Bike maintenance

Life Cycle runs a range of courses that will help you learn the mysteries of cycle maintenance and keep your bike in good condition. The courses explain how thing work, why they sometimes go wrong and how to fix them. We keep things simple, friendly and jargon-free. The courses are ideal for beginners with little or no mechanical knowledge, but even people with experience of cycle maintenance will pick up a few pearls of wisdom.

From September 2007 we're running Bite-Size Bike Maintenance courses. These take place on Wednesday evenings in central Bristol. Each lasts two-and-a-half hours and looks at a specific maintenance topic. The cost is £30 per course. We are running Bite-Size courses on the following topics:

Basic bike care course

What the various parts of a bike are called and which bit does what. How to clean a bike properly. How to check it over in a systematic way and how to spot the early signs of wear and tear. How to lubricate it and keep everything running smoothly. Click here to download an information pack and booking form. Click here to find out when the courses are running.

Puncture prevention and repair course

Ways of getting yourself and your bike home if you're not able to fix a flat tyre. How to use a bicycle pump. How to remove a wheel, take out the inner tube and fix the pesky puncture. Click here to download an information pack and booking form. Click here to find out when the courses are running.

Brakes course

Simple ways of adjusting your brakes for maximum stopping power. Replacing a broken cable. Adjusting the brake levers. Fitting and adjusting new brake pads. Click here to download an information pack and booking form. Click here to find out when the courses are running.

Gears course

Simple adjustments that will keep your derailleur gears changing smoothly and accurately. Looking after your chain. Click here to download an information pack and booking form. Click here to find out when the courses are running.

Wheels course

How to keep your wheels spinning sweetly. Includes tensioning spokes, truing a buckled wheel and adjusting your wheel bearings. Click here to download an information pack and booking form. Click here to find out when the courses are running.

Brompton course

This is a special course for the owners of a Brompton folding bikes. You'll learn numerous tips and tricks, and useful skills such as wheel removal and gear adjustment. Click here to download an information pack and booking form. Click here to find out when the courses are running.

Bicycle Maintenance Workshop

We also run a more comprehensive course that we call the BMW (that's Bike Maintenance Workshop!). It's a one-day course that covers the first four topics from our Bite-Size series (see above). In a single day, 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. you'll learn how to set a bike up for maximum comfort, how to cope with a puncture, how to keep your brakes in good condition and your gears changing properly. A place on the course costs £60 and includes spare parts such as inner tubes, brake pads and cables. Bring a packed lunch with you (and your bike of course!)

Click here to download an information pack and booking form. Click here to find out when the courses are running.