Mechanic Skills Class

[newfsmith]

Look through here for the nearest Park Tool School. It is an excellent program that will take you through every system on your bike, using the Big Blue book as a text. Some shops even offer a discount on tool purchases if you take the course from them.

http://www.parktool.com/clinics_trai...toolschool.asp

[Miranda]

Look through here for the nearest Park Tool School. It is an excellent program that will take you through every system on your bike, using the Big Blue book as a text. Some shops even offer a discount on tool purchases if you take the course from them.

http://www.parktool.com/clinics_trai...toolschool.asp

Thank you for that link! That is what I had in mind. I looked for a dealer, and a couple came up that are about an hour travel, maybe a bit less. I like the way the program is laid out with the text book. One problem I've had in the past with non-bike related private tutoring is that the person may be the best at what they do... however, their organization and teaching skills are not.

Unless I am missing it, I don't see a price. I assume this varies by local and shop a bit. Well, I assume unlike anything else with bikes, nothing is ever cheap.

My only other thing that I thought about was an ad I see on and off in the back of Bicycling magazine. It's some type of ladies only retreat workshop that includes improving specific skills, and some mechanics. That's on my list of bike fantasy vacations. This one is in the Carolinas somewhere. That would be a plane ticket for the bike and I. That will take some long time selling to other non-bike loving folks at home. Hmmm... makes driving to tool school sound better, doesn't it? lol

[OakLeaf]

My only other thing that I thought about was an ad I see on and off in the back of Bicycling magazine. It's some type of ladies only retreat workshop that includes improving specific skills, and some mechanics. That's on my list of bike fantasy vacations.

I haven't seen the ad - was it Women's Quest? It was one of their retreats that got me back into cycling a couple of years ago. It was a wonderful experience with a lot of soul-searching and heart work besides the cycling - I highly recommend it! I actually blew off the little bike maintenance seminar they had though... already knew some, mostly because I just needed a rest that afternoon.

[Miranda]

I haven't seen the ad - was it Women's Quest? It was one of their retreats that got me back into cycling a couple of years ago. It was a wonderful experience with a lot of soul-searching and heart work besides the cycling - I highly recommend it! I actually blew off the little bike maintenance seminar they had though... already knew some, mostly because I just needed a rest that afternoon.

Oakleaf... hmm, I don't know if it's the same company. But it sure sounds like it. I googled the web site, sounds similiar. The old dates are not on there from 2008. It's been a while since I saw the ad. I just think that would be such a cool thing to go and do. Sound like you had a wonderful time.

[uforgot]

Look through here for the nearest Park Tool School. It is an excellent program that will take you through every system on your bike, using the Big Blue book as a text. Some shops even offer a discount on tool purchases if you take the course from them.

http://www.parktool.com/clinics_trai...toolschool.asp

This list is not at all accurate. I did the search a year or so ago and one shop absolutely did not have classes, he had no interest in giving classes, another shop was out of business/closed, but the third one did offer classes. Different kinds of classes but not "the" Park Tool School. Just does it his own way with no text book. I just did the search again and the same three shops came up. Even the out of business one.

[newfsmith]

I agree that it is not up-to-date, but since we don't know where the OP is located it seemed a fair starting point for her to do research from. I hope she was as successful as you were.

[ms pepperpot]

I'm currently doing a bike maintenance course. They're arranged by my local cycling campaign group and run by the LBS. It's only 5 classes of 2 hours, but a good start (though i think that I'll probably still be too nervous to do much myself).

The classes are quite informal. Even better for me is the course I got onto started the week after i got my beautiful LHT which had been built up by the same LBS, so the teacher knows my bike really well.

Anyway, this isn't really of much use to the OP seeing as I'm in a different bit of the world, but if you have local cycling campaign groups then maybe they run similar things or may be interested in setting some up.

[Miranda]

I'm currently doing a bike maintenance course. They're arranged by my local cycling campaign group and run by the LBS. It's only 5 classes of 2 hours, but a good start (though i think that I'll probably still be too nervous to do much myself).
The classes are quite informal. Even better for me is the course I got onto started the week after i got my beautiful LHT which had been built up by the same LBS, so the teacher knows my bike really well.

Anyway, this isn't really of much use to the OP seeing as I'm in a different bit of the world, but if you have local cycling campaign groups then maybe they run similar things or may be interested in setting some up.

Good for you on the classes. We have snow and ice here early, so my mechanics class can take on a more serious search with winter officially here. About being nervous to DIY, I feel the SAME way! I just get so freaked about messing something up. Plus, I don't have any support besides dragging my bike into whichever lbs I dare. I don't really have one I feel comfortable with. I can ask around some more. The gym is getting more outdoor peeps back in now with the snow. Thx.

[Jones]

This is a bike mechanics program. I guess you have to stay there but I have no other info. http://www.bbinstitute.com/

[lunacycles]

aaargh, as a former instructor of this very class, I have to recommend United Bicycle Institute's women-only basic mechanics class. It is a week long, usually in the summer and covers everything from wheelbuilding, drivetrain adjustments, and suspension fork tuning.

Although no longer guaranteed to be taught by a woman, but the owner of UBI (Ron Sutphin) is hugely sensitive to the fact that women are a bit more likely than men to be intimidated by mechanical issues so the class is very gentle, very hands on, and very educational. Plus hanging out in Ashland, OR for a week is a blast. I taught it for 3 years: I loved it and I miss it.

[Miranda]

This is a bike mechanics program. I guess you have to stay there but I have no other info. http://www.bbinstitute.com/

Thx for that link.

It's nice to know that these options exist!

[Miranda]

This list is not at all accurate. I did the search a year or so ago and one shop absolutely did not have classes, he had no interest in giving classes, another shop was out of business/closed, but the third one did offer classes. Different kinds of classes but not "the" Park Tool School. Just does it his own way with no text book. I just did the search again and the same three shops came up. Even the out of business one.

I agree that it is not up-to-date, but since we don't know where the OP is located it seemed a fair starting point for her to do research from. I hope she was as successful as you were.

Thx for the feedback about Park's website. It's ok if it's not dead on.
Before this thread I really didn't know even which way to turn that there was even a Park Tool School at all. So, I'm already at an upgrade.