​Kevin Oliveira’s path as a Professional Bicycle Mechanic began at Montclair Bikery in NJ, has looped the globe a few times, and now finds him in that storied outpost of North Americans in pro cycling, Girona, Spain.
 
Bikery owner David Adornato was amenable to Oliveira taking weekends to work races, knowing the kind of value it added to his shop, as well as realizing that it may help retain a good mechanic. Pitting for the Goguen dynasty (as RACE CF in 2013) immersed Oliveira in the ways of cyclocross race support and he supported a Junior National Champion, Peter Goguen, at Boulder that year.  The team also took Kev to Tour de l’Abitibi, giving him his first real road stage race experience.  
 
Like many, it was not until Oliveira had some solid experience that he attended the USA Cycling Bill Woodul Clinic in Colorado Springs to attain a Race Mechanics License.  There, he met Andy Stone.  Stone would give Oliveira a shot with Novo Nordisk Pro Continental team, the break of a lifetime.  That gig moved Oliveira to Atlanta, inasmuch as a race mechanic lives anywhere.  

Two years with Novo Nordisk lead to the Head Mechanic spot at Jelly Belly Pro Cycling and a move to California.   Lachlan Morton’s Tour of Utah win was Oliveira’s biggest to date, and he can be seen, iPhone camera out the window, in the famous photo where officials allowed the team car to follow Morton onto the finishing straight in Park City.
 
Oliveira credits Stone and Ian Sherburne, of BMC, for driving home the value of attention to detail. 
 
As for the uncertainty of a career in this line of work, Oliveira relishes the challenges. He has established Oliveira Velo Support to keep him busy with Service Course and Trailer consultations and installations, as well as private client support during racing’s down time.  
​
Likewise for all of the travel, Oliveira has this advice, “The Power of Language...always bend a little bit out of your comfort zone, try the local language, study it before you go, the internet is your friend for this, learn some local slang just to try and fit in and show you try. Then keep at it and you’ll get it, man.”
 
That’s also at the center of the “Yo CHILL” lifestyle that Kevin Oliveira espouses and teaches.  It is rarely about relaxing, but always about making sense, interpreting accurately and processing calmly.  

2019 will see Oliveira working from Rally Cycling’s new Service Course in Girona, which he designed and outfitted with help from Jose Sousa for custom frame racking. 
 
Find Kev at a race next season – maybe he has a little something for you.

images ©DistractionManagement and ©Veloimages

How Did you become involved in cycling and/or cycling mechanics?
I worked for a sandwich shop for about 11 years as a bicycle courier, but only during the fall/winter/spring months. Summers were spent in the commercial fishing industry in Alaska, working 120+ hour weeks 7 days/week for 4 months and coming home  only to be physically exhausted, mentally drained, probably injured in some fashion but with a good chunk of cash. Every year I would use some alaska money to buy a new bike, which i would then destroy delivering sandwiches through Iowa winters. i Eventually got tired of paying someone else to fix my bike, i suppose  I'm not totally sure exactly when the "Aha" moment was when i wanted to pursue wrenching much more seriously, maybe 7 years ago? That was my first UBI class out in oregon and i loved it, learned a lot, went back for their suspension/wheel building a year later. I'm always looking for a way to further my knowledge and experience, have gone to more clinics/training/certifications than i care to admit, and have a serious problem with working too hard. Thanks "Alaska"

Do you have a favorite moment or story from your time in the cycling industry?
Honestly working in the winter doing bike delivery was pretty miserable, but there was one year in particular that the store couldn't find any more people interested in biking in negative degree weather. SO it wound up just being me and one other guy Stephen as the only riders all winter. It was a pretty sloppy/icy/terrible year for weather, which only makes people order more  so they don't have to go out in it. I can't tell you how many days we both HATED riding, like really despised it! I've gotten a fair amount of frostbite and nerve damage from it, and  I really can't discourage doing that enough. Not exactly a "feel good story", but the moral is, don't do that.

