what keeps me here.
 
 
PBMA:  Do you have a favorite moment or story from your time in the cycling industry?
 
KV:  I would have to say so far my favorite moment/experience has been working with the DROPS women's pro team at the Tour of California 2017, as a guest mechanic via Trek Bikes. The team members that I had the opportunity to work with were just that, a solid team. They were an absolute pleasure to work for/with and so enthusiastic! [It’s been] a definite highlight of my career so far.
 
 
PBMA:  What advice would you give to girls or women who aspire to be professional bicycle mechanics?
 
KV:  This is a tough question for me. In many ways, I would discourage them. It’s a tough position to be in. To be questioned, constantly, on your ability to do your job. To be questioned and to have to prove yourself to your coworkers and to your clientele is exhausting. In other words, I would love to see more women as mechanics. Women have this ability to not be ego driven, to have an incredible attention to detail, and a way of explaining/educating information to others, along with a level of compassion and an ability to make the work environment fun and inviting.
 
 
PBMA:  Do you have a favorite tool?
 
KV:  My favorite tool is, and I think it will forever be, the Abbey HAG! The precision this tool has is unbelievable! The HAG was a present from a good friend. The best present one could ever get as a mechanic.
 
 
That’s all for this week! Thank you for following along with our series and sharing our support for our fellow mechanics. We’ll be back next week with a new feature. In the meantime, click here to learn more about our 2018 Mechanic Monday series, and here to learn more about how to nominate your favorite mechanic!