Randy Stokke – Workshop Manager

I’ve been cycling the whole of my life and two thirds of my working life has been in bike retail or servicing bikes.  I went to the United Bicycle Institute in Oregan to learn my trade.  But you can never learn all there is to know about bikes.  Although bikes are universal mechanically and they all do the same thing, it is also a constantly changing product in that they come in different and ever lighter metals, there are lots more gears, there’s more specialism now than there used to be and all sorts of products are available to improve the experience of cycling.

I’ve owned bikes since three years old – a kind of chopper bike.  At 7 I got a BMX and in the early 90s I got my first mountain bike – a means to escape from society, which we all need to do from time to time.

What I love about cycling is the people it attracts.  I like helping them resolve their cycling issues.  I love the simplicity of bikes – they basically make you go faster than if you walk.  I’m at Johns Bikes because I like to make cycling more enjoyable – it’s a simple as that.

 

Simon Farr – Bike Mechanic

I worked for three and half years at the big bike retailer, Evans and was transferred to their Bristol branch.  

Before Evans I was a marine engineer – making parts for boats, so I went from boats to bikes.  

People who came into the Evans shop and the Bristol bike world generally were always saying that Johns Bikes was the best shop, not just in Bath but the whole area.  I came and saw fro myself and found that there was a job going.  I had to be vetted by the man himself, John.  

Bikes have always been a passion, not just for getting from A-B but because they can take you anywhere, and the whole family can join in.  I love the simplicity of the engineering; two wheels with cranks that drive a chain and sprockets on the back wheel that make it turn.  While there have been some material and technical changes, essentially the bike is the same as it was 100 years ago.  

We all love what we are doing and I hope we can use that to educate people who come here about how to look after their bike.  

Steve Locke – Bike Builder and Mechanic

Before Johns Bikes I was working in an engineering company in Bristol.  After many years as a products  data analyst on product development on brake systems for trucks.  I’ve got so many letters after my name from the various courses I have done I can’t remember them all.  I’m still a member of the Institute of Engineering and Technology.  

I also worked on the technical help line in customer services.  When I was made redundant I literally went knocking on doors.  I love bikes and have kept the one I bought in 1978 as good as new.  So, when I saw there was a job at Johns Bikes I applied for it.  The interview consisted of giving me a bike in a box and telling me to build it.  Luckily, with my engineering background and having always done my own bike maintenance, it came fairly easily.  

I knew Johns Bikes as the best bike shop in the South West and I’d come all the way from Bristol to use it.  Lots of other customers do too.  They cycle over here.  In fact, I commute all the way by bike whenever I can.  It felt a great privilege to land a job here and it is still a privilege to work here.

Harry Cook – Junior Bike Workshop Assistant

I was born and bred in Bath and I’ve loved bikes all my life.  I got it off my dad.  He’s always been obsessed with bikes, especially Johns Bikes.  If he’s going there he’ll say “I’m off to St Johns” or “the church””.  He thinks it’s the best bike shop for miles around.

Growing up I was massively into BMXing to the point that if I missed a day I’d get withdrawal symptoms.  It’s just the physicality of it that I loved.  Now I’ve got a fixed-gear bike, which I love for the challenge of keeping going under my own power.

I was over the moon to get the job at John’s Bikes.  We are responsible for the maintenance of the bikes in the Bike in Bath rental scheme and my job is to check those daily.  In the shop I’m a back-up mechanic and shop assistant.  The atmosphere at the shop is brilliant.  I love the people I work with and those who come in.  It’s just perfect for me.

Ben Abbots – Bike Mechanic

It’s only recently that bike mechanic schools have emerged.  Before that everyone was just self-taught out of necessity, as is the case for me. 

I really love the aethetics of the bike.  It’s just a beautiful machine with great proportions.  It does its job very well and is all it needs to be and nothing more.

Working here two days a week fits well with my music degree.  Did you know that Elgar rode a bike?  There’s a statue in our home town, Malvern, of him riding a bike.  He composed Enigma Variations while on a bike.  That’s the beauty of cycling - it leaves your mind free to roam.

I love the fact that I have loads of customer contact in the workshop.  When people come to Johns Bikes they are looking for someone they can trust.  They just want their bike to work and for us to do what needs doing and no add ons.  That’s what Johns Bikes is about – trust.  Its one of the things that attracted me to work here and it is being trusted by the customer that is one of the great things about working here.