I've just looking over some training websites and mulling over career options (it’s Friday, I hate my current job..) started thinking about the idea of acquiring some formal bike mechanic qualifications with the idea of getting into the whole home based/mobile mechanic business (more a long term plan, not some overnight “route to riches” day dream)…
Looking at what is actually covered in the various different levels I started to wonder what levels of training working mechanics (Shop based or otherwise) actually have…
Level 1 seems pretty basic, and being a cocky bugger I reckon I’ve pretty much carried out 97% of the “Level 2” stuff without any tutoring, probably covered some of the “Level 3” stuff too…
Now I know having done plenty of DIY jobs and stuff for mates without “Proper” formal training probably means I will have plenty of bad habits and methods that some formal training would hopefully kill off, but realistically is it worth getting certified all the way up to Cytec Level 3 if most of what you do is drive and brake tweaking?
Obviously I’d never consider pimping abilities I had no formal proof (Certification) and insurance for, but given the cost of some of the training courses, I’d not want to spend a fortune on gaining a qualification that there was actually little or no customer demand for…
So I thought I’d ask some of the obvious questions of those in the know:
1- Who’s done some Cytec training?
2- To what level?
3- How applicable is it day in/day out (professionally or otherwise)?
4- Who paid? (you, an employer, a training grant, etc…)
5- Do you need/would you benefit from some more?
Worth bearing in mind that you can also just be assessed to gain qualification.
That's all you needed Coatesy being a mechanical genius and all 😀
Fair point but not being in the trade currently I'd rather have some training ahaead of assessment...
Otherwise isn't it a bit like taking your driving test whan you know how to drive, but only round a farm yard, the odd lesson to make sure you pass would make sense to me...
The advantage of having certification is when one of your loving customers tries to sue you for brake failure after they forget to replace the v-brake noodle when putting the front wheel back in.
Yep all agreed, but what I'm trying to find out is what levels of training/certification are actually the norm...
Level 2 was all our shop required of me, but i'd be screwed if that was all I knew as it's pretty basic stuff-V brakes etc, no hydraulic or disc brakes, no suspension.
Interesting;
From what I can tell full training and assessment for level 1 and 2 comes out arround £2K+ (not something I fancy self funding) Basic assessment alone I couldn’t see a price for anywhere. I suppose most places are keen to flog the whole package rather than just act as test centres…
What your saying then coatesy is that while “Level 2” is effectively the minimum operating level of certification for workshops, day to day you’re doing jobs which would fall under the scope of “Level 3” and your useful training was effectively “on the Job” none of this formalized cobblers… would it do you any good professionally to gain a full “level 3” assessment and certificate?
I may consider taking the Level 1 course in the new year just to see what it’s like, and then maybe take a flier on the Level 2 assessment without the training (assuming the price isn’t silly) as it sounds like the kind of thing you can pass with your eyes shut… or is that a touch cocky?
Some jobs ask for "Related bicycle maintenance qualification "
http://www.jobsite.co.uk/job/bike-mechanical-supervisor-937386258?src=search
Cookeaa you got mail! 😀
If you already have the skills or have been in the cycle trade for a long time and wish to have a qualification. You can take a 1 day Cytech assessment. I paid £120 2 years ago!
View my
[url= http://mobilebicyclerepairs.blogspot.com/p/bicycle-mechanics-training.html ]Blog[/url]
I had done everything on the level two on my own and some of level three. Then last year I worked in a bike shop for 6 months. I had a lot of good skills and taught the other mechanics some technical engineering facts but I learnt loads more than I imparted.
It was all of the common faults and "gotchas" that come back to bite you in the bum that you don't think anything off on your own bike because it's only a tweak, it was the quick ways of doing things, it was all the little things.
I don't have a clue were I would come on the cytech scheme now, our shop never got involved in suspension for example, and bleeding disks was a rarity so I only did the odd one so never got super quick or to know all of the different variates. My point is the qualification does not a mechanic make IME (all be it limited). There is plenty more to learn from doing.
can't you get city & guilds qualifications as well?
Afternoon All
Don’t want to bore you all with too much detail about the courses you can find out more details on http://www.atg-training.co.uk/cycletraining.html .
There is Level 1 which is PDIing a bike. £340 plus vat
Level 2 Which has become the industry standard for a cycle mechanic is a strip down and rebuild a non hydraulic brake system bike, and a Wheelbuild, £1190 plus vat or of you have already done the Cytech 1 the cost of that can be taken off. Also as mentioned above this can be done as a 1 day assessment if you don’t need the training, this cost £170 plus vat.
Level 3 you can do a 5 day course on either Road Bikes or Mountain Bike £1000 plus vat
It’s worth noting that if you are in the cycle trade, funding maybe available for you at level 2 and 3 so the cost involved are nearly halved. Another recent change is that all 16 – 18 year olds in the trade get complete funding for the course so there is no cost for them or their employer.
If you’re looking at mobile mechanicing which I seem to get more and more enquiries about lately, there is a Guy called Eazy Rider in the peaks area, he has been pretty successful and a really sound guy it may be worth giving him a call to see if he has any advice on what qualifications he thought were most useful...
Feel free to PM me if you would like more info