Help Wanted

Neighborhood shop is sometimes looking for world class team members. All staff should love to ride bikes AND ride to work at least 3 times per week. This is not discrimination, just a fact of working at a bike shop.

Benefits include: Medical Emergency Fund, Voice in the Company, Paid Vacation, Paid Sick Time, Friendly Shop Atmosphere, Great Seattle Location, Mild Seattle climate,Top wages will be paid, DOE.

Email Resume and Cover Letter to aaron@rideyourbike.com

We do not accept 'snailmail' resumes as using a computer is required to work at our shop and emailling a resume is initial proof that you can. You do not need to own a computer. The public library has them as well as many internet cafes. Heck, you can even use one of ours when you visit the shop!

Shop Description

Aaron's Bicycle Repair is an open atmosphere repair shop (the repair benches are not hidden in a back room). We sell bikes, helmets, clothing and all parts & accessories but primarily focus on quality repair. Our motto about Tune-ups is - Your bike will work better than new! We do it right the first time. The repair benches are the first thing the customer sees when coming in the door. The customer is welcome anywhere in the shop except in the immediate repair bench area and behind the cash wrap. We strive to make folks feel comfortable and don't use technobabble unless the customer speaks it first (i.e. we call the BB the "crank bearing"). West Seattle is like a small town and we know a lot of customers by first name. Customers can surf the web if they like or just hang out. We have an Internet lounge with a couch and free coffee. A computer is free for public use (as long as it is bike related!). We have a book library where customers can borrow books on all things bike. We rent bikes and videos. Our customers are a mix of families, commuters, MTBers, Roadies and women! We also have a high percentage of Minorities. The people of West Seattle are pretty laid back. We are across the street from a grocery store (Thriftway), near a Starbucks AND a Tullys! Caffe Ladro is 5 blocks away. We are next door to a Subway and the liquor store. Drinking on the job is OK! (coffee that is!)

Job Descriptions

Cashier / Sales / Receiving Clerk

A great opportunity in a fun environment. No bike shop experience necessary! Must work well with people, be friendly and a good listener. Must love bicycles! Must stay on top of the current bike trends and be willing to read a lot about bicycles and the bike industry. Mechanical experience and computer experience a plus, but not necessary. Women, especially, are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to: sales, customer service, merchandising, cash handling, deposits, receiving product, house keeping duties, opening and closing procedures, being an environmental & recycling steward¹. Must ride to work at least 3 days a week ².

Apprentice Mechanic Filled" Max

Part Time (24 hours a week to start, full time in the summer)
Must be highly motivated, mechanically inclined, and career motivated.

*** However like all things in life, there are exceptions. If you have graduated from either UBI or BBI (you will know what that means if you went!), then contact us.

An apprentice mechanic who loves bicycles. Will learn every aspect of bicycle repair and to build wheels. Must be willing to learn from senior mechanics. Must be open to the ABR way of bike repair. Must not have an elitist attitude about bicycles (if you only want to work on the nice bikes, look elsewhere). Must work well with people and not mind if the customer watches you work. Must be extremely organized and clean. Must be friendly and a good listener. Must be out-going. Must want to read a lot about bicycle mechanics. This can turn into a full time, year round position for the right person. It is a career position and the candidate will take on their own education. You will be assigned reading and homework, but the main drive must come from your own desire to learn bike mechanics through reading, reading, reading! You must read one repair book per week and report back what you have learned. Did we say you will have to do a lot of reading? This must be your main focus in life if you wish to succeed. 3 month reviews will test your resolve. After 1 to 2 ** Year apprenticeship is completed you will become a Journeyman Mechanic and after 5 years Master Mechanic status will be earned. Testing, lots of reading and study and peer review will be included in your regimen. Higher pay will accompany completion.

** Time will be determined by your willingness to learn, initive and classes taken.

Responsibilities will include but are not limited to: customer service, general bike repair, house keeping duties, opening and closing procedures, being an environmental & recycling steward¹. Must ride to work at least 3 days a week ².

An apprentice mechanic will get special discount on tool purchases and be expected to acquire their own tool set. An Apprenticeship takes 2 years.

Journeyman Mechanic

Full Time Filled: Mikey

Master mechanics usually have their own shop. This can include personal shops, previously owned shops, or a current shop. If they do not have a shop, they live and breathe mechanics day and night. It is their favoirte thing! Not all shop owners are master mechanics, however. Peer recognition and respect are required. There is no official certification program in the bicycle industry. Presenting these suggestions we hope to change that. Electricians, plumbers and auto mechanics all have similar definitions. The field of bicycle mechanics is just as technical if not more so. Higher wages for mechanics and attracting career minded employees are the goals.