What motivation or advice would you give aspiring professional bicycle mechanics
2 things. 
1)  You don't know everything, guaranteed, I have been really blessed working with some highly skilled mechanics that were willing and able to teach me and pass on knowledge. I would strongly encourage anyone and every aspiring mechanic to know that value; absorb as much as you can and SHARE it. I am usually pretty eager to teach, and definitely comfortable telling someone "i don't know" followed shortly by "let's find out".  
2) Be early. Punctuality is by far my biggest pet peeve. Early is On-time and On-Time is late.  I can't stress this enough, a fast way to piss me off is to be like 2 minutes late.

What is your favorite tool
Man that changes too often. there's about 12 tools i couldn't live without, but my favorite at the moment would have to be Topeak's digital torque wrenches.  They're extremely accurate, give a real-time reading, are waaay too expensive   and "beep".  I've found it particularly useful when a customer tells me "I torqued those bolts down"  which usually means "I overtightened the shit out of them" or "i didn't put a wrench anywhere near that bolt"  Either way, the real-time reading will tell how torqued you got.

Meet Daniel Acosta... aka Wampy.  Daniel recently took the top step at the Interbike Mechanics Challenge, it's been happening 3 years and each year he has done better.  Finishing to PBMA's Win Allen last year in an upset judgment decision.  This year Daniel showed us how it's done with poise and class.  This week he's the Mechanic of the Week!  

​Congratulations Daniel!

PBMA: How did you get started in cycling?

I started in the cycling environment when I was 10 years old in BMX as a hobby. By the time I was 14 I started racing XC and one thing that always caught my attention was to repair and prepare my bicycle. When I turned 17 my older brother helped me to land a job in a local bicycle shop, and it was then when I discovered that I was really good repairing bicycles. I always try to be the best and work with bicycles with as much detail as possible si my customers leave really happy.

PBMA: Do you have a favorite moment in your cycling career?

I have always tried yo enjoy every moment I have spent in cycling, but bicycle repair has become my passion. About three years ago I competed for the first time in the mechanics challenge at the Interbike event. Since then I dreamt of winning the challenge, and now I have achieved that dream a few days ago in the mechanic challenge of the 2018 Interbike held in Reno, Nevada. That has become my favorite moment and it's something I will always keep pictured in my mind as an inspiration to become even better.

PBMA: What advice do you have for a new mechanic?

My best advice to any aspiring bicycle mechanic is that when someone takes a bicycle for you to repair it, do it with feeling, technicality and as much detail as possible as if it were yours. So, you can be proud of your work and know that when someone competes and wins a race you'll be proud knowing you gave it all and were the one who also helped to make it possible by preparing that bicycle.

PBMA: Everyone has a favorite tool, what's yours?

Adjustable torque driver

This interview was translated from Spanish by one of Daniels friends.

​A new week means a brand new Mechanic Monday feature to share! Today we are excited to introduce you to Anait “Ana G” Garushyants of Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania – by way of Uzbekistan!
 
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.
 
Ana G is, literally, living her childhood dream of being a professional mechanic. Her journey into the cycling industry began in her father’s auto body shop, and has taken her across continents and introduced her to some of her greatest unexpected mentors. We were fortunate to catch up with Ana recently, and we are excited to share some of her story with you today, in her own words!
 
 
PBMA:  How did you get involved in cycling and/or cycling mechanics?
 
AG:  My dad was an auto/moto mechanic, and he also raced cars and motorcycles. When I was a kid, he often would take me to his shop, and I loved it! Cars, bikes, and tools fascinated me and took over my imagination. Besides cars and motorcycles, my dad also loved to ride his road bike, and I enjoyed riding with him. He passed away when I was 12, and I said to my 12-year-old-self that I want to be a racer and a mechanic when I grow up. Time was going by, and I was consumed with all the usual teenager’s problems: Growing up without having parents around, moving from one country to another, and trying to find myself in the midst of it all. A couple years after finishing high school, my passion for vehicles and mechanics came back. In 2003, I met a great group of people who were into bike trials. They helped me to build my first trial bicycle on a beautiful Monty X-lite frame, and I started riding again.
 
