Maintenance Classes - Learn Bike DIY
Even if you rely on the bike shop, or your dad, or the local bike nut to fix your bicycle, there are a few basic tricks every cyclist should know, such as how to remove and refit a wheel and tyre; how to mend a puncture; how to adjust the gears so they index (move the chain onto the next cog with a single click of the lever) accurately; and how to adjust the brakes so the pads don’t rub when they’re off or squeal when they’re on.

And the easiest way to get hands-on mechanical experience is to spend a Saturday or Sunday at one of our day classes where you will be shown how it's done by one of our mechanics. You will then get to practice your newly-learnt skills on your own bike on a proper workstand using the right tools. Choose between the all-day Intensive Class or the half-day Foundation Course. Beginners welcome to either (though if you have a smattering of mechanical experience you might find the Foundation Course too basic).

Edinburgh Bicycle offers courses in each of our 5 branches: Edinburgh, Newcastle, Aberdeen, Leeds and Manchester. If you would like to reserve a place on a class please visit one of our shops, or call 0845 257 0808 (charged at local rate from anywhere in the UK). Alternatively you can call 0131 331 5010 if your telephone service provides 'free' minutes to 01 numbers.

Foundation Course in Cycle Maintenance (£25)

Half-day course - 10:00am to 1:00pm or 2:00 to 5:00pm.

• Covers the basic essentials for dealing with common roadside repairs so you can get back on your bike and home safely.
• Includes: wheel removal and installation; puncture repair; gear tuning, and basic brake adjustment.
• This class is essentially road- and trail-side 'bicycle first aid'. If you want more comprehensive tuition, you should really consider the Intensive Maintenance Course.
• Price: £25.00 (sorry, no lunch supplied).
• To find out more about this course, phone 0845 257 0808, or 0131 331 5010 (if your telephone service provides 'free' minutes to 01, 02 numbers etc.), or visit one of our shops, or e-mail enquiries@edinburghbicycle.com.

Intensive Cycle Maintenance Course (£49)

Single-day course - 10:00am to 5:30pm.

This is our most popular class. You will spend a day getting to know your way around the bike.

• Puncture repair: wheel removal, locating punctures, fixing punctures, wheel refitting.
• Wheel truing - essential for better braking.
• Brake adjustment for powerful, silent stopping.
• Adjusting hub bearings for maximum life and smooth running.
• Gear adjustment: including fitting new cables and fine tuning front and rear mechanisms.
• Bottom bracket and headset adjustment.
• Recommendations for routine bicycle servicing.
• Price: £49.00 includes lunch supplied by Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op.
• To find out more about this course, phone 0845 257 0808 or 0131 331 5010 (if your telephone service provides 'free' minutes to 01, 02 numbers etc.), visit one of our shops, or e-mail enquiries@edinburghbicycle.com.

Intensive Cycle Maintenance Course for Women (£49)

Single-day course - 10:00am to 5:30pm.

This is identical to our standard 1-day course in cycle maintenance, but it's for women only (though sometimes the tutor/mechanic is a guy).

To find out more about this course, phone 0845 257 0808 or 0131 331 5010 (if your telephone service provides 'free' minutes to 01, 02 numbers etc.), visit one of our shops, or e-mail enquiries@edinburghbicycle.com.

One Day Wheel-Building Course (£49)

Please note: This course is currently only available in our Edinburgh store.

Single-day course - 10:00am to 5:30pm.

If our Intensive Cycle Maintenance Course is like getting your degree in bicycle mechanics, the Wheel Building Course is your PhD.

• Here you will learn how to lace, build and true a pair of wheels.
• You can choose between practicing on hubs, spokes and rims that we reserve for tuition.
• Alternatively, you can build wheels to your own dream specification.
• We can advise on appropriate component selection.
• You will then be able to take away the fruits of your labour - a brand new pair of wheels that you've built yourself. (Don't worry. We check wheels over carefully, and will guarantee their integrity before charging you for the components, and sending you down the road with your new hoops.)
• If you go for the build-your-own option, please order your wheel parts a month in advance to forestall the possible disappointment that you hub of choice will be out of stock on the date of your wheel-building day class.
• Price: £49.00 includes lunch supplied by Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op.
• To find out more about this course, phone 0845 257 0808 or 0131 331 5010 (if your telephone service provides 'free' minutes to 01, 02 numbers etc.), visit one of our shops, or e-mail enquiries@edinburghbicycle.com.

