Complete career change, have you, would you, what would you ?

[Yorick]

How about track day Marshall?

Lots of firemen do it on their office days..

[weeksy]

How about track day Marshall?

Lots of firemen do it on their office days..

they're a bit far away in terms of location, the only one within 2 hours drive would be Castle Combe and that's still 60-90 mins each way...

[Beancounter]

As part of your bike plan, would you consider repairing E-bikes? There seems to be very few independant places that cater for repairs to motors etc, might be a bit niche though?

In terms of motors and tech it's incredibly niche and very very specialised work for sure with lots and lots of hoops to jump through with suppliers. I think there's a reason very very few places do it. Shimano for example won't supply 50% of the parts within their motors, Bosch will but as we saw with @Beancounter and his rebuild it's quite an involved and intricate job.
You'd also i expect need some fancy diagnostic equipment and software... So whilst i'm not against the idea... It seems a pretty big ask.

TBH, I think I made a meal of that rebuild, mainly because I was being uber-careful and stopping to take photos. Second time should be quicker etc. but I take your point about the diagnostic equipment and software.

Regularly think about changing career but too much of a chicken to actually do it.

[Dodgy69]

I've been reading up on things like AA and RAC and they've massively dropped off the potential list. Reviews from workers state the long rubbish hours, with day-shift and 28 hours into night shift for a week. 2 weekends a month working.

Moving up the list is Waitrose/Sains/Tesco delivery driver. The hours seem to suit me for example 7am-1pm, which i'd like actually. But also the lack of hassle, stress, just rock up, deliver, go home. Waitrose also gives 20% off which would make Mrs Weeksy very happy too lol

But that would also give me some money in and the flexibility/time to get the bike repair stuff running in the afternoon/evenings. So it would work well whilst building up some business/customers.

Certainly ticking the boxes

You'd be lucky to get those hours at Tesco. I did a bit of that ( 3 months then packed in ) and they wanted me to do 2 evening's a week, either 6 - 10 or 7- 11. aswel as 10 hour days. Days worked were flexible but hours weren't.

I have spoken to a few Asda drivers and some of them get decent hours.

[weeksy]

I've been reading up on things like AA and RAC and they've massively dropped off the potential list. Reviews from workers state the long rubbish hours, with day-shift and 28 hours into night shift for a week. 2 weekends a month working.

Moving up the list is Waitrose/Sains/Tesco delivery driver. The hours seem to suit me for example 7am-1pm, which i'd like actually. But also the lack of hassle, stress, just rock up, deliver, go home. Waitrose also gives 20% off which would make Mrs Weeksy very happy too lol

But that would also give me some money in and the flexibility/time to get the bike repair stuff running in the afternoon/evenings. So it would work well whilst building up some business/customers.

Certainly ticking the boxes

You'd be lucky to get those hours at Tesco. I did a bit of that ( 3 months then packed in ) and they wanted me to do 2 evening's a week, either 6 - 10 or 7- 11. aswel as 10 hour days. Days worked were flexible but hours weren't.

I have spoken to a few Asda drivers and some of them get decent hours.

Doesn't need to be Tesco and depending when this all is, it arguably won't really matter at all in terms of when. The only times it matters 'when' is if the cull happens soon and it affects 2026 racing plans for the boy... after then and it really doesn't matter. I'd argue in some ways that Waitrose would work better as Mrs Weeksy shops there a lot and the 20% staff discount would make a decent difference. Flexibility on number or choice of days would arguably matter more than the hours within. But it's good to have the info, so thank you sir

With the location we'll have in FoD it could come more down to where the distribution places are accordingly.

[Yorick]

I've been reading up on things like AA and RAC and they've massively dropped off the potential list. Reviews from workers state the long rubbish hours, with day-shift and 28 hours into night shift for a week. 2 weekends a month working.

Moving up the list is Waitrose/Sains/Tesco delivery driver. The hours seem to suit me for example 7am-1pm, which i'd like actually. But also the lack of hassle, stress, just rock up, deliver, go home. Waitrose also gives 20% off which would make Mrs Weeksy very happy too lol

But that would also give me some money in and the flexibility/time to get the bike repair stuff running in the afternoon/evenings. So it would work well whilst building up some business/customers.

Certainly ticking the boxes

You'd be lucky to get those hours at Tesco. I did a bit of that ( 3 months then packed in ) and they wanted me to do 2 evening's a week, either 6 - 10 or 7- 11. aswel as 10 hour days. Days worked were flexible but hours weren't.

I have spoken to a few Asda drivers and some of them get decent hours.