Inspired by videos like JIB, I started learning different tricks, and my bike started breaking! Since I wasn’t well off financially, I had to learn how to fix it by myself. Meanwhile, a new bicycle store opened just across the road from my apartment. I applied for a job there and got it! I learned about different types of bikes and disciplines. I moved from trial to MTB – mostly DH and 4X – and that’s when I seriously fell in love with cycling and bikes. And who wouldn’t? I mean, bicycles give you the type of freedom that nothing else does!
 
I worked at the same shop from 2004 to 2013, making my way up to the store manager position. In 2013, I received my green card and moved to the US. It has been a serious challenge for me, especially because I barely spoke English five years ago. I had to find a job, and the only thing I could offer to a prospective employer was my experience, knowledge, and passion for bikes. I went to ask for a job at a local bike shop – Abington Wheel Wright Bike Shop – because the shop was recommended to me as the best in the area by a guy from Pinkbike forum. (That guy is my good friend and a customer now!) I got the job as a mechanic, and I realized that it is something that makes me genuinely happy. I always loved to fix things, I always loved bicycles, and I was able to combine both at the same time!
 
My employer at Abington Wheel Wright, Miko, was a great teacher. He is a very talented engineer and mechanic, and an awesome person overall. I was lucky enough to get the job at his shop and to meet a few great people there, including my partner Adam. Unfortunately, Miko’s shop closed in 2015. I had to get some boring office job that made me completely miserable. But after a couple of months, Adam and I decided to open a small bike shop, Circle Cycle Bike Shop. On June 1st 2016, we opened our doors to our cycling community (on a shoestring budget). These past two years haven’t been easy, and we just broke even on our second year. But I am positive we can make it work, and I am optimistic about our future.
 
 
PBMA:  Do you have a favorite moment or story from your time in the cycling industry?
 
AG:  There have been a lot of great moments and stories, and it’s hard to pick just one. But if I must, it would be a hand-made card that we received from a female NICA athlete. Our shop has been sponsoring SoMont Youth MTB team, part of PICL and NICA, for several years. Often, we travel “pro bono” to their races to provide mechanical support for the team. After our first season with them, one of the athletes drew a “thank you” card for supporting the team and for working on her bike. That melted my heart, and it also brought me to the realization that I am exactly where I should be. Seeing smiles and happiness on the kids’ faces is the best reward for me, and seeing how passionate they are about cycling makes me happy! I’m glad that I have the opportunity to be a part of it.
 
 
PBMA:  What motivation or advice would you give to women who aspire to be professional bicycle mechanics?
 
AG:  My advice would be to not get scared because you don’t know something, because nobody does, and we all learn something new every day. Be prepared to learn and never stop. Do not be afraid to ask questions and to ask for help when you need it.
 
What can be more motivating or rewarding than the end result off diagnosing and solving a mechanical problem? That’s what motivates me. I know that I can do it, and I can do it well! Believe in yourself and follow your passion. If you love the concept of a bicycle and mechanics of it, you’ll do great.
 
 
PBMA:  What is your favorite tool?
 
AG:  Honestly, I don’t think I have just one favorite tool. I love them all! But if I must to choose only one, I’d hold on to my Crank Brothers multi-tool that I always carry with me wherever I go. Picks are great too, though, and so is my Park Tool hammer. Oh, that’s a really tough question!
 
 
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, we are still in need of nominations!! You don’t need to be a PBMA Member to nominate or be featured! (All that we ask is for no self-nominations, please.) Click here to learn more about our 2018 Mechanic Monday series, and here to learn more about how to nominate your favorite mechanic!

​Happy Monday, and Happy Labor Day to our friends here in the US! Labor Day traditionally marks the unofficial end of summer, which can mean only one thing: CX IS COMING! So it seems only appropriate that we honor one of the outstanding mechanics of American cyclocross with today’s Mechanic Monday feature.
 
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.
 
Without further ado, we are pleased to introduce you to Mike Berry of Boston, Massachusetts – one of the elite mechanics for the Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com professional cyclocross team!
 
Mike has been working with Stu Thorne and his Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld program for many years, but didn’t take on a leadership role until the 2013-2014 season, when he assumed full mechanical responsibility for the development team of Junior and U-23 athletes. In the five years since then, Mike has become an indispensable part of the program at both the elite and development levels.
 
