We Are All
Mechanics
About Us
We Are All Mechanics (WAAM) began in 2003 as the joint vision of Ali Dwyer and India Viola. We set out to share our love of bicycles and technical knowledge with other women in our community.
Our series consists of four two-hour class sessions and covers basic routine maintenance. Topics range from how to fix a flat tire, to brake and derailleur adjustments, chain cleaning, and bearing adjustments. The classes take place within the repair area of a bicycle shop, and provide an insiders look at the mechanics’ work area. Our classes are kept small, with a low student-to-teacher ratio and emphasize a hands-on approach to learning. Students get a chance to ask questions about their bicycles in a relaxed and fun learning environment.
After completing our classes, students report feeling greater independence when riding their bicycles as well as a sense of empowerment when approaching bicycle repairs at home or in the shop.
Through our ongoing class series, clinics, and rides, WAAM promotes continued learning among cyclists in the Madison community.
Our series consists of four two-hour class sessions and covers basic routine maintenance. Topics range from how to fix a flat tire, to brake and derailleur adjustments, chain cleaning, and bearing adjustments. The classes take place within the repair area of a bicycle shop, and provide an insiders look at the mechanics’ work area. Our classes are kept small, with a low student-to-teacher ratio and emphasize a hands-on approach to learning. Students get a chance to ask questions about their bicycles in a relaxed and fun learning environment.
After completing our classes, students report feeling greater independence when riding their bicycles as well as a sense of empowerment when approaching bicycle repairs at home or in the shop.
Through our ongoing class series, clinics, and rides, WAAM promotes continued learning among cyclists in the Madison community.
India Viola
Cofounder and teacher for We Are All Mechanics (WAAM), India once worked as a bicycle mechanic in Madison. She is an avid cyclist, using her many bikes for year-round commuting, off-road forays, touring, and general enjoyment. When India began working at a bicycle shop as an assembler, she was pleasantly surprised. Seemingly intuitive knowledge of the mechanical world was actually a learned skillset! India was disappointed that there were so few fellow women bicycle mechanics and decided she would like to share what she has learned becoming a bike mechanic, woodworker, and scientist with other women. She finds that co-teaching the WAAM series is a perfect outlet for this. Aside from teaching WAAM, India's working on her doctorate degree in the Zoology Department at UW-Madison. She enjoys collaborating with colleagues in the lab, as well as using her skills in a multi-disciplinary approach to learning and teaching.
Cofounder and teacher for We Are All Mechanics (WAAM), India once worked as a bicycle mechanic in Madison. She is an avid cyclist, using her many bikes for year-round commuting, off-road forays, touring, and general enjoyment. When India began working at a bicycle shop as an assembler, she was pleasantly surprised. Seemingly intuitive knowledge of the mechanical world was actually a learned skillset! India was disappointed that there were so few fellow women bicycle mechanics and decided she would like to share what she has learned becoming a bike mechanic, woodworker, and scientist with other women. She finds that co-teaching the WAAM series is a perfect outlet for this. Aside from teaching WAAM, India's working on her doctorate degree in the Zoology Department at UW-Madison. She enjoys collaborating with colleagues in the lab, as well as using her skills in a multi-disciplinary approach to learning and teaching.Ali Dwyer
Aside from being co-founder and teacher for WAAM, Ali is a yoga instructor, bike mentor and coach and an accomplished cyclist. Ali has a history of riding road bikes very fast in races, but is done with racing competitively and now enjoys cycling a bit slower - for fun, transportation, fitness and that psychological mind-clearing effect. Ali has served as a coach for the BCETS training series, an offering of the Bombay Bicycle Club. She volunteers for the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin, the statewide bicycle advocacy and education organization in Wisconsin. Through this work, she has taught a number of classes - including basic bike maintenance, bike clubs for youth, and urban bike riding skills. Ali enjoys the process of sharing what she has learned through experience and instruction.
Aside from being co-founder and teacher for WAAM, Ali is a yoga instructor, bike mentor and coach and an accomplished cyclist. Ali has a history of riding road bikes very fast in races, but is done with racing competitively and now enjoys cycling a bit slower - for fun, transportation, fitness and that psychological mind-clearing effect. Ali has served as a coach for the BCETS training series, an offering of the Bombay Bicycle Club. She volunteers for the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin, the statewide bicycle advocacy and education organization in Wisconsin. Through this work, she has taught a number of classes - including basic bike maintenance, bike clubs for youth, and urban bike riding skills. Ali enjoys the process of sharing what she has learned through experience and instruction.