OCB’s Gear Up program is getting fresh faces into bike mechanics, something the cycling sector urgently needs.
It is little secret that the cycling industry has a diversity problem. Almost 90% of bike shops in North America are owned by men, with women-identifying individuals accounting for just 8% of workshop roles. While much discussion about diversity in cycling focuses on who’s on the saddle, there is growing urgency to address the face of the sector itself.
OCB’s Gear Up program, coordinated in cooperation with YWCA Metro Vancouver, is seeking to do just this. The free 13-week program equips youth ages 15 – 30 with the skills, certification and employer connections necessary to work as a bike mechanic.
Changing cultures in the cycling sector is at the heart of OCB’s vision for the future of pedal power. Indeed, it is reflected in our own staff- who reflect the diversity of Vancouver’s inhabitants.
As a result, OCB delivers this course across the year, bringing in talented and enthusiastic individuals who may not otherwise have had the opportunity to enter the field, providing a welcoming and instructive environment.
The course provides five weeks of in-class skills development workshops, including Introduction to Bike Mechanics Certificate, six weeks of work experience with a local bike repair shop (training allowance provided), and two weeks of one-to-one job search support.
Indeed, many of OCB’s colleagues began their careers through this program.
“I signed up to the program because I didn’t know what else to do after high school. It was mostly something to make my parents happy, but also I had an inclination it would be something I liked because I’ve always had a competency with tools and mechanical problems,” says Nes Pederson, mechanic at OCB.
“I have recommended the program before, especially to my women trans and queer peers. I wouldn’t have gotten into the industry without gear up, it gave me instant access to a very inaccessible world. It’s very hard to break through the feeling of not belonging, even in a shop like OCB, where my co-workers are accepting.
“I wouldn’t have felt comfortable without the “tools” in my back pocket gear up provided me. Those tools being cursory knowledge of bicycles and an early sense of the possibility of forging community,” They continue.
Entering the sector is just the beginning
However, entering the cycling sector is just the first step. All too often, exclusionary cultures inhibit underrepresented and equity-deserving genders* from remaining in, and progressing through, the industry.
“Gaining mechanical skills isn’t like riding a bicycle, you have to use it or lose it. New mechanics start in entry-level roles, but because of the seasonal nature of bike shops, there are generally less long-term opportunities. A way to get around that is to be friends with other cyclists interested in mechanics. You ride bikes, so you talk about bikes, and then you fix bikes… But when you’re socially excluded, where do you go to get experience?” says another of OCB’s Gear-Up alumni.
“That’s why mechanical training and access programming made by and for equity-deserving groups is essential to growing the cycling community and industry. That’s what we do here.”
As a result OCB’s Second Gear initiative, a peer-led educational series for entry-level professionals of equity-deserving genders is seeking to develop a rounded comprehension of bike world basics that will bolster personal confidence and longevity for those already within the industry.
Could you be part of the next cohort of Gear-Up mechanics?
Are you a young aspiring bike mechanic, eager to get into the industry but don’t know where to start? Get in touch with the OCB team and we can answer any questions or concerns, as well as provide guidance on how to register.