Mike builds and maintains the fleet of Devo bikes each year, and he works individually with each of the young riders to practice “pit skills” like bike changes and understanding tire pressure for different conditions. He also helps out with the Pro team’s four elite riders, manages the program’s inventory of spare parts, and helps coordinate sponsor relationships and logistics. Mike helps support both the Devo and Pro teams’ athletes at their many UCI and World Cup races, from as close-to-home as the Gloucester Grand Prix to as far-away as the World Championships in Europe. He swears he doesn’t have a favorite race, only favorite courses because no two years (or days) in a single venue are the same.
 
During the “off-season” of cyclocross – a.k.a. mid-February to mid-August – Mike is a neutral support mechanic on the road. He got his start volunteering with Mavic’s Special Service Course (SSC) program something like 25 years ago, which makes him one of Mavic’s longest-tenured mechanics. Mike has also worked extensively with Butch Balzano’s NRS & Events p/b LOOK program for at least ten years, and is beginning to work with the new, in-house SRAM Neutral Support program as well.
 
In his time working in neutral support, Mike has trained countless up-and-coming mechanics – including more than a few who are now working on the World Tour circuit – and has facilitated countless technical seminars for bike shops, teams, and recreational cyclists. His advice on everything from disc brakes to torque specs has been featured both within and outside of the industry (most recently in Cyclocross Magazine). Mike has worked tirelessly to forge and maintain great relationships with an incredible array of companies, and has partnered specifically with Pedro’s for product testing and developing educational content to be released starting next year.
 
With his background in neutral and team support, his understanding of the industry, and his history with the Mavic brand, Mike was the obvious choice this year when Mavic’s new leadership decided to restart and rebuild the stateside SSC program. This year’s events included four Haute Routes and one wildly successful Tour of Utah, and Mike is already collaborating with Mavic’s leadership on expanding their calendar for next season.
 
The “favorite tool” question with Mike is a loaded one; he is a veritable connoisseur of tools, so much so that he is able to decide on a favorite flavor of ice cream more readily than he is a favorite tool. Mike’s toolbox is an eclectic mix of time-tested favorites, collected surprises, and one-of-a-kind prototypes and homemade (or home-adapted) tools. His favorite tool today – as he is finishing Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld team bikes and prepping to glue tires ahead of the UCI season opener in Rochester next weekend – is the new Pedro’s Rx Micro-9 multi-tool, customized with all the bits he needs to dial-in the team equipment. But even Mike admits that is likely to evolve as the season progresses, so stay tuned to his Instagram feed (@mikeberrymech) for updates!
 
 
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, we are still in need of nominations!! You don’t need to be a PBMA Member to nominate or be featured! (All that we ask is for no self-nominations, please.) Click here to learn more about our 2018 Mechanic Monday series, and here to learn more about how to nominate your favorite mechanic!

​A new week means a brand new Mechanic Monday feature to share! Today we are excited to introduce you to Gareth Jones of Atlanta, Georgia by way of the UK!
 
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.
 
Gareth got his start working on bicycles as a teenager in his local shop in the UK. His cycling industry career was put on pause while he finished university and served in the military. Ultimately, once he immigrated to the United States, Gareth picked back up in the cycling industry as if he’d never left, and he hasn’t looked back since. We had a chance to catch up with Gareth recently, and we’re excited to share some of his story with you today, in his own words.
 
 
PBMA:  How did you become involved in cycling and/or cycling mechanics? 
 
GJ:  I started working at my local shop in the UK at 14. I worked there for 4 years until I went to college and then the Royal Air Force.  I spent 10 years in as an Airframe Technician before leaving to live in the United States. I got my first job in the US at Free-Flite Bicycles one month after getting here. My technical abilities learned working on aircraft helped develop the skills needed to become a successful professional bicycle mechanic.
 
 
PBMA:  Do you have a favorite moment or story from your time in the cycling industry? 
 
GJ:  I’d have to go with working IM Chattanooga on the Saturday before race day. [It was a] long day of the most varied repair work, from rigging snapped derailleur hangers to replacing the internal cables and housing on a gunked-up, filthy Tri bike.
 
