Basic Bike Maintenance

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Basic Bike Maintenance

This short course covers a basic safety check, tyre & tube removal & replacement, simple adjustments & cleaning. New dates added monthly.

By Cycle North - Leeds

Location

Leeds Bike Mill

37 Mabgate Green Leeds LS9 7DS United Kingdom

About this event

All participants must be 16+ to attend this course. If the attendee is between 16 and 18 and will not be accompanied by an adult, please contact us before you book.

This 2.5-hour session is aimed at adults who would like to start learning how bikes work. This is an entry-level course so you don't need any previous experience of bike maintenance. We encourage you to bring your own bike along, but you can borrow a bike from us if you need to.

We will be adding more dates soon, so please check back if you can't find a date and time that works for you.

Session content

M-check

The M-check is a simple way of making sure your bike is safe to ride by identifying any adjustments that are needed and repairs to be made. Together we will work through the M-check and carry out a couple of simple adjustments. The tutor will walk you through the check and you can carry it out on your own bike as we go along. We will also discuss when it’s best to get your bike seen by a professional.

Tyre and tube removal and replacement

We will discuss why punctures occur and how to avoid them. You will all have the opportunity to practise removing a wheel, removing the tube from the tyre and then putting it all back together again. We’ll share tips for getting tyres off and on again.

Cleaning

We’ll talk through where and when to clean and lubricate and what to use. The tutor will demonstrate how to check a chain for wear and how to clean the chain.

Covid-19

Please do not attend if you believe you have symptoms consistent with a respiratory infection.

Please let us know as soon as possible if you can no longer attend (see 'Cancellations' below).

What to expect

This session will take place indoors inside the Leeds Bike Mill workshop.

We will provide nitrile gloves (or barrier cream if you’re unable to wear gloves) and aprons. Handwashing facilities are available. There is a toilet.

Please remember to:

  • wear clothes you don't mind getting mucky and make sure you have a warm layer if it's a bit chilly
  • wear footwear suitable for a workshop (no open-toed sandals)
  • bring your own drink
  • bring your own bike (or let us know if you wish to use one of ours)

Access

Our workshop is on the first floor up a flight of stairs. The tutor will offer to carry your bike upstairs however if you have accessibility requirements that mean you would be unable to access a session on the first floor, please contact Leeds Bike Mill to let us know as we do have the option of booking a ground floor space to run a session in. This would need to be arranged in advance so please hold off booking a place until you have spoken to us.

The course will take place at Leeds Bike Mill's workshop which is upstairs at 37 Mabgate Green, Leeds, LS9 7DS. Please check the directions at www.leedsbikemill.org/find-us. When you reach Mabgate Green you will see a door with our logo next to it and a doorbell. Ring the bell and the tutor will come down to let you in. Please aim to arrive ten minutes before so that we can get settled and started on time.

There is some limited free car parking outside the workshop - let us know if you would like us to lower the barriers so you can use this - and payable parking in nearby streets. Check our website for help with directions.

Organised by

Free cycle training for people living and working in West Yorkshire.

The cycle training scheme is being delivered as part of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s CityConnect programme, which is aimed at enabling more people to travel by bike and on foot, in partnership with local authorities.

Whether people are looking to learn to ride for the first time or if they want to get back on a bike having not cycled in years - or want to develop their skills and confidence riding on the road - there is a session for everyone.

Those wanting to make regular journeys by bike, such as commuting to a workplace or college, one-one advanced or commuter sessions will be offered. From journey planning to cycling in traffic, and tackling busy junctions and roundabouts, these sessions will give people the skills and confidence to travel anywhere by bike.

A basic cycle maintenance session covering puncture repairs and minor adjustments and a full day course for people who wish to take on more complex maintenance and save money on simpler repairs.

The sessions will be available at venues across West Yorkshire to anyone aged 16 plus. Bikes will be available for those without their own.