Bicycle assembler

Bicycle assemblers build, tune and ensure good working order of all types of bicycles such as mountain bikes, road bikes, children’s bikes etc. They also assemble accessory products like tag-alongs and trailers.

Bicycle assemblers generally work in rooms set aside at the back of bicycle shops. They use a variety of spare parts and tools such as air hoses and racks for mounting bicycles. They may use electronic monitoring equipment to make adjustments.

The demand for mechanics is often seasonal. Many bicycle assemblers work part time or only on weekends when their services are most in demand.

The following job titles also refer to bicycle assembler:

road bike maker
children’s bicycle maker
racing bike assembler
cycle maker
racing bike maker
tag-along maker
mountain bike maker
bicycle trailer assembler
bike maker
bike assembler
bicycle trailer maker
road bike assembler
cycle assembler
pedal cycle maker
pedal cycle assembler
bike trailer maker
children’s bicycle assembler
mountain bike assembler

No formal educational credential is required to work as a bicycle assembler, but good mechanical and communication skills are necessary. On-the-job training is usually provided, and some manufacturers offer free repair courses for employees of stores that carry their products. Some vocational schools and high school shop classes teach bicycle repair.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Bicycle assembler is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to bicycle assembler.

motorcycle assembler
automotive brake technician
aircraft de-icer installer
motor vehicle upholsterer
marine upholsterer

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of bicycle assembler. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of bicycle assembler with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

desalination technician
aircraft maintenance engineer
gas processing plant control room operator
electromechanical engineering technician
mine safety officer

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of bicycle assembler.

• Bicycle mechanics: Technicalities over mechanics in bicycles and related topics in order to perform a wide range of repairs in bicycles.
• Quality standards: The national and international requirements, specifications and guidelines to ensure that products, services and processes are of good quality and fit for purpose.
• Mechanics: Theoretical and practical applications of the science studying the action of displacements and forces on physical bodies to the development of machinery and mechanical devices.

These skills are necessary for the role of bicycle assembler.

• Troubleshoot: Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.
• Align components: Align and lay out components in order to put them together correctly according to blueprints and technical plans.
• Use power tools: Operate power driven pumps. Use hand tools or power tools. Use vehicle repair tools or safety equipment.
• Wear appropriate protective gear: Wear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.
• Read standard blueprints: Read and comprehend standard blueprints, machine, and process drawings.
• Fasten components: Fasten components together according to blueprints and technical plans in order to create subassemblies or finished products.
• Use technical documentation: Understand and use technical documentation in the overall technical process.
• Apply health and safety standards: Adhere to standards of hygiene and safety established by respective authorities.
• Install transport equipment lighting: Install lighting elements in transport equipment according to blueprints and other technical plans.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of bicycle assembler. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Electricity: Understand the principles of electricity and electrical power circuits, as well as the associated risks.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of bicycle assembler. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Inspect quality of products: Use various techniques to ensure the product quality is respecting the quality standards and specifications. Oversee defects, packaging and sendbacks of products to different production departments.
• Remove paint: Remove paint by using chemical strippers, a heat gun, sanding or scraping the surface.
• Tune bicycles: Make sure bicycles are in good working order. Make performance adjustments using hand tools.
• Replace tyres: Replace worn out or broken tyres of motor vehicles by using hand and power tools. Choose new tyres according to customer requirements and motor vehicle model.
• Order supplies: Command products from relevant suppliers to get convenient and profitable products to purchase.
• Use welding equipment: Operate welding equipment in a safe manner; use welding techniques such as shielded metal arc welding or flux-cored arc welding.
• Inspect worn tyres: Evaluate the worn tyres and check at possible damages (cuts, cracks, etc) in order to determine possible retread.
• Maintain braking system: Maintain the system that stops motor vehicles and bicycles. Identify problems such as leakages. Make repairs if necessary by using hand and power tools.
• Identify parts requested by customers: Ask the client questions in order to identify the specific parts he needs, taking into account the car type and year of construction; search for the exact parts described.
• Carry out repair of vehicles: Provide repair for vehicles and routine level checks, such as engine tune-ups, oil changes, tire rotation and changes, wheel balancing, replacing filters, repair engine failures; repair mechanical and electrical systems malfunctions; replace parts and components; repair body damage.
• Identify customer’s needs: Use appropriate questions and active listening in order to identify customer expectations, desires and requirements according to product and services.
• Inspect repaired tyres: Inspect the rebuffed and fully vulcanized tyres in order to detect if any flaws are still present.
• Operate drill press: Operate a semi-automated, semi-manual drill press to drill holes in a work piece, safely and according to regulations.
• Mix paints for vehicles: Select appropriate paint varieties and mix paint using mixing equipment and according to the colour formulas presented by vehicle manufacturers.
• Recognise signs of corrosion: Recognise the symptoms of metal showing oxidation reactions with the environment resulting in rusting, copper pitting, stress cracking, and others, and estimate the rate of corrosion.
• Use painting equipment: Use brushes, rollers, spray guns and other painting equipment in accordance with the work.
• Operate soldering equipment: Use soldering equipment, such as a soldering gun, a soldering torch or a gas-powered iron, to melt and join together pieces of metal or steel.
• Write records for repairs: Write records of the repairs and maintenance interventions undertaken, of parts and materials used, and other repair facts.

8219 – Assemblers not elsewhere classified

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References

1. Bicycle assembler – ESCO
2. Bicycle Mechanic Job Description – StateUniversity.com
3. Featured image: By Jorge Royan / http://www.royan.com.ar, CC BY-SA 3.0