Jobs in the MTB industry?

[skivi]

hi all :) ,

im nick, im 17 and currently doing yr11 in melb and was wondering what jobs are available in the australian MTB industry for a guy like me?

if it helps, at the moment im studying: (i'm doing quite well;) )
physics
maths methods
english (of course)
chemistry
Visual communication and design
Bioligy

next year (yr12) i'm doing:
physics
maths methods
english
Media
Visual communication and design


* i'm asking this question because i'm still unsure of what career i want to pursue, so far architecture (residential), engineering, enviromental science, media (photography and film) look good.
Many people have told me to do something i love and i love bikes but i'm really in the dark here as to what the aus and abroad MTB industry has to offer job wise for someone like me.

Any advice would be greatly apreciated !!!!!!!!!!!!

cheers,
nick

[Rik]

Start in a shop as a mechanic, then see what doors open for you there. We don't have much else in .au besides the import/wholesale/retail channels, and to crack them you need experience.

[naz]

man im pretty much new to the bike industry, im a full time mechanic at a syd shop. and i started off at a shithole of a bike shop....and there i started with no experience other than dodgy backyard mechanics, and now learnin a fuckload. i have no real intention in stayin in the industry just using it to pass time, earn some money and keep leechin off my parents, uni @ 21 woot.

[toodles]

Any advice would be greatly apreciated !!!!!!!!!!!!

You're already overqualified in most regards but you haven't covered off some basics. Have you put some thought or preparation into your "no-way-that's-warranty" face? Schooling means nothing if you can't master these basic requirements.

[johnny_boy]

If you are looking to pursue a professional career, ie tertiary education to work in the bike industry, you are severely limited within oz. As Rik said, start out as a mechanic in a shop, part time while you're at school if you can, and get a feel for the bike industry (I personally think it's pretty average, and incredibly inefficient. Is improving though). Unfortunatly, due to the small size of the oz bike industry, especially MTB's, if you are thinking along the lines of engineering/design (just looking at your yr12 subjects) you will need to look elsewhere. (Perhaps, after completing a mech eng degree for example, some time working in the oz non-bike general engineering industry, score a job overseas for a big bike company) Or you could quit school, ride heaps, and go race NORBA's and rake in all that lucrative prize money ;)

[scratchy]

Learn Chinese.





I'm serious!

[skivi]

oohhh crap!

i'm too shit to get sponsored, so what are my option overseas, the same or better?? bear in mind i'm prepared to do courses on whatever, uni or otherwise?

[rhyno]

Sorry to break it to you but you have too much talent, and no offence to the guys in the industry, but in Aus it really is a dead end job.
Ask any one in the industry; import, wholesale, retail - none of them make more than the kid at the supermarket. Maybe the head honcho at one of the major bike brand imports, but i dont think that´ll pay much either. As a few others have said, you could go to uni, do mech eng, and learn Chinese, French or German. Lots of bike designs come out of these countries, and its normally a riding mechanical engineer who comes up with the good ones. Thee are a few guys who are A+++ bike mechanics and get jobs on some of the international teams, but seriously, you have to be pro and have done it for years. If i were in your shoes (and i was a couple of years back) i´d try the uni thing, and if if doesnt work out then try something else. I did Mechatronic Engineering and hated it, too much theory not enough hands on.

It all boils down to this though, do you listen to a bunch of faceless comments on the internet or do you go to your school careers person at lunchtime and discuss your options. Call some of the bigger distributors and talk to them about where a job at their company could lead. Most of all don´t rule out OS work, but be prepared to put in the hard yards to get there.

Hope this helps.
Rhyno

[rowanr]

Sorry to break it to you but you have too much talent, and no offence to the guys in the industry, but in Aus it really is a dead end job.
Ask any one in the industry; import, wholesale, retail - none of them make more than the kid at the supermarket. Maybe the head honcho at one of the major bike brand imports, but i dont think that´ll pay much either. As a few others have said, you could go to uni, do mech eng, and learn Chinese, French or German. Lots of bike designs come out of these countries, and its normally a riding mechanical engineer who comes up with the good ones. Thee are a few guys who are A+++ bike mechanics and get jobs on some of the international teams, but seriously, you have to be pro and have done it for years. If i were in your shoes (and i was a couple of years back) i´d try the uni thing, and if if doesnt work out then try something else. I did Mechatronic Engineering and hated it, too much theory not enough hands on.

