Cycle Maintenance Training

[Richard Woodrow]

I can mend punctures OK, but anything to do with the brakes, chain or gears I'm off to my LBS.
I'd like to be able to solve more for myself but my preferred learning style is by being shown rather than reading a book. When I first bought my Giant Rapid, it ran smoothly and quietly. Now even after the 8 week service and a few hundred miles I hear various annoying noises that I'd like to have the skills to investigate.

Hence does anybody know of courses being run in the Norwich area on basic cycle maintenance?

 

[Pauluk]

Look at the many videos on youtube before you decide on a training course. They are very good and informative and cover just about every subject you need. If I'm looking at gears for example I will look at a few different videos to get different views and approaches. They are worth their weight in gold in my opinion.

 

[Dave7]

In a similar situation I went on 2 courses.
A 3 hour, free, course at Evans (which was OK-just) and a full day at Edinburgh Bike Shop (which I do recommend)
The problem is that if you dont use/practice what you learn quite quickly you forget the details......like now I need to 'tweek' my gears but they aren't responding as I think they should and I'm left scratching my head

 

[Wester]

I would recommend that you read a excellent book called '' The Bike Book '' by Fred Milson it will explain everthing that you need to know about bike maintenance and it includes hundreds of photographs . And it has sold millions of copies worldwide

 

[hoopdriver]

There are a couple of excellent bicycle repair books on the market. One is Park Tools Big Blue Book, published by Park Tools, akers of very high quality bike toos used by shops and pro teams the world over. Their book is excellent as is their website - full of useful how-to information and videos.

Another excellent book is by Leonard Zinn, a former US champion, bicycle designer, component maker and general cycling renaissance man. His book s called Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance. I have both of hese books I have mentioned and like both, but I prefer Zinn for his sheer readability. It is a fun read and pleasant just to dip into.

 

[hoopdriver]

If you are looking for something more intensive and want to take a course, I highly recomment the Bike Inn in Spalding. They iffer a two week intensive iurse that leads to a City & Guilds certificate in bicycle maintenance. I took the course in 2007 and found it very enjoyable and very worthwhile.