 
PBMA:  What motivation or advice would you give to aspiring professional bicycle mechanics? 
 
GJ:  Embrace the challenge of finding the problem. Don't assume the first fault you find is the primary reason for the issue. Attention to detail is key and safety check the bike front to back, last thing before test riding.
 
 
PBMA:  What is your favorite tool?
 
GJ:  Q Tips
 
 
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, we are still in need of nominations!! You don’t need to be a PBMA Member to nominate or be featured! (All that we ask is for no self-nominations, please.) Click here to learn more about our 2018 Mechanic Monday series, and here to learn more about how to nominate your favorite mechanic!

​Welcome back to Mechanic Monday! We took a two-week break at the beginning of August, but we are thrilled to share a brand new feature with you today. This week’s honoree is Alastair Glover of Isle of Lewis, Scotland!
 
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.
 
Alastair Glover is a lifelong cyclist and mechanic. He spent the early part of his career working and cycling his way through the hills of Scotland, before returning home to the Isle of Lewis to start his own business, BeSpoke Bicycles, in 2013. BeSpoke Bicycles is truly a community bicycle shop. It began as a mobile enterprise, but as the business grew, it was in desperate need of a physical home. But Alastair wouldn’t settle for just any location; he wanted something that would give back to and inspire his community. And so the restoration of Storonway’s historic 19th-Century “Glen House” began. Nearly three years later, Alastair has given the property a new life and BeSpoke Bicycles is thriving. A herculean undertaking like that doesn’t come without stories – and we are pleased to share some of Alastair’s with you in his own words!
 
 
PBMA:  How did you get involved in cycling and/or cycling mechanics?
 
AG:  Hailing from the Outer Hebrides off the northwest coast of Scotland, my first real introduction was when I worked as an outdoor activities instructor on the island of North Uist. It was also here that I experienced my first big crash from a bike – and although it hurt, it didn’t put me off!
 
A move to Glasgow saw me out and about mountain biking more and more in the Scottish hills, and I became further involved in the industry working on the sales floor of Alpine Bikes. Following this I was offered a position as floor manager at Dales Cycles in Glasgow and this was really where I gained a huge amount of experience on how a successful bike shop is managed, as well as learning about the mechanics of a bicycle, maintenance and repair.
 
 
PBMA:  Can you tell us the story of your current shop, Bespoke Bicycles, and its home?
 
AG:  I moved back home to the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides and had a hiatus for a few years as family life took over, although I still enjoyed taking to my bike, both on-road and off, to get away from it all and burn off some energy.
 
But I discovered that the pull of the cycle world was too strong – and so in August 2013, I began my own cycle repair company BeSpoke Bicycles, starting part-time offering a mobile repair service in the evenings and weekends, attending call outs in the family car.
 
Things snowballed rapidly and six months later BeSpoke became a full-time operation; the business expanded into selling new bikes and accessories. I also secured a number of high quality brands to al bespoke bike orders specific to the needs of an island cyclist.
 
Work on The Hub first began in January 2016. BeSpoke was bigger than ever but homeless and in desperate need of a new base. I had a dream about an old ruined house in Stornoway – Glen House. It only took two and a half years of literally rebuilding Glen House to see my dream become reality!
 
One of the oldest buildings in Stornoway (the main town of Lewis), Glen House was originally build around 1844. Over its lifetime it has been used as a school, an Admiralty house, a lodge, and private residence. Before BeSpoke came along however it had lain empty for a number of years, left to the ravages of the Hebridean weather.
 
The roof was letting in water; the window frames had rotted; the stairs inside had dropped because the ground floor joists were decimated by wood worm, and the ground floorboards rotted with a small river running underneath! There were mould cultures on the walls that a scientist would be proud of; the electrics were shot, the mains plumbing leaked; the drains were blocked, and the chimneys had tress growing out of them.
 
It took two and a half years of hard work, but we repaired the roof, fitted new windows and doors, laid a new floor downstairs, replaced the electrics, plumbing, and drainage systems, and added new insulation and plasterboard – transforming Glen House into The Hub.
 
