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news
VonCrank.pngOrder a bike repair to the kerb - just like a takeaway
A new startup aims to bring road rescue in the style of the AA to the kerb in London - but this time, for cyclists.
VonCrank has a fleet of mechanic cycle courier who can be summoned via an app.
Founder Cariern Clement-Pascall told BikeBiz that the service, expected to launch in March, has 120 mechanics on its books, and 2,000 users.
The company will take a 20 per cent cut from any repair bills.
While the company will launch in London, there is interest from mechanics in Edinburgh, Birmingham and Bristol.
The app, said the founder, will offfer a “premium service for less than what a bike shop would charge.”
Although mechanics do not have to have any qualifications at the moment, they have to pass an online test with pictures and videos.
"I want cyclists to pay less for their servicing so it encourages them to cycle more – maybe get three services a year rather than just one," said Clement-Pascall.
"Yes, we’re taking work away from bike shops," he said, "but there’s some stuff that we won’t do and we’ll leave that to a bike shop. This cuts down on the amount of tools mechanics need to carry."
According to BikeBiz, To have their bikes diagnosed by a VonCrank mechanic, consumers can upload a video of the problem their bike is exhibiting. This alerts VonCrank mechanics to the type of job on offer, and the tools likely to be required.
"We have two tiers of mechanics," said Clement-Pascall.
"Ones who can do just puncture repairs and basic servicing, carrying certain levels of tools and spare parts. Then we have ones who have a greater inventory and skills, usually learnt through us."
One online user of VonCrank said: "I had a puncture on the way to work... VonCrank came to the school I work at and quickly fixed it before home time! A really friendly service... I don't know why I every bothered with bike shops?"
Another said: "Great friendly service. Had my brakes, chain and cassette change all very quickly, and all done whilst I was in the office. Saving me loads of trouble and time. "
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15 comments
Makes a lot of sense and I might even use it rather than burning my lunch hour as I do currently fixing my bike or making adjustments. I've thought about getting repair facilities set up on a co-operative basis where I work (50+ regular cyclists) but this could be a better option than trying to persuade Facilities to set aside a parking bay to house a repair stand and toolbox. I don't know of many/any LBS who provide you with a "courtesy bike" - that's the main barrier for me in getting my bike regularly serviced by someone else rather than me, which means either DIY at work or getting a mobile mechanic.
“I don't know why I ever bothered with bike shops?"
Was this testimonial submitted by a fruit fly? How could someone be old enough to be responsible for the maintenance of a bike and too young to have experienced life before widely-available mobile repair services?
And the great thing about this is, all these "trained mechanics" who've watched a few YouTube clips and have invested in nothing more than a multi tool will be able to undercut the Cytech qualified ones with years of experience, perhaps a workshop, and thousands of pounds of tools, and put them out of business, lowering standards across the industry!
Why is the app-ification of a given service (mobile cycle repairs are hardly a new thing) always accompanied by cost-cutting and the lowering of standards required to achieve those low prices?
VONCRANK can never replace all the services of a bike shop as some things just simply need a workshop to complete to the highest standard needed. We are more aiming at basic rapirs to get cyclist back on their saddles quickly.
Using technology, we have been able to deliver a more efficient mobile bike service which directly streamlines this business model. Mechanics can now build a customer base in their local area instead of the traditional mobile bike firm travelling up to 10 miles for a job.
As part of the onboarding system, we have different tiers of mechanics to not devalue mechanics that have invested heavily in their education and tool arsenal but more importantly experience. To become a higher tier mechanic you have to not only show us a certain level of skill but also carry a specific level of tool arsenal and carry a certain level of stock what we considered to be essential parts. We give the opportunity to mechanics to develop their skills further through introductions to out-house or future in-house training course in order to have access to bigger services. Quality standards for our service were created by 10 mobile mechanics with a combined experiences and are reviewed every year starting in Feb 2018.
Is there anything that you can help us with that presents potential problems with this model that we may have missed?
I agree with you Mamilman, I wouldn't trust anyone else to touch my bike, that's why I do all my own maintenance. It isn't rocket science.
Isn’t to me either. Not most on this site I’d wager. But as for my Mum, missus and in-laws...
Not for us doesn’t mean of no use at all. (I learned here when bitching about bike lanes).
My sister once phoned me up on a bike ride to ask why her chain had jammed - she was in the Lake District and I was in Newbury at the time, so something like that would have been great for her - if she wasn't already on a supported bike tour and got bored waiting for the mobile mechanic to find them. She enjoys riding her bike but doesn't even like taking the front wheel out to get it in the car, as she's not confident about putting it back in - she's just not mechanically minded.
I can see this service working quite well for people as, quite often, people can't ride a broken bike to a bike shop and probably wouldn't have a clue how to get it in the car to get it to one.
My other sister wants me to service her mountain bike for her Christmas present this year!
It sounds like the kind of thing 'millenials' would like. The kind of people who need someone to turn the adjuster screw because they spent their childhood having mummy wipe their bottoms and don't know how anything works.
But to me? would I trust my life on someone who 'qualified' via an online multiple choice test?
Millennial here who builds all his own bikes, fixes his own car, and is a member of a maker space that is used almost exclusively by other millennials. I also fix plenty of hardware/software/network issues for the many technologically-retarded Boomers I know - oh and I also have to fix their cars, or at least advise them how not to get shafted by a garage, now that cars are full of computers and said Boomers crap themselves whenever the "check engine" light illuminates. Other lazy generational stereotypes are available
"Although mechanics do not have to have any qualifications at the moment, they have to pass an online test with pictures and videos."
We've got a repair place near here (Brighton) which seems to operate on the same basis. Everything that comes out of there is either utterly shit in quality or is half finished.
It's not, by any chance, part of a big national chain that also sells stuff for cars ?
No, it's wholly independent.
Chances are there are some home mechanics that are more experienced and knowledgable than these people. Very little I can't do myself on my bikes.
Hi @RaphaNadal
Cariern here from VONCRANK. You have made some great points and quality is a the forefront of our business model otherwise the model will never work.
A mechanic that doesn't receive 5 stars two jobs in a row is enough for the system to create a flag so we can work with them to achieve 5 stars every time.
I too am a mobile mechanic with 6 years experience and initially created the mechanic's onboarding process to the hi level standard I operate too. I didn't want to stop there and need to validate the process further. I consulted 10 other mobile bicycle mechanics to deliver our current onboarding process which looks at experience, skill level, customer service, preparations and logistics. Our on-boarding process was created by experienced mechanics that only want mechanics on their level to have access to the platform to receive jobs. We currently see every mechanic that gets access on to our platform but may change as the platform scales. Starting February 2018, we will have the first of our annual review on how we are delivering our service and talks led by mechanics on their experience with new parts on the market and updates to industry standard.
Great idea!
I always end up doing my own servicing/maintenance/fettling as taking a bike to a shop and leaving it there for a few days is inconvenient. Having someone come to the bike is much better.