And maybe you didn't know it at the time, but you were witnessing a real phenomenon.
Let's talk female bike mechanics. Specifically, the fact that less than 10% of mechanics nationwide are women. That statistic means that you can head into any bike shop across the country and nine times out of ten, you'll hand your bike to someone who isn't a woman.
But at Rebecca's Private Idaho this year, that number was closer to 80%. That's something we're really proud of.
It can be intimidating to learn the craft of bike maintenance when there isn't anyone in the space who looks like you. Whether professionally or recreationally, we think women should be empowered to pick up the tools, tinker, and trust themselves when mechanicals happen. Because they do.
When women feel capable of fixing their own bikes, that confidence ripples across the whole riding and racing space.
๐ธ: Lisa Slagle, @lisa_by_design
15 days agocthepeoplevisibility
So powerful - thank you for sharing and inspiring more women to ride, play, tinker and fix! โจ
18 days agogill_withered
One of my best employees was a female mechanic. Trained her to service suspension and had not one single return for fault
20 days agobreru
38 years wrenching and wearing various hats in the industry here! My specialty is working with professional athletes and super high end products. Iโve had a couple of ladies I could mentor over the years but unfortunately there just havenโt been that many vs. the men. Fortunately things are starting to finally change and women are realizing that we can do the work as well or better! Keep up the good fight ladies! ๐
21 days agohardkoral
Super Rad! Iโve retired a couple times, but my love for all things bikes always pulls me back. Holding it down and Germany currently, but love seeing some lady mechanics holding it down in the states and representing! Letโs go!
22 days agosketch.simply
Loved working as a bike mechanic, but need a different environment. Maybe one day I'll to it again. Maube I'll just make cycling coloring pages. ๐
23 days agoexploring_with_the_bz
I worked in the bicycle industry for 30 years, from Chicago to SoCal, to Seattle. I can count on one hand how many women coworkers I worked with in the bike shop. Even less than that wrenching on bikes. We can get all worked up about the numbers, and yes we can acknowledge how awkward it is for any female as a consumer walking into a bike shop, but we also need to acknowledge the fact that โmostโ women show no interest in working in the bike shop, getting their hands dirty, etc.. For every application for employment I received, 1 out of 20 were from a woman. So letโs be clear, these numbers arenโt deliberate. Nobody is gatekeeping the bike mechanic jobs down at the local IBD. Hell, after working with some of the clowns (men) Iโve worked with all these years, I would welcome any woman to come show these knuckleheads up. But the reality is, women just donโt apply. They donโt answer the job postings. They just arenโt interested. My own wife, an accomplished mechanical engineer whoโs seen all sorts of sexism at her job, says no thanks to working at a bike shop. And I have to say, I donโt blame her. My advice to any woman looking to make a living wrenching on bikes, be a badass. Leave the egos at home, keep an open mind, stay humble, and soak up everything you can so that when some a-hole man tries to step on your toes (and they will try) you have the confidence to perform your job to the best of your abilities without hesitation. The proof is in the pudding. Good luck.
23 days agokitchen_ocrow
I loved wrenching at the bike shop where I worked. I grew up getting my bikes and snowboards tuned there. My boss was a great teacher. It was such a positive experience for me, I miss it everyday.
24 days agosalty_caramel_stroopwaffle
Iโve been a mechanic for about 5 years, Iโve never met another woman doing the same job ๐ข
25 days agochelseawolfebmx
Hell yeah. I've been fortunate that in the last two shops I've worked in here in southern California more than half the mechanics are women
More posts
