Apprenticeship training course

Bicycle mechanic (level 2)

Building, repairing and servicing all kinds of bicycles.

• Qualification level: 2 ; Equivalent to GCSE.
• Typical duration: 18 months
• Apprenticeship category: Engineering and manufacturing
• Maximum funding: £7,000 ; Maximum amount government will fund ; for apprenticeship training.
• Skills:
  Skills an apprentice will learn

  • Use specialist bicycle diagnostic equipment to identify fault and formulate a plan to solve the problems; identifying when it is uneconomical to proceed.
  • Use cycle workstand correctly to safely and securely hold a bicycle on the appropriate part of the frame.
  • Service a cup and cone type hub, identifying worn parts and correct replacements.
  • Remove and replace sealed cartridge bearings using appropriate tools.
  • Service cable operated brake systems, correctly sizing and routing cabling using the correct spare parts and torque settings.
  • Bleed hydraulic brake systems.
  • Service derailleur gear systems, correctly sizing and routing cabling using correct spare parts and torque settings; straighten a derailleur hanger.
  • Tap the crank arm threads.
  • Identify the different standards of cranks and bottom brackets; remove and replace crank arms, bottom brackets and tap and face the bottom bracket shell.
  • Identify chain wear; assess compatibility issues, taking account of chain line and correctly split and install a quick link based chain.
  • Tape road handlebars.
  • Remove and replace a set of forks, taking account of the correct way to cut a fork steering column to size. Hydraulic fork servicing, disassemble and clean stations and cartridges and re-grease properly.
  • Remove, replace and service a headset, taking account of sizing standards.
  • Perform alignment checks to a bicycle frame.
  • Hand-build a wheel of differing complexities (for example, from simple 3-cross to manufacturer specific wheel systems) in the patterns required for non-disc, front disc and rear disc to the required tolerance and correctly dished and tensioned.
  • Set up and adjustment of internal gears.
  • Conduct quality assurance check of build or repair work completed.
  • Complete handover once completed build or repair is finished, including advising on further and future work required, changes to operation, required on-going maintenance and complete paperwork as appropriate.
  • Serve customers or clients on any required area of the store; refer them on to a more senior colleague or to ask for help; seek after market sales.
  • Communicate via suitable means with customers (telephone, text, email, social media) in order to ensure good service is maintained.
  • Use catalogues (hard copy and online) to identify parts and order to fulfil customers needs.
  • Use manual system and workshop diary and complete any associated paperwork.
  • Deal with complaints, following employer and manufacturers policies.
  • Identify when something has failed or is not fit for purpose.
  • Maintain proper tool maintenance and general workshop cleanliness and tidiness.

Full information on Bicycle mechanic (level 2) is available from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.

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