Education · 1 of 4

The path

Hired first, trained on the bench, formal courses only if you want them.

1. 1

   High school

   Grades 11 and 12

   Work on your own bike. Shop class and anything mechanical helps, and a part-time job in a shop during school is the best start there is.

2. 2

   Get hired

   Weeks

   Shops take on beginners, usually in late winter ahead of the spring rush, and train them on builds and basic repairs.

3. 3

   Learn the full bench

   1 to 3 years

   Wheel building, hydraulic brakes, drivetrains, suspension and electric systems, roughly in that order of difficulty.

4. 4

   Take a professional course, if you want

   1 to 2 weeks

   The United Bicycle Institute and other schools run one and two week professional repair and certification courses that shops recognize.

5. 5

   Lead the bench, or go out on your own

   3 to 8 years

   Lead mechanic, service manager, a mobile repair business, or your own shop.