Master Mechanic

Filled: Val

Val is the former owner if Bikesmith. 30+ years experince and he still loves it! Val works on Sundays, only.

Master mechanics have their own shop. This can include personal shops, previously owned shops, or a current shop. Not all shop owners are master mechanics, however. Peer recognition and respect are required. There is no official certification program in the bicycle industry. Presenting these suggestions we hope to change that. Electricians, plumbers and auto mechanics all have similar definitions. The field of bicycle mechanics is just as technical if not more so. Higher wages for mechanics and attracting career minded employees are the goals.

Journeyman Mechanic

An apprentice mechanic who loves bicycles. Will learn every aspect of bicycle repair and to build wheels. Must be willing to learn from senior mechanics. Must be open to the ABR way of bike repair. Must not have an elitist attitude about bicycles (if you only want to work on the nice bikes, look elsewhere). Must work well with people and not mind if the customer watches you work. Must be extremely organized and clean. Must be friendly and a good listener. Must be out-going. Must want to read a lot about bicycle mechanics. This can turn into a full time, year round position for the right person. It is a career position and the candidate will take on their own education. You will be assigned reading and homework, but the main drive must come from your own desire to learn bike mechanics through reading, reading, reading! You must read one repair book per week and report back what you have learned. Did we say you will have to do a lot of reading? This must be your main focus in life if you wish to succeed. 3 month reviews will test your resolve. After 1 Year apprenticeship is completed you will become a Journeyman Mechanic and after 5 years Master Mechanic status will be earned. Testing, lots of reading and study and peer review will be included in your regimen. Higher pay will accompany completion.

Responsibilities will include but are not limited to: customer service, general bike repair, house keeping duties, opening and closing procedures, being an environmental & recycling steward¹. Must ride to work at least 3 days a week ².

A jouneyman mechanic owns his own tool set. Journeyman tenure is 5 years.

Manager, Bike Fit Specialist

No bike shop experience necessary! Women, especially, are encouraged to apply. Must work well with people, be friendly and a good listener. Must love bicycles! Must stay on top of the current bike trends or be willing to read a lot about bicycles if hired with little or no experience. Mechanical experience a plus but not necessary. Computer literacy a must!

Responsibilities include but are not limited to: sales, customer service, Bike Fitting, merchandising, cash handling, deposits, ordering, product selection, shipping and receiving, house keeping duties, scheduling of massages & service, minor bike repair (flat tires), opening and closing procedures, being an environmental & recycling steward¹. Must ride to work at least 3 days a week ².

Bookkeeper/Mom/Co-Owner/Sales and Bike Fit Specialist and Massage Therapist

Gypsie does all the things that keep the shop really running. I (Aaron) thank her very much for doing things like payroll, taxes, invoicing and paying the bills. She is also our resident massage therapist. She is an expert at bike fit and enjoys helping people get comfortable on their bike. With her and Aaron's son Braxton, her time at the shop is limited. It is really great having Braxton at the shop too. He likes to help people test out the bells and horns! Gypsie rides to work everyday.

As of February 1, 2004 Gypsie has moved her massage business into the bike shop. We now offer massage and spa treatments in a private studio in the back of the shop. The room is quiet and warm.

Owner / Master Mechanic

Aaron does it all! (except Massage). Aaron rides to work virtually everyday.

¹ Caring for the environment and recycling is important if humanity is to continue to exist. It is EVERYONES job! It includes making adjustments to your work life AND your home life. It means doing things like recycling, considering the packaging your purchases come in, taking a bag to the store, or your own cup to get coffee.
Using less energy is very important. Right now humanity uses way more energy than the earth provides. We are using hundreds of years worth of energy (in the form of fossil fuel) every day. It cannot go on much longer. Change the light bulbs in your house to compact flourecant. Turn off lights when not needed, wear a sweater when it is cold.

²Driving a car is bad for the planet. The less we do of it the better. Riding a bike doesn't hurt the planet at all. Not even a scratch! Everyone can ride a bike, or a trike or a recumbent or a recumbent trike or a hand cycle. The point is we are a transportation oriented shop not a recreational one. Our main goal is to encourage bike use for daily transport. If you are unable to ride sometimes, take the bus! Three times a week is easy and you and the planet will feel better.