Kelli Reports Back From Appalachian Bicycle Institute
Kelli was able to attend Appalachian Bicycle Institute’s 5-Day Immersion Class November 17-21. Here’s the story!
I came to open Wheelhouse as a recreational and transportation cyclist who saw a need for a bike shop in Detroit, not as an amatuer mechanic. Over the years, I’ve developed a very rudimentary understanding of bikes, mostly from doing the shop’s parts ordering. I don’t think people realize how complex bikes really are. For example, if you want your handlebars to “be taller,” that may include a new headset as well as all new cables and housing for your brakes and gears. We stock over 30 sizes of tubes. If your old Schwinn has 26x1-3/8 tires, guess what? There are different “ISOs” that come into play, so we have to stock several “26x1-3/8” size tires. We regularly joke at the shop about something being “standard” because there literally is no such thing.
I also don’t consider myself to be very mechanically inclined. I’m handy if need be but honestly I’m too impatient to dink around and figure it out when I always have a brilliant and talented mechanic around to work on my bikes. With that said, I am a firm believer in continual learning through life. I think a lot of people stop learning because it’s humbling to start from ground level at a new skill and humility isn’t something adults are too good at. But I kinda masochistically love it. It’s a small part of why I love to travel alone. There is always an opportunity to make a fool of yourself and that’s when shit gets raw and real and the best parts of life peek through.
So Philosophy 101 aside, I was inspired by Tatiana’s opportunity to attend bike mechanic school so, during the pandemic, I applied for a work education grant from Michigan Works called Going Pro Talent Fund. It’s meant to provide training to new or retaining workers and, since I am definately inclined to retain my job, it worked out.
I could have applied the funds to any bike mechanic school (there are pretty much only 3 that I’m aware of) but I decided to select the Appalachian Bicycle Institute for a couple of reasons: I knew it was woman-run and I’ve dealt with more than enough mansplaining in the bike business to last me for several lifetimes over and I’d been to Asheville once previously and loved it.
In short, I learned a ton. It was gratifying to see in front of my face how complex bikes really are — it’s not me! — to further my understanding of what happens on the stand with our customers’ bikes, and demystify our parts orders. I came home with ideas for better organizing our service area and, if possible, a greater respect for our mechanics.
Things I loved: the Smoky Mountains, our amazing teacher Jenny Kallista and her lunches, WNCW, The Burger Bar, Franny’s Farm, and Dupont State Forest. I am so grateful to have had this opportunity.