Side hustles on the biking industry
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Side hustles on the biking industry
My career of the last several decades has zero to do with cycling, but I've come to love it over the last 10+ years more than my day job. I've got some extra time. Curious what kind of part time/remote work/etc side gigs there may be out there in the bike world. Just fishing around for some ideas! (FYI: I'm no mechanic! Really into the gravel/adventure style of cycling and all that entails)
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3d printing little odd parts, building & truing wheels, maybe powdercoating parts.
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Even the people who work in bike shops professionally are generally not making much money. So I'm not sure that there are many fruitful side hustles.
It'd probably be more fun to volunteer at a local bike co-op, or something like that.
It'd probably be more fun to volunteer at a local bike co-op, or something like that.
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Good stuff, everybody. I do think for starters volunteering somehow as Koyote suggests to at least get involved more with the rest of the cycling community is a great start.
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#5
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Interesting thread. I find as I get older, that the more my life is centered around bikes/cycling/going for rides, the happier I am. So I'm throwing out some ideas, as much for my own benefit as yours. You won't make millions off of any of these but they might be fun and allow you do more of what you like:
- Flip bikes (this one may be too obvious)
- Photography - find a bike race/event, select a location to take shots of participants in action, take their photos, and hand out cards with links to the event to sell the pics
- Build custom frames or do custom paint
- Move to the south of France/north of Italy or somewhere else near some iconic bike routes and have a B&B catering to cyclists
- if you are artistic, make bike art that captures the essence of speed, wind in your hair, etc of cycling
- give bike tours of any popular attractions
- Flip bikes (this one may be too obvious)
- Photography - find a bike race/event, select a location to take shots of participants in action, take their photos, and hand out cards with links to the event to sell the pics
- Build custom frames or do custom paint
- Move to the south of France/north of Italy or somewhere else near some iconic bike routes and have a B&B catering to cyclists
- if you are artistic, make bike art that captures the essence of speed, wind in your hair, etc of cycling
- give bike tours of any popular attractions
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Do something related to what you like. You like gravel/adventure so do gravel touring rides. For folks with little biking experience but the $$$ to pay for a premium tour experience. Schlep the gear, have some e-bikes for slower folks to rent, sightseeing, etc. Google gravel adventure tours to see what some outfits are doing now.
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Mobile bike repair. You call up the service and they fix your bike while it is parked at your office or wherever.
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Helping tubeless people seat new tires on the rims.
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#10
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Some of the longer organized multi-day tours will allow volunteers to ride free but do work at the end/start of each day. Some may pay you to help out but probably not ride.
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The fastest way to kill your love of a hobby is to turn it into your job. But if you insist, floor sales or product rep would be the easiest way in if you're not a mechanic. Personally, I'd rather just ride more.
Last edited by Rolla; 04-11-21 at 10:58 PM.
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Oh, snap. Winner right here. If I had any free time at this point in my life, I would be on my bike going somewhere, or going somewhere to ride my bike.
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be a messenger > meet strangers for pay
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Go to work for a bike tour company. Probably set your own schedule and lead tours or drive the truck that carries their gear around. As said above, start your own.