It all boils down to this though, do you listen to a bunch of faceless comments on the internet or do you go to your school careers person at lunchtime and discuss your options. Call some of the bigger distributors and talk to them about where a job at their company could lead. Most of all don´t rule out OS work, but be prepared to put in the hard yards to get there.

Hope this helps.
Rhyno

im 21 an i work in a supermarket! they actually pay pretty well...
anyways, i had the same problem. i'd kil to work in a bike shop but they all want experience. well, where the f**k can i get it then!! also, to work as a mechanic are there any courses or workshops that are run to give you that advanced knowledge and edge when applying for a job as one?

[chickadee]

skivi if you want to go through uni, doing either mechanical or aerospace engineering then moving over to america would be your best bet. that is if you want to work on design and manufacture.

i know that giant empolys aerospce engineers and there seems to be a bit (not much) of a puch for them in the industry becuase a lot of bikes are now being made from Aluminium. although not the aerospace grades of Al. Also companies are trying to build light weight and efficient structures, i think they are also using wind tunnels to determin the aerodynamics of the frames too.

I have looked around at Aus companies (was a while ago though) and there are a couple out there, most of them seem to be run by ppl that went through tafe and have worked their way up and now own their own buisness.

so if u don't want to go to uni, u should seek out these companies and ask them what tafe courses they promote, depending on how big they are you could ask them about university course too i guess.

hope some of that helps. please don't quote me on any of it, it's been about a year since i looked into it and my memory isn't that good

[t]

im 21 an i work in a supermarket! they actually pay pretty well...
anyways, i had the same problem. i'd kil to work in a bike shop but they all want experience. well, where the f**k can i get it then!! also, to work as a mechanic are there any courses or workshops that are run to give you that advanced knowledge and edge when applying for a job as one?

There is no pre-vocational courses for bike mechanics in Aus, you can get be assesed once you have been working in the industry for a certain period of time but that's kind of a back to front way of doing it.

Skivi, I can help you rule out one posibility Product Design Engineering or Industrial Design at Swinburne have a really art based focus to there design subjects, I started P.D.E. under the impression that it had an engineering focus throughout the whole course (not the case), mabey one to look into is Monash, when i was looking (3 years ago) they had a double degree in Material Sciences and Industrial Design (or something like that).

[Superman]

There is no pre-vocational courses for bike mechanics in Aus, you can get be assesed once you have been working in the industry for a certain period of time but that's kind of a back to front way of doing it.

are you sure......

http://www.tafe.vic.gov.au/courses/Detail.asp?ID=5312

Sam

[Binaural]

Mechanical engineering is the way to go if you are serious about improving the breed, otherwise most anything will do.

But something I've noticed... there are loads of people in the bike industry also doing mechanical engineering degrees. I know there are a few people on Farkin (S. is one that comes to mind) doing it and I daresay a few of them got the idea of doing it from being interested in bikes (I did). I even designed a 4" bike for my HSC, went over quite well even if I couldn't afford to have it built. So many others have probably had the same thoughts, but get diverted once they make it it uni. This is probably a good thing!

Still, I can recommend engineering even if you don't get into bikes. I travel all over the world designing useful and interesting things and making them work, and the variety is endless :D albeit that I write the software these days rather than design the hardware.

[Rik]

I daresay a few of them got the idea of doing it from being interested in bikes (I did)Similar case for me, being able to make my own bike parts was a big part of the inspiration for me to do an apprenticeship as a toolmaker.

Personally I think the best way to go about things is to find a line of work that you're interested in that can also relate back to your hobby of choice. Taking your hobby and making a career out of it is no good IMO, it's a good way to get run down and cynical (ala too many people in the industry). By keeping your work seperate from play, but still being able to relate back to it, you can have alot of fun and hopefully not lose interest in either.