Doesn't need to be Tesco and depending when this all is, it arguably won't really matter at all in terms of when. The only times it matters 'when' is if the cull happens soon and it affects 2026 racing plans for the boy... after then and it really doesn't matter. I'd argue in some ways that Waitrose would work better

Waitrose suddenly has best trolleys in the world. New bearings all round and tracking sorted

[Noggin]

Not sure it’s that simple in France as the Frinchie like to keep things in house

But thanks

Nothing is simple in France !! Ever !! (For the french as well as the immigrants!)

BUT - with a coaching qualification and experience in downhill, he would be interesting to some of the schools here (especially for English tourists!)

It would be a case of finding a company that would want an english (only) speaking coach, but in this area, that would be quite possible. Somewhat complicated to get the work permit and visa at the moment, but getting less complicated each year.

But it is possible if he/you want to try it

(Like Jody - I've also got a lot of chalet/self catering contacts for winter jobs)

[Sunny]

My dad went self employed at 52 - he maintains it's the best thing he ever did. He enjoyed his work (as a mechanic, plus with some experience as a heating engineer, he is became a 'handy man' doing electrics, plumbing, etc, etc), and could choose which jobs to accept and which he didn't want.

I think making your hobby your job can work out well if you remember that you can always say no.

On the logo side of things, I'd go for this one - it's simple and more distinctive than the other generic bike images:

Screenshot_20251213-105913_copy_171x155.png (21.08 KiB) Viewed 679 times

[weeksy]

This has had a lot of thought in the past week and a bit and i have pretty much put the idea on the back burner for now. Was chatting with Rotec and @crust yesterday when collecting the boys wheels and we were working out just how many bikes i'd need to turn around and how regularly to get a semi-decent income. As i said, the incoming number itself wasn't of primary importance, but i'm not planning on doing it for free and if i'm working a fair day, i want a fair days pay.

It may end up as the longer term "i don't need any money at all" type income plan... but for now, a better plan needs to exist.

[Dodgy69]

Maybe scrap the career change and find another job in what you know. Maybe a part-time job would suit.

[Count Steer]

I've been wondering about this bike maintai/repair business and came to the conclusion that the places lots of people go to, to ride, may not actually be the best place to set up a business. Very few of the riders actually live in those places so, while they might need quick fixes (if they don't have a spare bike in the van) most of them will head for home, hand it over to the LBS and pick it up in a couple of days time. So, generally, they want something close to where they live. (We always joke that most of the bikes in the Surrey Hills have travelled in from Tooting ).

Several failed attempts at bike maintenance/repair/build have come and gone in and around the Surrey Hills. The trajectory is - shop opens in expensive premises. Closes. One employee takes on cheaper, smaller place. Closes. Tries working from home. End result a scattering of self-employed, wfh, people all competing for the same sort of business. The only one that (I think) has survived is in Shere, pretty much in the heart of the area and their premises are the size of a public toilet! I think they do bike hire as well.

There is another a few miles out at Smithbrook Kilns that had a biggish place when I visited years ago but their current unit looks smaller - but they've been there for years and sell quite a lot of bikes - if it's still the same business. They're probably Guildford's LBS so have a decent catchment.

https://www.beyond-bikes.co.uk/

[weeksy]

Maybe scrap the career change and find another job in what you know. Maybe a part-time job would suit.

It's looking likely that the Tesco/Waitrose/Something delivery guy will be the option, it's only something i'll need/want to do for a year and it'll give me the flexibility to be able to do the more fun stuff at the same time while topping up the final year of pension money etc.

Working the numbers out i'd need to do £800-1000 of bike 'stuff' per week which would clear me £500 roughly, i can earn that driving the van from A>B>C>D for 6-7 hours a day and then come home and if i feel the need do some bike work or do some whatever stuff.

Working in IT isn't something i want to do once i leave here, once i'm gone from IT, that's it... I'm out.

[weeksy]

I've been wondering about this bike maintai/repair business and came to the conclusion that the places lots of people go to, to ride, may not actually be the best place to set up a business. Very few of the riders actually live in those places so, while they might need quick fixes (if they don't have a spare bike in the van) most of them will head for home, hand it over to the LBS and pick it up in a couple of days time. So, generally, they want something close to where they live. (We always joke that most of the bikes in the Surrey Hills have travelled in from Tooting ).

Several failed attempts at bike maintenance/repair/build have come and gone in and around the Surrey Hills. The trajectory is - shop opens in expensive premises. Closes. One employee takes on cheaper, smaller place. Closes. Tries working from home. End result a scattering of self-employed, wfh, people all competing for the same sort of business. The only one that (I think) has survived is in Shere, pretty much in the heart of the area and their premises are the size of a public toilet! I think they do bike hire as well.