The Hub brings together all elements of cycling in the Outer Hebrides – from road cycling to mountain biking, BMX to Trials, kids to adults, visiting tourists to the local pedaler – housing an up-to-date retail outlet; bike-wash station and comfy waiting room; a fully equipped workshop, as well as the Nice‘n’Chilled café upstairs offering a refuel for cyclists and the general public.
 
The Hub has also been adopted as HQ for the Hebridean Cycle Club.
 
And, always a company to assist and benefit the local community, BeSpoke is registered with various operators and employers as part of the UK government’s Cycle-to-Work scheme; assists with the island council’s Outdoor Education Department to deliver Introductory Mountain Bike sessions on community bike trails; develops and delivers Cycle Skills courses to local school pupils and offers work in partnership with the island health board helping with Cardiac and Sports Rehab.
 
 
PBMA:  Do you have a favourite moment or story from your time in the cycling industry?
 
AG:  Although it might sound very cheesy, my favourite moment in time has to be the completion of the renovation work of Glen House and being able to open the doors to my own business in a premise that I literally rebuilt to welcome my first customers in.
 
 
PBMA:  What motivation or advice would you give to aspiring professional bicycle mechanics?
 
AG:  Learn. Learn. Learn. Constantly learn! The day that you think you know everything is the day that you should retire.
 
 
PBMA:  What is your favourite tool?
 
AG:  My least favourite tool is the internal routing kit! Although not my most favourite, a tool which does produce the most satisfying results is what I call my “gentle persuader” – a hammer! My favourite tool, however, would have to be my Park wheel-tuning stand because I can achieve amazing results with it, and I do love everything to be perfect!
 
 
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, we are still in need of nominations!! You don’t need to be a PBMA Member to nominate or be featured! (All that we ask is for no self-nominations, please.) Click here to learn more about our 2018 Mechanic Monday series, and here to learn more about how to nominate your favorite mechanic!

​A new week means a brand new Mechanic Monday feature to share! Today we are excited to introduce you to Matt Merullo of Riverside, California!
 
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.
 
Matt Merullo got his start as a bicycle mechanic by helping out in local shops in his home state of Connecticut as a teenager. After college, Matt literally worked his way across the country, going bike shop to bike shop, until he ended up as the Service Manager at Jenson USA in Riverside, California. A journey like that doesn’t come without stories – and we are happy to let Matt share his with you in his own words!
 
 
PBMA:  How did you become involved in cycling and/or cycling mechanics?
 
MM:  At any early age I remember my Dad bringing home clapped-out mountain bikes that he picked up free at the local drop off center. These bikes were in rough shape much of the time; however, they were some of my first victims. I would swap parts, ditch parts, or add parts, [and I would] just mix and match trying to piece the together the raddest assortment of random parts. I say “rad” but what I really mean is 3x8, freewheels, bar ends, and caliper brakes. My Dad took me mountain biking for my first times, and from there, the progression of riding and wrenching never really stopped. I was always a tinkerer with things a kid and bikes were no different. As I got older the toys got bigger: RC race cars, Jet skis, Jeeps, and bikes never left. Getting my driver’s license meant I always had a ride to the bike park. Diablo (now Mountain Creek New Jersey) was the closest to me growing up in Connecticut. Life was snowboards in the winter and either bikes or the lake in the summer, and that’s how it was for a long time. Then I went and got a Bachelor’s Degree in Outdoor Education and Johnson State College in Vermont. During those four years, I spent each summer working at various retail shops with in the resort town of Stowe. I loved being the “shop guy.” The final summer, I was fortunate enough to get my break in the bike industry.
 
From the earliest days walking into the bike shop with my Dad, I could picture myself working behind the service counter. In the spring of 2014, I reached out to all the bikes shops in town hoping to land a job. Well, with no bike shop experience on the resume it was a challenge to be considered. Then a buddy referred me to the owner of the Nordic Barn in Stowe. They had a rental fleet of Jamis hybrids that got heavily used during the tourist seasons in town. What was super exciting is they had just hired the best mechanic in town [as a] partner, and had a new bike shop on bottom floor of the building. With the new shop came new brands; Intense and Rocky Mountain bikes were flooding the shops that summer. With good recommendations from various shop owners in town, I was hired on as one of two bike mechanics of Mansfield Cycles. I was greener then green, but I listened, observed, followed instruction and had the best experience of my working career that summer. From there, I moved across the country and began working at of the best bike shops in SoCal. It’s been bikes all day every day since then, and I couldn’t be more stoked to work in this industry.
 
