I noticed a flyer on NE 37th yesterday advertising yet another bike-related business that has cropped up in Portland recently…
According to the SimpleBicycle.com website, this is a new business run by local racer and professional mechanic Jason Pfiefer. He’s offering a 4-week bike maintenance course for $300. Classes are limited to two people at a time. Sounds like a good deal, given what an expert Pfiefer is. Here’s a snip from his website on his qualifications:
Learn personally from Jason who is a registered Category 2 professional mechanic with USA Cycling (there are less than 15 in the nation at that level of skill and ability). He has worked in bicycle shops for over 23 years, and spent almost 10 years working as a professional mechanic with Shimano America as a mechanic for professional road races.
Learn more about Pfeifer and the classes and services he offers at Simplebicycle.com.
a lot of the advertised maintenance can be had for free at the many bike shops offering free maintenance classes each month…
is it really worth is for top-notch bottom bracket and hub maintenance advice that the free classes don’t offer?
it seems that the level of training available through the class will be superb but the site should really go into a little more detail to assure people that they’re getting a good value…
With a student ratio of 2 to 1, I would think the student would get much more hands on experience than going to a shop for free advice.
Example: I can go to my gym for a yoga class, but I have a 1 on 1 private class because it is structured around me and my individual needs. And it’s well worth it.
Jason’s done a bunch of bike work for me. He knows what he’s doing and he’s very good at it.
Sounds like exactly the setup that Tori Bortman (Gracie’s Wrench) has been offering for years. I hope he’s as good as she is.