Learn your Bike! Adult Courses
Our winter course is approaching! January 25th we will begin our eight week course outlined below:To Enroll in Winter Adult Course: Please register for all course offerings here
Cost is $15 per class or $80 for the term.
Class is held Mondays 7:00 - 9:00 pm. January 25th - March 15st
Week 1 - Wrenching I: Basic Repairs you need to know
Week 2 - - Tires & Tubes, How to fix a flat tire
- Types of Tubes, Tires, and Rim strips
- Rim Wear and damage
- Seating a tire
- Student Handout
Week 3 - Bike Fit, Ergonomics, Control & Speed
How well does your bike fit you? Do you know the crucial adjustments for your reach, leg extension, and pedal stroke? We'll learn:
- Sizing bike frames
- Bike Fit & related adjustments
- How to choose different types of bikes, fits & styles
- Student Handout
Week 4 - Wheels & how to true
- How wheels work and how they wear
- Types of spoke patterns and 'aero' wheels
- Using a truing stand to heal rim 'kicks'
- Student Handout
Week 5 - Hubs, Bearings and Wheels
- How hubs work and how they wear
- Hubs on a bike – headset, bottom bracket, pedals, hubs, & freewheel
- Dis-assembly & Reassembly
- Student Handout
Week 6 - Power! Get down with the Drive Train
- Torque As a concept
- Chains and Cogs; gear ratios
- Cranks and Chainrings
- Freewheels, Cassettes & Cogs
- Student Handout
Week 7 - Shifters and Derailleurs
- Why Derail?
- Types of set-ups
- Derailleur housing runs & torque
- How they work
- How to adjust
- Student Handout
Week 8 - Brakes!!! Faster Bikes, Quicker Stops
- Brake cable housing runs & torque
- Ways to Stop - Types of brakes
- Troubleshooting
- Adjusting Brakes
- Student Handout
Also of interest:
Upcoming Mechanics Modules:
Axles, Bearings and Hubs: Lesson and Lab
Date TBA , Friday 6:30pm -9pm, cost $20
In this two hour intensive we will learn to and practice setting bearings, replacing axles, and learning proper adjustment techniques. This is the perfect lab for those wanting to take their bike maintenance to the next level. We will demonstrate replacement of cartridge bearing systems and discuss the various types of bearings for headsets, bottom brackets and hubs in order to aid you in identifying and servicing your own bike. Materials provided.
Replacing Spokes and Truing Wheels: Lesson and Lab
Date TBA , Friday 6:30pm-9pm cost $20
Ever broken a spoke and been confounded? Needed to true a wheel and worried about doing more harm then good? While wheel truing is very much an art, we'll introduce you to how to size replacement spokes, thread them properly, and how to attempt basic wheel truing at the Truing stand. You'll learn when a rim has become too deformed to salvage and about how to identify proper spoke tension, side to side, and 'wheel hop' true. Materials provided.
Building Wheels Primer : Lesson and Lab Part 1
Date TBA, Friday 6:30pm-9pm, cost $30 (optional follow up Saturday Morning at 10am)
Proper wheel lacing, tensioning, and truing is a high craft. In this short intensive, we will start you on building one of your first wheels. We will help you learn how to size the spokes needed to different rim and hub combinations, types of spokes and nipples, and types of spoke patterns. Our lead mechanics teacher Thomas Matthias has been honing his wheelbuilding craft for the last few years, and in this primer he will share his passion and knowledge for lacing up a good pair of hoops. Assistants will help you start the process. An optional Saturday Lab Part 2 will be offered for those who wish to complete their wheels after the Friday start (no charge for those building sample wheels, but additional $20 charge for those building personal wheels).
Upcoming Mechanics Modules:
Axles, Bearings and Hubs: Lesson and Lab
Date TBA , Friday 6:30pm -9pm, cost $20
In this two hour intensive we will learn to and practice setting bearings, replacing axles, and learning proper adjustment techniques. This is the perfect lab for those wanting to take their bike maintenance to the next level. We will demonstrate replacement of cartridge bearing systems and discuss the various types of bearings for headsets, bottom brackets and hubs in order to aid you in identifying and servicing your own bike. Materials provided.
Replacing Spokes and Truing Wheels: Lesson and Lab
Date TBA , Friday 6:30pm-9pm cost $20
Ever broken a spoke and been confounded? Needed to true a wheel and worried about doing more harm then good? While wheel truing is very much an art, we'll introduce you to how to size replacement spokes, thread them properly, and how to attempt basic wheel truing at the Truing stand. You'll learn when a rim has become too deformed to salvage and about how to identify proper spoke tension, side to side, and 'wheel hop' true. Materials provided.
Building Wheels Primer : Lesson and Lab Part 1
Date TBA, Friday 6:30pm-9pm, cost $30 (optional follow up Saturday Morning at 10am)
Proper wheel lacing, tensioning, and truing is a high craft. In this short intensive, we will start you on building one of your first wheels. We will help you learn how to size the spokes needed to different rim and hub combinations, types of spokes and nipples, and types of spoke patterns. Our lead mechanics teacher Thomas Matthias has been honing his wheelbuilding craft for the last few years, and in this primer he will share his passion and knowledge for lacing up a good pair of hoops. Assistants will help you start the process. An optional Saturday Lab Part 2 will be offered for those who wish to complete their wheels after the Friday start (no charge for those building sample wheels, but additional $20 charge for those building personal wheels).