Shimano is trying to figure out why Europe has a “critical” bike mechanic shortage
The components giant has launched a call for evidence aimed at tackling the growing shortage of skilled bike mechanics across the continent, which it says risks creating barriers to cycling
by RYAN MALLON. MON, JUN 30, 2025 15:24
Shimano has launched a call for evidence across the cycling industry, which the components giant says will form part of a report set to be published later this year, assessing the factors behind the worsening and “critical”
shortage of skilled bicycle mechanics across Europe.
The initiative, titled ‘Nextgen Mechanics: Advancing Cycle Mechanic Standards & Careers Together’, aims to understand and tackle the ongoing “skill drain”, as experienced and skilled mechanics leave the industry and
are replaced by untrained alternatives, and its potential impact on the uptake of cycling in general.
According to Shimano Europe, as cycling continues to grow across Europe, driven by the increasing popularity of e-bikes, cargo bikes, and hire schemes, as well as successful active travel policies, the demand for high-quality repair and maintenance services is “rapidly outpacing the available supply of bicycle mechanics”.
“This is leading to a shortage of skilled mechanics in many regions,” Shimano says. “This is worsened by a skills crisis, with qualified mechanics leaving the industry and being replaced by untrained or
uncertified individuals”
[Full horror story at the link below…]
<https://road.cc/content/news/shimano-calls-bike-mechanic-shortage-evidence-314723>
Comment: Of course, the growing European shortage of skilled bicycle technicians has got absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the self-righteous, self-entitled cyclists demanding everything for nothing, to be paid for by somebody else. No wonder bicycle shops have been going out
of business.
Spike <aero.spike@mail.com> wrote:
Shimano is trying to figure out why Europe has a “critical” bike mechanic
shortage
The components giant has launched a call for evidence aimed at tackling the >> growing shortage of skilled bike mechanics across the continent, which it
says risks creating barriers to cycling
by RYAN MALLON. MON, JUN 30, 2025 15:24
Shimano has launched a call for evidence across the cycling industry, which >> the components giant says will form part of a report set to be published
later this year, assessing the factors behind the worsening and “critical”
shortage of skilled bicycle mechanics across Europe.
The initiative, titled ‘Nextgen Mechanics: Advancing Cycle Mechanic
Standards & Careers Together’, aims to understand and tackle the ongoing >> “skill drain”, as experienced and skilled mechanics leave the industry and
are replaced by untrained alternatives, and its potential impact on the
uptake of cycling in general.
According to Shimano Europe, as cycling continues to grow across Europe,
driven by the increasing popularity of e-bikes, cargo bikes, and hire
schemes, as well as successful active travel policies, the demand for
high-quality repair and maintenance services is “rapidly outpacing the
available supply of bicycle mechanics”.
“This is leading to a shortage of skilled mechanics in many regions,”
Shimano says. “This is worsened by a skills crisis, with qualified
mechanics leaving the industry and being replaced by untrained or
uncertified individuals”
[Full horror story at the link below…]
<https://road.cc/content/news/shimano-calls-bike-mechanic-shortage-evidence-314723>
Comment: Of course, the growing European shortage of skilled bicycle
technicians has got absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the
self-righteous, self-entitled cyclists demanding everything for nothing, to >> be paid for by somebody else. No wonder bicycle shops have been going out
of business.
One of the comments to the above article:
Quote:
Micky Flavour | 13 min ago
1 like
As a former bike mechanic and assistant manager for a well know retailer (Evans) before the Sports Direct buy out. I feel qualified to chip in.
Pay is probably the main factor, it's basically retail wages = sh*t
Work life balance is retail hours, so yeah you're working weekends
Trying to get parts for more obscure / exotic bikes was quite hard, with
long wait times etc
Internet has killed any small margain in parts or accessories
Lycra w*nkers who've brought the latest BMC Time Machine and come in
shouting at you why they are still slow on there local crit (i.e easy on
the ales & pork pies would help)
[LOL]
Poorly coverted e-Bikes, basically help together buy zip ties and hope
I'm thankfull I can just ride now, service my own bikes and be happy. I do still support my LBS because they need it the most.
[…] Unquote
On 01/07/2025 12:00 PM, Spike wrote:
Spike <aero.spike@mail.com> wrote:
Shimano is trying to figure out why Europe has a “critical” bike mechanic
shortage
The components giant has launched a call for evidence aimed at tackling the >>> growing shortage of skilled bike mechanics across the continent, which it >>> says risks creating barriers to cycling
by RYAN MALLON. MON, JUN 30, 2025 15:24
Shimano has launched a call for evidence across the cycling industry, which >>> the components giant says will form part of a report set to be published >>> later this year, assessing the factors behind the worsening and “critical”
shortage of skilled bicycle mechanics across Europe.
The initiative, titled ‘Nextgen Mechanics: Advancing Cycle Mechanic
Standards & Careers Together’, aims to understand and tackle the ongoing >>> “skill drain”, as experienced and skilled mechanics leave the industry and
are replaced by untrained alternatives, and its potential impact on the
uptake of cycling in general.
According to Shimano Europe, as cycling continues to grow across Europe, >>> driven by the increasing popularity of e-bikes, cargo bikes, and hire
schemes, as well as successful active travel policies, the demand for
high-quality repair and maintenance services is “rapidly outpacing the >>> available supply of bicycle mechanics”.
“This is leading to a shortage of skilled mechanics in many regions,” >>> Shimano says. “This is worsened by a skills crisis, with qualified
mechanics leaving the industry and being replaced by untrained or
uncertified individuals”
[Full horror story at the link below…]
<https://road.cc/content/news/shimano-calls-bike-mechanic-shortage-evidence-314723>
Comment: Of course, the growing European shortage of skilled bicycle
technicians has got absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the
self-righteous, self-entitled cyclists demanding everything for nothing, to >>> be paid for by somebody else. No wonder bicycle shops have been going out >>> of business.
One of the comments to the above article:
Quote:
Micky Flavour | 13 min ago
1 like
As a former bike mechanic and assistant manager for a well know retailer
(Evans) before the Sports Direct buy out. I feel qualified to chip in.
Pay is probably the main factor, it's basically retail wages = sh*t
Work life balance is retail hours, so yeah you're working weekends
Trying to get parts for more obscure / exotic bikes was quite hard, with
long wait times etc
Internet has killed any small margain in parts or accessories
Lycra w*nkers who've brought the latest BMC Time Machine and come in
shouting at you why they are still slow on there local crit (i.e easy on
the ales & pork pies would help)
[LOL]
Poorly coverted e-Bikes, basically help together buy zip ties and hope
I'm thankfull I can just ride now, service my own bikes and be happy. I do >> still support my LBS because they need it the most.
[…] Unquote
Would it really matter if every local "LBS" (yes, aware of the
tautology) closed down?
There'd still be Halfords.
| Sysop: | Keyop |
|---|---|
| Location: | Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK |
| Users: | 546 |
| Nodes: | 16 (2 / 14) |
| Uptime: | 29:15:18 |
| Calls: | 10,390 |
| Calls today: | 1 |
| Files: | 14,064 |
| Messages: | 6,417,083 |