 
PBMA:  Do you have a favorite moment or story from your time in the cycling industry?
 
MM:  It’s hard to put a finger on a favorite moment over the past five years in the industry. Something special about being a bicycle mechanic is the fact that you can truly make someone’s day each day you’re at the shop. There’s always the spare part or piece in the back, a labor charge on the house, or the extra ten minutes you can spend cleaning someone’s bike (even if you know it’s going right back to being a garage ornament). It’s the little things that sometimes go the furthest with our customers. Some of these decisions have led to me having great working relationships with so many great members of the cycling community.
 
 
PBMA:  What motivation or advice would you give to aspiring professional bicycle mechanics?
 
MM:  Take advantage of all your resources! Today, so many companies have unbelievably awesome service documents and even videos to help you become an expert on their product. Many of the same [companies] offer technical training at both internal and external events and some will even come to you for a more intimate educational experience for you and your shop. Don’t hesitate to ask questions, call the tech centers, and use your dealer services.
 
The online training modules are gold. I feel this is truly some of the best industry education out there. Take your time with these. Don’t feel like you need to rush through and cheat yourself out answers just to hit your completion goals. These videos and quizzes are in place for you to learn and better your career in the industry, take advantage of that!
 
 
PBMA:  What is your favorite tool?
 
MM:  Someone once told me you can judge a good mechanic by the number of homemade tools they use. My favorite must be my nipple driver. It’s just a black j-bend spoke folded up into a nice ergonomic shape with a brass nipple thread on backward and crimped, leaving just a few threads exposed. It the best for wheel builds!
 
 
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, we are still in need of nominations!! You don’t need to be a PBMA Member to nominate or be featured! (All that we ask is for no self-nominations, please.) Click here to learn more about our 2018 Mechanic Monday series, and here to learn more about how to nominate your favorite mechanic!

​Happy Mechanic Monday, everyone! We are excited to introduce you to this week’s honoree, Paul Dunlap of San Diego, California!
 
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.
 
Paul is a California native, but his cycling story has roots all over North America. A software engineer by trade, Paul was a bike commuter for many years before he made the switch to full-time bicycle mechanic. It’s a pretty drastic switch, but Paul pulled it of seamlessly; he identified a need in the SoCal cycling market, and he set out to meet that need – and he is now the proud owner/operator of VeloFix San Diego! Of course there is more to Paul’s story than a spontaneous career change, but we will let him share that with you in his own words!
 
 
PBMA:  How did you become involved in cycling and/or cycling mechanics? 
 
PD:  I've always been a cyclist and had a renewed appreciation/interest in the last 10 years. I commuted by road bike to a software job for 8 years and put in at least 150 miles per week. I had many times where I'd get to work and have a broken spoke, broken component, etc. I thought it would be very convenient if I could have a mobile bike mechanic come service my bike while I was at work. Thus, I reached out to Velofix in Vancouver, BC and worked to bring Velofix to North San Diego County.
 
PBMA:  Do you have a favorite moment or story from your time in the cycling industry? 
 
PD:  One of my favorite stories has to do with my discovery of Velofix. My younger son and I made a habit of riding every mountain stage of the Tour of California the morning of the stage. In 2015, we climbed Mt. Baldy, arriving a couple hours before the pro teams. There was snow surrounding the roadway and it was very brisk at the top. We bought many coffees from the 10 Speed coffee trailer, but kept trying to stay warm. The best way to do this was to do hill repeats up and down the final (steep 15% gradient) 2k of the climb. We kept passing a Velofix demo van that was parked on the side of the road/route. I kept seeing the van and it made quite an impression. Fast forward 6 months and I was a Velofix territory owner!
 
PBMA:  What motivation or advice would you give to aspiring professional bicycle mechanics? 
 