Locations, Dates and Times for the Classes

Aberdeen
All-Day Intensive Course in Bicycle Maintenance - £49

• No dates available at present

Edinburgh
All-Day Intensive Course in Bicycle Maintenance - £49

• August 2010
• Saturday 7 August, 10.00am to 5.30pm. Fully booked.
• Friday 13 August, 10.00am to 5.30pm.
• Sunday 15 August, 10.00am to 5.30pm. Fully booked.
• Friday 20 August, 10.00am to 5.30pm.
• Friday 27 August, 10.00am to 5.30pm. Fully booked.
• Saturday 28 August, 10.00am to 5.30pm. Fully booked.

• September 2010
• Saturday 18 September, 10.00am to 5.30pm. Fully booked.
• Saturday 25 September, 10.00am to 5.30pm.
• Sunday 26 September, 10.00am to 5.30pm. Fully booked.

• October 2010
• Friday 1 October, 10.00am to 5.30pm.
• Sunday 3 October, 10.00am to 5.30pm.
• Friday 8 October, 10.00am to 5.30pm.
• Saturday 9 October, 10.00am to 5.30pm.
• Friday 15 October, 10.00am to 5.30pm.
• Saturday 23 October, 10.00am to 5.30pm.
• Friday 29 October, 10.00am to 5.30pm.
• Sunday 31 October, 10.00am to 5.30pm.

• November 2010
• Friday 5 November, 10.00am to 5.30pm.
• Saturday 6 November, 10.00am to 5.30pm.
• Sunday 14 November, 10.00am to 5.30pm.
• Sunday 21 November, 10.00am to 5.30pm.
• Sunday 28 November, 10.00am to 5.30pm.

• December 2010
• Sunday 5 December, 10.00am to 5.30pm.
• Friday 10 December, 10.00am to 5.30pm.

Women's All-Day Intensive Course in Bicycle Maintenance - £49

• August 2010
• Sunday 8 August, 10.00am to 5.30pm. Fully booked.

• November 2010
• Saturday 20 November, 10.00am to 5.30pm.

Half-Day Foundation Course in Bicycle Maintenance £25

• August 2010
• Sunday 1 August, 10.00am to 1.00pm.
• Sunday 1 August, 2.00 to 5.00pm.

• September 2010
• Friday 17 September, 10.00am to 1.00pm.
• Friday 17 September, 2.00 to 5.00pm.

• October 2010
• Saturday 16 October, 10.00am to 1.00pm.
• Saturday 16 October, 2.00 to 5.00pm.

• November 2010
• Friday 12 November, 10.00am to 1.00pm.
• Friday 12 November, 2.00 to 5.00pm.

• December 2010
• Sunday 12 December, 10.00am to 1.00pm.
• Sunday 12 December, 2.00 to 5.00pm.

Wheel Building - £49

• August 2010
• Sunday 22 August, 10.00am to 5.30pm. Fully booked.

• September 2010
• Saturday 19 September, 10.00am to 5.30pm. Fully booked.

• December 2010
• Saturday 4 December, 10.00am to 5.30pm.

Leeds
All-Day Intensive Course in Bicycle Maintenance - £49

• No dates available at present

Manchester
All-Day Intensive Course in Bicycle Maintenance - £49

• August 2010
• Sunday 8 August, 10.00am to 5.30pm.
• Sunday 15 August, 10.00am to 5.30pm.
• Sunday 22 August, 10.00am to 5.30pm.

Newcastle
All-Day Intensive Course in Bicycle Maintenance - £49

• August 2010
• Saturday 7 August, 10.00am to 5.30pm. Fully booked.
• Saturday 21 August, 10.00am to 5.30pm. Fully booked.

• September 2010
• Saturday 11 September, 10.00am to 5.30pm.
• Saturday 25 September, 10.00am to 5.30pm.

• October 2010
• Saturday 9 October, 10.00am to 5.30pm.
• Saturday 23 October, 10.00am to 5.30pm.
• Saturday 30 October, 10.00am to 5.30pm.

• November 2010
• Saturday 13 November, 10.00am to 5.30pm.
• Saturday 27 November, 10.00am to 5.30pm.

• December 2010
• Saturday 11 December, 10.00am to 5.30pm.
• Saturday 18 December, 10.00am to 5.30pm.

Sheffield
All-Day Intensive Course in Bicycle Maintenance - £49

• No dates available at present

Please note that the classes tend to finish between 5.00 and 5.30pm but may overrun.

Gift Vouchers
If you know of someone who could do with being sent on a bicycle maintenance course, then you can surprise-treat them to one of our gift vouchers. To buy a gift voucher click here, phone 0845 257 0808 (lo-call) or 0131 331 5010 (if your telephone service provides 'free' minutes to 01, 02 numbers etc.), or just pop in to one of our shops.