I know quite a few engineer-type guys that think along the same lines as me: Use their study to understand how bike stuff works, then turn that around and think about how to improve bike stuff which then pushes their study futher. If I wasn't interested in the detailed machining and that goes in to some bits, I wouldn't have half the interest in my line of work.

So on that note, if you want to work with bikes, take a step back, find out what you're interested in and go from there. The bike industry is a small one, and to be involved in it would mean sacrificing a few things. If you have the passion and drive to become a part of the local industry, go for it... but otherwise think about other ways you can work with bikes in the future and still make a good living out of your chosen career.
are you sure...Is that not a traineeship/apprenticeship -based course? So you can't actually do that course without having shop employment?

[top_dog]

I am wondering about this as well.
I am going to do mech. eng. at uni but after that I dunno.

At school I do
Eng
Maths B
Maths C (I know, I'm a nerd)
Physics
Chem

I would love to design mtbs for an OS company. (in B.C. hopefully:D ), but realistically how many jobs is there in the North American (or English) mtb industries for a mech. eng.

My other option is to be a racecar engineer, because I love cars, especially aerodynamics, and I wouldn't Necessarily have to go overseas then.

decisions, decisions:confused:

[chickadee]

i'm at uni doing mechanical/aerospace engineering and at first i did it because i wanted to work with aeroplanes, but then i got my MTB and i wanted to work with them. Then i got my motorbike and decided i wanted to design them. Now i'm thinking racing industry or any of the industries i've listed, because they all have their perks. This year i spent a few weeks doing aircraft maintance and i loved that too

best thing to do is have an idea, then work out what u need to do to get there and you will find a whole lot of other exciting opertunities open up as you go along.


btw does anyone want to take on an enthusistic student for some industrial training in any field of mechanical or aerospace engineering?? PM me if there is a possibility :D

[S.]

My other option is to be a racecar engineer, because I love cars, especially aerodynamics, and I wouldn't Necessarily have to go overseas then.

Believe me, once you get to the maths side of that, you will HATE aerodynamics. It's not fun at all. *swears at fluids lecturer*

Skivi: one thing that people almost unanimously agree on is that you can make a living much more comfortably by NOT getting into the MTB industry. Most industry jobs (particularly in Aus) don't pay well at all (ask your LBS mechanics what they get paid), and don't have a lot of prospects for promotion etc. There's also next to nothing here other than wholesale or retail - if you're looking to design bikes or components then you're pretty much guaranteed to have to either move overseas or start a company yourself (and before you go jumping on that bandwagon, give it a bit of serious consideration - it's been tried before many times by many people, and there aren't many still surviving in Aus). All that considered, do you really think working with bikes is that much of a passion that you'd be willing to compromise other facets of your life for it?

[Az]

My entry into the industry was through a casual sales job at one of the larger chain stores, whilst I was at Uni.
I studied a Business management degree and by the time I had finished I had been offered the Assistant Store Managers position. It is a bit of love job $ wise, but I have to oportunity to utilise may management skills and my love of bikes, plus staff discount help heaps!!!.

My advice would be to get involved in as much as you in anything bike related, be it mtb, road or recreationally. It shows you have a real passion for the industry. You would actually be suprised how much trouble we have finding good knowledgable bike loving staff!!!!!

On that note, if your interested in summer job in a shop send me a PM or email (resume attached)and I might be able to help you or anyone else out in melb preferably Northern suburbs...............or happy to travel.

Hope this helps

Regards
Aaron

[t]

are you sure......

http://www.tafe.vic.gov.au/courses/Detail.asp?ID=5312

Sam

I am sure that last time i checked it wasn't yet avaliable through TAFE (only through workplace assesment) but that was nearly 18 months ago...any how it's now avaliable at about 5 or 6 TAFEs.

http://www.ntis.gov.au/cgi-bin/waxhtml/~ntis2/qual.wxh?page=84&inputref=880

[skivi]

ok ive got some very helpful info out of you guys and i'm really greatfull some of you could be so mature, helpful and honest in what you had to say.

i do love bikes and riding, but maybee not enough, also by the sounds of your replies you have to be a real eienstein to design bikes and make a successfull career and life out of it.

a bike mechanic and salesman would be good part time maybee when i finish school and before uni but i wouldent want to do it till i'm 80 as most of the guys at my LBS are nice blokes and all but not really happy with their jobs.

i still will continue to research jobs in the industry and be open to new posibilities and pursue what i like.

i wish money wasnt such a key factor in life so finding a carrer you coulb be truely happy with would be easy.


cheers,
nick

[rhyno]

i wish money wasnt such a key factor in life so finding a carrer you coulb be truely happy with would be easy.



well said, bloody money.

