Skills
Build Your Skills
At The Bikery, we want everyone to have the confidence, skills, and knowledge to look after their bike. From basic maintenance through to nationally recognised qualifications, we offer hands-on learning opportunities for people of all ages and experience levels.
Whether you’re maintaining your own bike, exploring volunteering, or working towards professional training, our skills programmes are designed to support learning, independence and progression.
Bike Maintenance Courses
Our bike maintenance courses focus on essential skills, giving you the knowledge to maintain your bike with confidence.
Bike Owner Basics
A 2.5 hour training session covering the essentials of bike ownership, suitable for beginners looking to build confidence. Learn how to set up your bike, clean and lubricate it correctly, carry out a basic safety check and repair a puncture.
Wee BoB and On Yer Bike
A simple bike maintenance session for young people aged 12–18, with Wee BOB for ages 12–15 and On Yer Bike for ages 16–18, held during school holidays. This course introduces basic skills to help young riders look after their bikes with confidence.
Trailside Repairs
A 2.5 hour training session focused on fixing common mechanical issues on the trail or roadside, helping you ride with confidence. Learn what tools and spares to carry, how to deal with breakdowns and feel prepared for your ride.
Volunteer Salvage Sessions
Free sessions for those interested in volunteering at The Bikery. Learn the basics of dismantling and salvaging end-of-life bikes, helping us reuse and recycle parts. As skills develop, participants can progress to more advanced tasks.
At Home Mechanic – Level 1
7 hour course costing £135, this course is for those wanting to develop the skills to maintain their own bike at home. Participants learn how to carry out a full Check & Tune service and replace consumable parts such as tyres, chains, gear cables and brake pads.
At Home Mechanic – Level 2
7 hour course costing £135, designed to follow on from Level 1 and take a deeper dive into maintaining your own bike at home. Learn how to replace major drivetrain components, service headsets and hubs and carry out basic wheel truing with confidence.
Modular Courses
Wheel Truing Module
A 3 hour session costing £70, giving an overview of how the parts of a standard spoked wheel work together and how to keep your wheels running true. Learn how to assess damage and what is achievable, carry out truing procedures including lateral and radial adjustments, understand wheel dishing and spoke tension and replace broken or damaged spokes using a range of tools.
Gears Module
A 3 hour session costing £70, explaining how mechanical gears work and the names and roles of key drivetrain components. Learn how to clean and maintain your drivetrain, set up and index gears including limit screws and B tension, understand front and rear derailleur adjustment, identify common issues and wear and carry out repairs such as replacing inner cables and worn chains.
Hydraulic Brakes Module
A 3 hour session costing £70, covering how to look after and service hydraulic disc brakes. Learn how to clean and inspect components, understand pad and rotor types, align calipers, and carry out brake fluid servicing including safe bleeding processes, with a focus on Tektro and Shimano mineral oil systems and guidance for other brake types where applicable.