Mobile bike mechanics - much call for this??

rodgers73

I've been wondering if this is a viable business given how hard it can be to get down to your LBS sometimes. Obviously it depends on where you're based and what the local market is like but does this have much appeal as a concept?

Would you, for instance, book a service or other bike work with a bloke who comes to your house to do the work on your driveway (or wherever) or collects your bike and drops it off again fully sorted at a time of your choosing?

Seems like a good way to earn a living fixing bikes without having the expense or risk of setting up a shop, signing a lease for expensive town centre premises etc.

But what do I know??

Colinthecop

There's one near me, not used him yet but his prices look on par with the LBS.

So I guess there must be a demand.

http://bikespokes.co.uk/

LinkD

I don't know how rare they are, but I have a mobile bike mechanic in my area and I occasionally see his van. I've never used him before, but I plan to in the future as I'm interested in his rates (i.e how they would compare to my LBS) Apologies that I can't shed anymore light on this, but if nothing, its confirmation that they do exist!

super_davo

I use a similar service in Essex - Total Velo. And very good it is too. I like to do most of my work myself but I will use Anthony for stuff like bar tape, cabling, where he's miles neater than I would be, and also stuff where I don't have tools like Campag chainsets.

The LBS here have always left me totally underwhelmed; really expensive for parts and labour and a certain degree of snobbery too (certainly when looking at my old Boardman). His labours not cheap but cheaper than LBS and he doesn't mind me sourcing parts cheap and giving a bag to fit them.

rodgers73

Good to know they're out there then! Had thought this was maybe a pipedream...

zak3737

I use a local chap and he's brilliant !!
He has quite a few 'high end' bike riders, and seems to do quite well, altho I dont know how well, but his rates are excellent, very reasonable.

madasahattersley

I've worked as a mechanic in 4 different bike shops and I'll tell you now the work is only bearable 50% of the time. Yes doing full rebuilds and full services on high end bikes with good quality components is pretty fun and pretty satisfying at the same time.

However those kind of bikes don't come along often. The majority of work you'll do as a mechanic will be on what we call "shicycles". We're talking about bikes so dire you wouldn't dar ride them down the road. Bikes where you've got no hope of making them properly road worthy again without spending 5 hours and invoicing the customer £300 for the work done (on a bike worth a tenner).

Happened a lot, and when you've also got the cost of travelling around you'll also need to add a callout fee on top of however much you're charging them.

Essentially workshops don't make much money. Selling bikes doesn't make much either to be fair, but it makes so much more than just doing repair work that some shops don't even bother with the latter because it can be a complete loss maker.

rodgers73

Interesting. Do you think a mobile mechanic is any more likely to be used by the higher end bike owners?

Does the process of fixing a broken bike not feel satisfying regardless of whether it's expensive or not? Just wondering...

on-yer-bike

You also get to do prams and wheelchairs.

cal_stewart

Been thinking the same.

One thing that cheaper Internet shopping can't do is the skill of fitting and maintaining parts.

Think you'd maybe need to be able to bike fit and build wheels to give yourself the best chance of success. Maybe target events that are happening in the area tri's etc to boost profits.

MichaelW

You need to locate in a bike-rich environment to get the volume of business in one day, eg large company or hospital.

nicklouse

Tricky one.

How will you cover your costs? Who provides the parts? Etc....

Ok I looked at this some time ago. The only way I liked the numbers was as such. I could go to X works and collect Y bikes to service and return by end of work that day and take them back to the shop where we had the spares etc.

Or there is the arrive at A work place with B bikes booked in to be severed/upgraded there working from the van.

The problem with high end bikes us you are all on here (Internet) looking for the best deals and they ten to be better than trade prices. But you tend not to have the skill or tools to fit said parts. This is also an area that can be worked on. Customer orders parts delivered to you. Bike then booked in for work.

Yes you could make it work but you don't want to be chasing your tail as you will burn up your wage.

Sir Velo

Maybe refine the questionable bit. Do some simply maths on how much it will cost run a proper business (including all the overheads, taxes, etc.), how much you need to earn from it, what you are going to charge per hour, etc.

The you should get some idea (costs of running a business usually get underestimated at this stage but at least it gives some sort of idea) of how many "paying" hours per week you need to find in your operating area.

Then ask yourself "is there likely to be a demand for xx hours each week? Remember things like holidays, sickness, etc all need to be made up somewhere along with insurance, cost of capital, bad payers, returns, etc

As said above a lot of the work you get could be on fairly boring, repetative work. A lot of people may ring you to come over and take a look for a quote, then decide not to use you or not bother and bin the the bike.

But will be interested on how you progress, certainly some in the Londona area seem to get along ok.

SV

byke68

Just used one based in North Tyneside - Done what was required plus sorted another problem that he found but I was unaware of AND charged me less than originally quoted.

roger_merriman

I have seen one or two in the wilds of suburban SW London so clearly some can make it work.

iPete

Someone in commuting chat (ll Principle?) runs(?) such a business, I think they service the police fleet (maybe Boris bikes too) along with other business and private users.

Pross

Possibly viable where there are large numbers of cycle commuters so maybe somewhere like The City or large office complexes where there are likely to be a few people each day who had something go wrong on their way to work and need it sorted for the trip home. Add in an emergency breakdown service and you can probably charge a premium for the person who got stuck halfway home with a problem they can't repair at the roadside.

dodgy

Average member of the public doesn't value their bike and those that do (enthusiasts) are learning fast that they can do the work themselves.

I echo what Pross said, try and get in with a large office population. Personally, I do all my own spannering, but having someone on site to do stuff like repair punctures, sort bearings out etc would be great if it was definitely complete by 5pm.

verylonglegs

Think I recall answering a similar question on here a few years ago. My answer then was that I knew one used to visit the local university (UEA) once a week so kind of what Pross says, I'm guessing he had a few other weekly stop offs on a regular pattern with lots of potentional customers.

smoggysteve

m.youtube.com/watch?v=rxfzm9dfqBw

Is this what you mean?

Matthewfalle

Blokey around here did it for years and he was the only guy offering the service to a very cycle heavy area. He's now set up a shop. What that says about his mobile business I don't really know, but if it was that viable would he have felt the need to set down roots?

Initialised

I came across one while helping a fellow cyclist get her cleats to engage. I checked if he'd do callouts up the Pennine he said yes so I took his number. I've seen a van offering the service around town but remembering a phone number or a URL on the side of a van is tricky without a web-cam.

As a business proposition it is hard to justify as you need to advertise heavily so the cyclists in your catchment know you exist. You can't do this in bike shops as you'd be poaching their customers who would other wise get collected then bring the bike to the shop. But it could work as an extra offered by a bike shop.

A business that could work is vending machines with parts in high traffic urban areas with an emergency call-out number and a free pump.