Bike Repair Goes to College

Casey Coughlin teaches bicycle repair at Minneapolis College in Minnesota, one of only two colleges to offer a certificate program in the subject. While applying to graduate school she worked as a bike repair tech and later as a manager at Erik's Bikes in Rochester.

We ask Casey:

• What are some of the ways professional bike mechanics learn the trade?  What’s the most common path to getting a job in a bike shop?
• Why do you think the demand for bike mechanics is projected to increase over the next few years? Is this related to the Covid bike boom?
• When learning to become a bike mechanic, what is the first repair you start with? Why?
• Is problem solving something you can teach bike mechanics?
• What does your prospective student look like? 
• Is there any sort of continuing education for bike mechanics?
• Do today’s bike mechanics need additional skill sets to deal with more complicated systems like e-bikes?
• Beyond being able to work on bikes, what sorts of skills do shop employees and future managers need to develop?
• Are there certain repairs that are more fun, or satisfying than others? Are there jobs no one wants to do in the shop?
• What makes working in a bike shop, or in the bike industry, a good career?

Learn more about the Bicycle Assembly and Repair Technician Certificate at the Minneapolis College website.

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