There is another a few miles out at Smithbrook Kilns that had a biggish place when I visited years ago but their current unit looks smaller - but they've been there for years and sell quite a lot of bikes - if it's still the same business. They're probably Guildford's LBS so have a decent catchment.

https://www.beyond-bikes.co.uk/?srsltid ... O2qPCC-Ox1

Premises in this context is the make or break thing IMO and the guys i've spoken to. As soon as you're paying for premises you're onto a hiding unless you really start hitting the numbers. As a start for a premises you're over a grand a month in rent

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/ ... el=COM_LET

Once you add heating, water, electric then whatever corporate stuff i know nothing about you must be at the best part of £2000, so to even break even you're looking at needing £3500-4000 over the counter. That takes it from a hobby business into a full on job with all the potential downsides.

I'm not scared of a bit of work... but with that above i'm needing to take £6000 a month to make a living there, which is a LOT of turnover for something like a 1 man band bike shop.

[Dodgy69]

Would you need premises?? Collection and delivery service, work in the garage/shed.

[Count Steer]

Totally agree on premises. The rents, rates etc etc are eye-popping.

It was the location thing that had me puzzling about where the best place to be was and, in a rather contrarian fashion, I decided it probably wasn't where all the bicyclists go to play. Unless it's a 'quick-fix' op in the car park and that probably involves lots of spares.

[weeksy]

Would you need premises?? Collection and delivery service, work in the garage/shed.

That was exactly my point based upon what he's saying above. I personally wouldn't in my scenario as it would double/triple the required income. But i still think that the required figure per month is more than i can make easily.... maybe working like a lunatic and that's assuming i could get enough customers... but do i really want to be working that hard at both working and getting customers... Not really.

[weeksy]

Totally agree on premises. The rents, rates etc etc are eye-popping.

It was the location thing that had me puzzling about where the best place to be was and, in a rather contrarian fashion, I decided it probably wasn't where all the bicyclists go to play. Unless it's a 'quick-fix' op in the car park and that probably involves lots of spares.

Places like FoD are more cycling centric than Surrey as you say though, Surrey is a destination for the 'South' but FoD is more a locals (within 20 miles) kind of place to go to, plenty of people around FoD and plenty of bikers. But it's a fair point and something that you'd need to consider. Which is why i was thinking of the mobile plan.

[Couchy]

This has had a lot of thought in the past week and a bit and i have pretty much put the idea on the back burner for now. Was chatting with Rotec and @crust yesterday when collecting the boys wheels and we were working out just how many bikes i'd need to turn around and how regularly to get a semi-decent income. As i said, the incoming number itself wasn't of primary importance, but i'm not planning on doing it for free and if i'm working a fair day, i want a fair days pay.

It may end up as the longer term "i don't need any money at all" type income plan... but for now, a better plan needs to exist.

You’ve got this wrong, you don’t need an income with your pension pot and pay off. You just need to work the figures out. Start thinking like a retired person not an employee that needs a job

[weeksy]

This has had a lot of thought in the past week and a bit and i have pretty much put the idea on the back burner for now. Was chatting with Rotec and @crust yesterday when collecting the boys wheels and we were working out just how many bikes i'd need to turn around and how regularly to get a semi-decent income. As i said, the incoming number itself wasn't of primary importance, but i'm not planning on doing it for free and if i'm working a fair day, i want a fair days pay.

It may end up as the longer term "i don't need any money at all" type income plan... but for now, a better plan needs to exist.

You’ve got this wrong, you don’t need an income with your pension pot and pay off. You just need to work the figures out. Start thinking like a retired person not an employee that needs a job

Only half right. There’s no point working for bugger all reward

[Couchy]

This has had a lot of thought in the past week and a bit and i have pretty much put the idea on the back burner for now. Was chatting with Rotec and @crust yesterday when collecting the boys wheels and we were working out just how many bikes i'd need to turn around and how regularly to get a semi-decent income. As i said, the incoming number itself wasn't of primary importance, but i'm not planning on doing it for free and if i'm working a fair day, i want a fair days pay.

It may end up as the longer term "i don't need any money at all" type income plan... but for now, a better plan needs to exist.

You’ve got this wrong, you don’t need an income with your pension pot and pay off. You just need to work the figures out. Start thinking like a retired person not an employee that needs a job

Only half right. There’s no point working for bugger all reward

I agree, can the working for nothing and concentrate on making the pension work you’ve got the funds