Mechanic Skills Class

[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]

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.

That's a really cool set up they have when I google it. Thx! Hmm, now my wheels are turning... ghee, my kids would even be out of school then. Wonder if I could get DH to take a trip there?

[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!

[DebW]

I did UBI's professional mechanic class for 2 weeks last April. Excellent course, but not for novices. Newfsmith did their one-week women's class last year.

[SJCzar]

I've been taking a mechanic's class at my LBS. The classes are two hours each for six weeks. This week will be the last class.

We have done things to our bikes that I would never have imagined that I would tackle myself. While I don't envision that I will ever have a career as a professional mechanic I have found that it is really cool to have a much better understanding of how everything works on it. It's been very satisfying to take things apart and be able to put it all back together again (and have it still work correctly). There were so many things on the bike that I would have been afraid to touch myself, but not anymore. I really looking forward to doing my own maintenance work. For the things that I can't do myself I'll be able to communicate my issues much better to the mechanics at my shop.

I would highly recommend taking some classes to everyone. Hopefully you'll have instructors as great as the two that have been teaching our classes.

[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.