Cycle Mechanics Courses

[SquareDaff]

Was just remembering my younger days when colleges used to offer "basic mechanics" night courses for car drivers (i.e. in the days before engine management chips etc...).

Was wondering if anyone knew of similar courses for cyclists? Are there any? Anywhere? Good idea or not?
I know you can go out, buy a book and fiddle to your hearts content but there's no beating being shown how to do something by anyone that's been there, done it and made the mistakes before.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Take a look here at the courses offered by the CTC

Was just remembering my younger days when colleges used to offer "basic mechanics" night courses for car drivers (i.e. in the days before engine management chips etc...).

Was wondering if anyone knew of similar courses for cyclists? Are there any? Anywhere? Good idea or not?
I know you can go out, buy a book and fiddle to your hearts content but there's no beating being shown how to do something by anyone that's been there, done it and made the mistakes before.

 

[SquareDaff]

Excellent - there's a location in Leeds too - although the link to that one appears dodgy as it took me to a staff development page!!

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Maybe contact the CTC directly. They are usually very happy to help. Dodgy links are pretty common sadly. Best of luck and hope you get on a course

Excellent - there's a location in Leeds too - although the link to that one appears dodgy as it took me to a staff development page!!

 

[corshamjim]

British Cycling are running some courses too.

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/recreation/article/bc20110601-British-Cycling-Bike-Maintenance-0

 

[SquareDaff]

Maybe contact the CTC directly. They are usually very happy to help. Dodgy links are pretty common sadly. Best of luck and hope you get on a course

Cheers - I've managed to fix most faults by myself so far.
I'm clocking up about 3500 miles / year now though so faults will become more frequent.

I'd like to be able to maintain and fix my bike properly a) because I like to know how and b) to extend the life of the bike and c) to reduce the chances of an accident through component failure.

Plus if I can do it properly it'll save me time.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Even the one and two day courses are great. I thought I knew enough but I always picked useful information or better ways to do things on the courses I did.

Cheers - I've managed to fix most faults by myself so far.
I'm clocking up about 3500 miles / year now though so faults will become more frequent.

I'd like to be able to maintain and fix my bike properly a) because I like to know how and b) to extend the life of the bike and c) to reduce the chances of an accident through component failure.

Plus if I can do it properly it'll save me time.

 

[NormanD]

YouTube is the answer and it's free

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Problem is you can not ask questions of a YouTube video. The classroom / workshop environment is far more organic I feel.

YouTube is the answer and it's free

 

[Spy]

Evans offer free basic courses at their shops across the country. Details here Evans-You Can Fix It

 

[SquareDaff]

The problem with the Evans courses are that they are basic! If I couldn't change a tyre/tube, fix brakes or gear indexing or generally clean an relube the "transmission" then I'd never dare ride a bike the distances I do. I'd like to learn beyond that including why's.

So to use Evans course - I want to know how to true a wheel properly, how to replace a spoke, how to change a crank, BB Maintenance, how to install a new brake mechanism/system, how to install a new gearing system. I just figure I'll appreciate my bike more if I know how and why it works! I want to progress beyond being a "dabbler" to someone that has an understanding of what they're doing and why!

 

[Banjo]

I was chatting to a guy on an Audax ride last week who had been made redundant and had gone on a bike mechanics course in Lincolnshire.It wasnt a DIY thing but a full mechanics city and guilds type course.

He was able to get a grant for the course plus transport and accomodation.

Anyone out of work or facing redundancy could ask in a job center about eligibility.

Not positive but I think he went to www.bike-inn.co.uk

 

[Dayvo]

I was chatting to a guy on an Audax ride last week who had been made redundant and had gone on a bike mechanics course in Lincolnshire.It wasnt a DIY thing but a full mechanics city and guilds type course.

He was able to get a grant for the course plus transport and accomodation.

Anyone out of work or facing redundancy could ask in a job center about eligibility.

Not positive but I think he went to www.bike-inn.co.uk

That's the course I did in March, 2009, in Spalding with Alf and Theresa Webb!

Two weeks accredited C&G course with a steep learning curve BUT it was a LOT of fun.

It's not cheap, but if you want to get somewhere in the bike mech world, then it's a course I would strongly recommend. There was an abundance of tea, cakes and biscuits and beer afterwards in Spalding, about 5 miles away. I stayed in one of the caravans (£10 a night) and had a GREAT time!

 

[Spy]

That's the course I did in March, 2009, in Spalding with Alf and Theresa Webb!

Two weeks accredited C&G course with a steep learning curve BUT it was a LOT of fun.

It's not cheap, but if you want to get somewhere in the bike mech world, then it's a course I would strongly recommend. There was an abundance of tea, cakes and biscuits and beer afterwards in Spalding, about 5 miles away. I stayed in one of the caravans (£10 a night) and had a GREAT time!

How much is that C&G course ?

 

[Dayvo]

How much is that C&G course ?

http://www.bike-inn.co.uk/training_dates.asp

I get the impression that being an alumni here carries a fair bit of clout in the bike repair world!