Bicycle mechanics: what takes expertise, what does not?
Sometimes when I'm fixing bikes I think about what jobs demand the most expertise. Most of it is pretty mundane -- put the right tool into the fitting and turn the threaded thing until it's torqued correctly. Or clean off the dirty grease/oil and put in fresh grease/oil. It's basically just putting things on and off, tightening and loosening, rubbing with a rag, lubricating. Sometimes you get to cut something or spin up the grinder.
So, I'll start a list of things I think are worth some respect and would be curious to hear from others.
1. Diagnosing and eliminating an annoying noise
2. Freeing a hopelessly seized part
3. building a wheel
4. repairing carbon
5. realigning bent metal frames and forks
6. brazing a frame
7. tig welding a frame
8. designing a new component
9. inventing a successful product
10. turn a successful product into a company
11. grow the company through decades
12. become part of the fabric of cycling culture
My bike makes an annoying creaking noise, by the way.