ABOUT ME & MY PROGRAM
My business is called "Bicycle Support by Mark".
Its goals are to provide neutral mechanical support for bicycle-related events and
offer full-service mobile bicycle repair, sales, and fittings
to the general public and racing enthusiasts.
See the complete and comprehensive list of service and rates
here.
Most neutral support programs are corporate-sponsored with complete financial backing
and all the goodies they need. Mine is an
independent business (grassroots in biking lingo) that purchases the best
equipment. Eliminating the need to please sponsors avoids conflicts of
interest pertaining to my activities, event sponsors, and other entities.
My presence is designed
to enhance the venue without diminishing the involvement or visibility of sponsors
who pay for the privilege of being there.
Having the flexibility to choose the most appropriate equipment
without compromise or obligation benefits the racers, companies, and all those
involved with successful bicycle events. The best equipment and service come
without the hype...it is difficult to be "neutral" otherwise.
Besides, free stuff can have a cancerous
effect on the truth, I'm certainly not spending my hard-earned money
on anything less.
A fully mobile service has many advantages.
Convenience, accountability, and time savings are three huge pluses.
Many times it is less expensive than a trip to the store but it's so much
more than that: you decide where, when, and what you want from the experience.
American companies and jobs matter
so the bulk of my equipment and partners
exemplifies this belief. All neutral support bikes in my program are meticulously
hand-assembled by me. Wheels are carefully hand-built by me, based on proven designs
with proven components and methods. Every wheel has
a unique personality when you build it from scratch, every bike its
own nuances, nothing is taken for granted.
I strive to provide the best
service with an enormous variety and quantity of equipment and tools.
At a typical race I will bring seven bikes, 25-30 additional wheels (up to 17 different
combinations of rear wheels alone), helmets, repair parts,...you have to
see it. Very few mechanical problems
will cause a rider to
drop out of their event. If they came to race they’re gonna race!
Several hundred races as a neutral support mechanic ensure I am one
of the most talented and diverse technicians: road races of every
discipline, cyclocross, ATB/mountain bike, state and national championships, multi-day
international stage races, UCI-sanctioned events, charity and fundraising rides, multi-sport events.
Most are in the northeast USA where the program is based.
Almost two decades of
industry experience include all roles involved with running a high-end bicycle shop. You are
assured of the highest quality service, consistency, attention to
detail, and professionalism.
I’ve competed in all kinds of bicycle races,
triathlons, running, and other athletic activities that keep me fit, alert, and
aware of the intricacies of wellness. As a former professional fitness educator and
personal trainer I have
extensive knowledge of biomechanics, healthy lifestyles, diet, proper training,
injury management, and basic First Aid/CPR skills. My experience with energy work
and healing arts has proven valuable, too.
CERTIFICATIONS:
USAC Category 2 Mechanic
USAC Category B Road Official
USAC Category B Track Official
USAC Mountain Bike Category C Official
Certified Fitter and other industry certifications
I love to work on bikes. It's a mechanical
thing that has intrigued me since deconstructing toys as a toddler.
As wisdom lethargically arrives it becomes
more apparent how precious and fragile the body is.
The thought of a bike or components failing under any circumstance
is scary. My experience and knowledge - flattering
or not - err on the side of safety and function before anything else.
All bikes I service have the same importance and get the same
treatment, i.e. the best possible.
Every company will create something that is defective, hopefully just
an occasional piece that never reaches the retail market
and not something that thousands already have.
Even with precision machining
and molding processes the human element ensures no manufactured part
or process will be perfect.
It is the ownership and resultant fix that determine a company's true value.
Without a thorough inspection by an experienced eye you might get that lemon.
Your competent(?) mechanic is the final quality control expert.
Simply, quality control is the willingness to throw something away.
Recalls or scrapping a entire production run can severely impact
revenue. The financial concern almost always
trumps the moral concern and the product is delivered anyway.
Countless examples can be seen with a simple internet search.
Can you blame these companies - as long as the costs of potential lawsuits are
lower than the costs of recalls, no reason to risk a profit. Collateral
injuries are just another byproduct of unethical companies.
As this mentality trickles down the supply chain,
it is bolstered by the attitude adopted by the highest majority of
retail environments. Retail shops will educate the consumer only
enough to make the sale, neglecting or overlooking the whole truth when it
reflects unfavorably on their products and profits!
Shops are afraid to question manufacturers' low-quality products
because they fear repercussions. Employees know their jobs are at stake
so they follow the lemmings and keep their mouths shut.
Retailers could use the collective power of rebellion by banding together
and not purchasing bad products or technology. Instead they
cower under spineless diplomacy with "thank you sir, may I have another"
and say nothing. Shop owners generally forbid their employees from
discussing all
the pros and cons so the consumer gets the short end of the stick.
Creating a better industry for all of us is not supported by these business
models.
Specialty stores, like those proclaiming to
be fitting experts, are mostly experts in their own minds.
All sorts of precise, scientific methods and tools enhance the charade. They only
carry the absolute
best equipment, have the most skilled technicians in the industry,
the most
comprehensive assembly process...isn't this what every shop says?
Unfortunately even the "best in their own mind" manipulate the fitting numbers,
conveniently ignore the truth to make a sale, and outright
lie to customers and employees. You'd expect this from
a political science major skilled in the art of deception and fraud,
not from your local bike shop.
Sadly, companies that embrace effective customer service and
maintain a high standard compete
on an uneven playing field with the mangy majority.
Progressive companies that manufacture honest-to-goodness functional products
or offer no-holds-barred services
are a rarity. A $300 carbon fiber stem should have better
manufacturing tolerances than a $20 department store stem and
custom $9000 framesets must be better than $500 mass-produced ones,
right? Actually, no, far from it...very, VERY far.
Eliminate the marketing and hype and you are left with the truth.
For your benefit - please, use this fully to your advantage - I am able to offer
solutions that are not practical, available, or feasible elsewhere.
I've worked in the retail environment, seen how it happens, observed as
manufacturers shirk their responsibilities while shop owners play pattycake.
I have no hidden sales agenda
and certainly won't sidestep the pros, cons, and safety concerns of anything
you desire. I will not squander my principles by making a
sale under dubious circumstances.
Quality and knowledge glued together with passion
are my guiding principles. There is no such thing as a detail, everything is important.
Two-minute solutions might require hours of research
so spend the time to do it right. Few situations will
interfere with doing the job that each and every person deserves.
I'm not the best at everything but I will not allow my (vast) ignorance
or a serious case of dumbass-itis to stand in the way.
A fundamental change in the mentality of the cycling industry is long overdue.
I may not be a pioneer for change but that's where I'm headed, come join me.
I'll be worried when shops are forthcoming with their clients
and the industry rises to the challenge...but that won't be any
time soon.
Stock wheels, frames, derailleurs, tires, chains,...you can buy
these anywhere. One derailleur is going to
be exactly the same as the next. The
price you pay or where you purchase something has a negligible effect on how
well it performs. I strive to provide commodities that
can't be purchased: the best service and knowledge.