PD:  Being a bike mechanic has never been a better opportunity. The days of the bike mechanic being stuck in the back of the shop are slowly waning. With electronic shifting, high tech suspension systems, and bike customization opportunities, a solid bike mechanic is becoming a specialist role. With this comes increased responsibilities and monetary reward. Take advantage of industry training, vendor training, and stay up to date on any new technologies. The bike mechanic is one occupation that will not be replaced with machine!
 
PBMA:  What is your favorite tool?
 
PD:  My favorite tool has to be the Park Blue CP-1 Cassette Pliers. I work a lot of races and organized rides (Gran Fondos, centuries, etc.) and this tool is so handy to quickly remove cassettes for replacement, spoke repairs, and freewheel/pawl repairs.
 
 
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, we are still in need of nominations!! You don’t need to be a PBMA Member to nominate or be featured! (All that we ask is for no self-nominations, please.) Click here to learn more about our 2018 Mechanic Monday series, and here to learn more about how to nominate your favorite mechanic!

​We are back after what seemed like a far-too-short weekend, and we are especially excited to share our first-ever double-feature Mechanic Monday with you! This week’s honorees are two of the coolest and kindest people in the entire Midwest cycling scene: Rawny Semba and Mary Elizabeth of Chicago, Illinois!
 
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.
 
Rawny and Mary were nominated as a couple, but we want to emphasize that they are each a talented mechanic in their own right. We reached out to Rawny and Mary separately and received their approval to feature them together. And we’ll be honest – theirs is one of the most fun interviews we’ve done so far for this series!
 
Rawny is primarily a race mechanic; he works with LOOK Neutral Support during road season and the Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com pro team during cyclocross season. He focuses his time on road and ‘cross now, but Rawny’s first love in cycling was BMX as a kid. As he grew up, he took on more challenging adventures in bike touring and camping. Some combination of BMX tricks and camping in the dirt must have helped Rawny develop a special skillset for cyclocross – he is a favorite mechanic of the Cannondale team, and was an integral part of Stephen Hyde’s two National Championship wins in 2017 and 2018.
 
When he’s not on the road, Rawny can be found turning wrenches at Tailwind Cycles in Chicago. Rawny enjoys his time at the shop just as much as his time on the road; he uses each one to refine his skillset for the other. For example, Rawny works with new cyclists and Juniors at the shop, and he applies that “mentoring” experience to support the Cannondale development team during ‘cross season. Likewise, Rawny’s work on the race circuit has taught him an unparalleled level of attention to detail, and he brings that same professionalism and skill to his day-to-day work at the shop.
 
Mary is the go-to mechanic at Boulevard Bikes in Chicago, where she’s worked for the past eight years. Eight years can seem like an eternity in an industry with such high turn-over of service staff, but Mary’s perspective on life in a bike shop is something that even the most veteran mechanics can learn from. Simply put, she “[takes] great pleasure in making peoples’ bikes feel great, whether it’s setting them up to crush a race or overhauling their old touring bike.”
 
Mary is also a race mechanic with LOOK Neutral Support. Her favorite events to support are criteriums, but she’s the first to admit that it’s hard for her to sit on the sidelines (even as a mechanic in the middle of the chaos) and not be out in the field racing. And Mary is a pretty great racer – even if she is pretty modest about her success! She started racing around the time she was volunteering with a bike co-op that eventually hired her as a full-time mechanic. The bike co-op is also where Mary learned “how to make stuff work with limited resources” – a skill that has proved invaluable to her as a race mechanic.
 
The “favorite tool” debate with these two is a tough one to settle, so we’ll call it a draw for now. Rawny didn’t hesitate to call out the EV3 Mulfinger because it makes lacing up wheels much easier. Mary couldn’t decide between her VAR16 lockring tool and her Felco cable cutters. Honestly, you can’t go wrong with any of the three they picked!
 
 
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, we are still in need of nominations!! You don’t need to be a PBMA Member to nominate or be featured! (All that we ask is for no self-nominations, please.) Click here to learn more about our 2018 Mechanic Monday series, and here to learn more about how to nominate your favorite mechanic!