If you’ve ever searched for a bike maintenance video on YouTube, you’ll have run into Calvin Jones. Park Tool’s director of education has been with the tool brand since 1997, but is best-known for his extensive contributions to the brand's YouTube channel. Boasting 900,000 subscribers and 13 million annual views, Jones has also contributed to nearly 200 detailed guides on Park Tool’s website.
Before Park Tool, Jones’ bike maintenance career, which started in 1973, included a spell as a mechanics instructor at the US Olympic Training Centre.
Ahead of his recently announced retirement from Park Tool, we caught up with Jones to tap into his expertise and get his top tips for budding home or professional bike mechanics.
BikeRadar: What is the number one mistake that mechanics make?
Calvin Jones: Probably being over-confident. You should know your limits and remember that the right to repair is also the right to fail. That mistake that you made is learning.
BikeRadar: What is the best way for people to improve as bike mechanics?
Calvin Jones: Shop mechanics, it happens anyway; home mechanics should start repairing your friends’ bikes.
Shop mechanics are repairing other people’s bikes – that’s a big responsibility. But you get to work on a lot of different bikes, and that should make the professional better.
BikeRadar: What is the best way to prevent long-term costs?
Calvin Jones: Preventive maintenance, as boring as it sounds, is the way. Chains are probably the least expensive part of the drivetrain. Maintain it as you go.
Does it mean washing your bike every time you ride? Maybe not. Keep it clean, but don’t go too far. With too much scrubbing, water ingress can carry stuff with it.
BikeRadar: What is the one job you cannot stand?
Calvin Jones: It’s all fun. Being under pressure when changing wheels for the mountain bike World Cup, when the downhill starts in 10 minutes and you’ve got to swap wheels out to change from mud tyres because the course has dried out. That’s probably the least favourite.
BikeRadar: What is the tool you shouldn't skimp on?
Calvin Jones: I wouldn’t skimp on the repair stand. That doesn’t mean you need our electric lift stand, but get a really nice consumer stand. If you get the stand, you’re going to all of a sudden have friends. You’ll get a lot of life out of that stand – don’t skimp on it.
BikeRadar: Bikes have changed a lot; what are the effects of design trends for riders?
Calvin Jones: We’re still running with two wheels, mostly. There’s still a handlebar and you’re turning your feet around. That’s all the same.
It’s always been an arms race, but I think that’s ramped up more now. That’s a little unfortunate, as it can stop people from getting out there and riding. I want you to go out there with what you have.
We used to ride our steel bikes on gravel, when they were called ‘bikes’. I think we’re starting to lose that, which is unfortunate. Don’t let the tech get in the way, just ride what you've got.
BikeRadar: What are the challenges for the cycling industry and cycling uptake?
Calvin Jones: Getting people on bikes. Not just kids, anybody that’s willing to ride should be able to ride. We want to make people as comfortable and safe as possible.
Politicians may not listen to consumers, but they’re more likely to act on what business owners say and maybe improve the cycling infrastructure in their cities.
BikeRadar: And what are the opportunities for the cycling industry?
Calvin Jones: We’ve gotten through a storm that we’ve kind of created a bit ourselves. We pretend it’s gone away, but it’s the same challenges. The internet has changed how people shop, so you have to be competent there, you have to offer them value. How can the retailer do that and be part of that? That’s the challenge.
BikeRadar: So, what’s next for you now you’re retiring?
Calvin Jones: It’s going to be more of the same. I’m going to do bike stuff, just differently. I want to ride my bike more. More teaching. Curriculum for schools, training kids and mechanics.
We’re sure all the cyclists who’ve turned to Calvin Jones for help over the years join BikeRadar in wishing him all the best for his retirement from Park Tool and his future riding.
