Mechanic Monday p/b Abbey Bike Tools

#mechanicmonday honors Kenneth Wee

​This week’s Mechanic Monday honoree is one of the “farthest” international mechanics we’ve been lucky enough to chat with: Kenneth Wee from Singapore!
 
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.
 
Kenneth has always had an affinity for bicycles, but he worked in the advertising industry for 26 years before committing to the cycling industry full-time in 2010. He now runs two bicycle schools, Singapore Bike School and Bike School Asia, which focus on coaching and mechanics respectively. We are excited to share some of Kenneth’s story with you in his own words!
 
 
PBMA:  How did you become involved in cycling and/or cycling mechanics?
 
KW:  I manage two schools – Singapore Bike School (SBS), and Bike School Asia (BSA). SBS delivers coaching in cycling skills and BSA provides training in bike mechanics. I started SBS in 2009 and BSA in 2011, partly out of passion and mostly out of necessity.
 
My first job out of school was as an art director with a regional advertising agency, and I stayed in the advertising industry for about 26 years, spending the last 12 running my own studios. The comfortable paycheck allowed me to indulge in several hobbies. One such hobby was collecting and restoring vintage BMX bicycles — the ones I either had or dreamt about as a teenager. Collecting led to racing, racing led to coaching and before I knew it, I was in Aigle, Switzerland studying for a Coaching Diploma at the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).
 
As fate would have it, upon my return from Switzerland, our main corporate client had a run of bad luck which stalled all projects, and work became scarce. Already increasingly dissatisfied with the ephemeral nature and mercantilism of advertising, I closed the studio in December 2010 and bid adieu to staff, clients and the sleep-deprived lifestyle I had grown accustomed to and coach full-time.
 
When I coached our national BMX team, one of the things I emphasized was that the athletes were ultimately responsible for the proper maintenance and performance of their own bikes. So we taught them to do simple repairs, maintenance and upgrades. In my mind, there is no way to become a complete, skillful cyclist without knowing the nitty-gritty of your bike. I set up BSA because teaching mechanics was something I looked forward to, I knew I could do reasonably well, and I hoped would fill a niche that will keep growing as long as more people are cycling.
 
 
PBMA:  Do you have a favorite moment or story from your time in the cycling industry?
 
KW:  When I started SBS, my first client was a 69-year-old grandmother who just had a hip replacement. She also had a hearing problem which affected her sense of balance. After we got her pedaling confidently, she told me, "You're doing a good thing. Otherwise, people like me won't get to do this and I won't be so happy." What she said helped validate my career switch. I am also very proud that quite a number of our BSA graduates have started their own successful bike shops!
 
 
PBMA:  What motivation or advice would you give to aspiring professional bicycle mechanics?
 
KW:  I count myself fortunate to be from the generation that saw the rise of both BMX and mountain biking. This gives me a deep appreciation for the evolution of both disciplines in terms of both the skills and the technology.
 
Not everyone has such a background and it can be hard for new mechanics to get opportunities to put their skills to use, which is why we started our Race Mechanic Program. In this program, freshly-minted mechanics get to work with elite, competitive and recreational athletes, learn from experienced team mechanics and coaches, and be exposed to cutting-edge technology.
 
Whatever your entry point into the industry, it helps to 'always be a student’. Learn how to learn. Ours is an industry that looks lo-fi, but can get very high-tech! Whether its technology, training methods, bike fitting techniques or mechanical know-how, maintain an open-mind and keep learning in whatever ways you can.
 
 
PBMA:  What is your favorite tool?
 
KW:  It’s a toss-up between my Dualco grease gun (saves time and money) and my Quaxar crimper, because a perfectly crimped cable endcap is a too-often overlooked finishing touch.
 
 
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!