[Carlin]

That being said a job in the industry could be more of a lifestyle choice. Who needs loads of money if you have a sweet bike, the tme to ride it, and you enjoy your job?

Take this with a grain of salt though, it could be better waiting for your mid-life-crisis to come to this decision. Once you have money you can have a sweet bike, the time to ride it, enjoy your new job and buy a Porsche;)

[jasevr4]

Something which you maybe didn't think about Nick, or people havent suggested (I don't think, I only speed read) is Park Management.. (or something along those lines - Forestry, etc.)

They employ people to make sure that trails are safe (for walkers, riders, etc) from an injury point of view, and an environmental impact point of view too.

Just a thought..

I want to get into this, but I just can't justify leaving work to go and study! :(

[pistol]

hey

best option would be to get your foot in the door at a shop and try and help them out you may be lucky and they might offer you a position.
But the PAY isnt always the best look for probably a more part time rather than full time.

Concerntate on your uni it will get you FURTHER

at the moment i work in a store and do uni looking to head more into the import side of the industry more money their than retail or mechanincal

cheers

[Karlos_B]

Hey Skivi,

There are plenty of options out there for you dude. I can only suggest, as a few others have already, start out in a local bike shop. Even if it's just building kids bikes to begin with, you'll be in a workshop and once there you can usually fix your own bike in your spare time, but with access to all the tools. That way you'll learn how everything works and your preferred methods of fixing it. Keep hassling the boss for work over the school holidays too, especially around xmas when the industry is at its busiest. If you learn on your own bike, you won't be potentially damaging the shops reputation if you get something wrong as it won't be a paying customer with something not quite fixed right. I learnt the mechanic gig while I was a courier. Often the shop couldn't drop everything for me when I needed them to, but they'd lend me the tools and make a workstand available...

Whoever said the cash ain't flash is right. The bike industry is one entered more for the love of it than the love of cashito. In saying that though you get your bike gear cheap, and it's one of those areas of employment that you can take anywhere in the world with you if you decide to go backpacking way out in the middle of anywhere close to nothing.

As for qualifications, in Qld there are now TAFE courses to help mechanics get qualified. They cover everything from derailleurs to wheel building, but I don't know about fork servicing or shock rebuilds. A good example of a tertiary qualified guy doin the goods is Rob Metz in NZ. Rob is a qualified engineer, mad DHer (repped at Cairns Worlds 96 for the NZ massif) and all round good bloke. He helped start Keewee bikes (you may have seen ads for them) with Trev Porter, who worked on suspension with the old Arrows F1 team. Together they made the original Keewee bikes and the now obsolete Cromo8 also known as the Avanti D8. With Keewee as his starting point, Rob now has a few projects on the go, including Q Spear racks and various other non bike related bits and pieces. Basically, if you're into the design side, get riding, find out what works for you or what you'd like to make different, and go from there. Just because you might get a start in the bike trade, doesn't mean you have to stick with it on that level. There's a few small manufacturer's in Aus, and they may be good starting points for you. A lot of them go to the annual Trade Show, which will be in Melbourne next year. Maybe go see them with either some working model mock ups or a CD with some CAD designs. There's plenty of information around about rising rate or falling rate suspesnion designs so take that all into account too, you're bound to be asked a heap of questions. At the end of the day you'll be selling your product to them much the same as they are selling their wares to the punters.

For a starting point to livin the dream, I'd talk to Brunswick St Cycles or VIC MTB in the Melbourne scene.

Happy hunting,
Karlos_B