Just completed day 2 of this brilliant course. Well organised, with excellent instruction by people who know their stuff and how to allow others to learn. I wish trainers in the corporate world were as good. I had little knowledge of bike repairs and now I feel I can maintain and update my bike. I cannot recommend htis course and its staff highly enough.

This followed on for me swiftly from Day 1 so I was able to reinforce some of the knowledge from that – it is amazing how quickly one forgets without putting practice in. I was impressed that the instructors (Mike and Julien) had noted my concern in my earlier review about the derailleur gears input from Day 1 and attempted to address it. The student instructor ratio was 5-2 and the instructors were patient and hard working especially as my bike seemed to require adjustment at every stage. I hope this did not distract the other students. On conclusion I consider that I can check a bike for safety prior to riding, repair and replace damaged or worn inner tubes, brake pads and cables, adjust derailleur changer, remove, service and replace chain, pedals,cranks, sprockets, hub bearings, bottom bracket and broken spokes. I know the theory of servicing a headset and wheel truing – I was flagging a lot by that point though as there had been so much to do.I totally recommend this course – if I lived nearer I would go to the project to practise my skills. I have been on a number of courses in my adult life and this has got to have been one of the best. Thank you.

What a brilliant two days. As a female OAP, who has been on a bike only once in the last 20 years, I went along feeling somewhat apprehensive and ignorant, to say the least, and I only signed up for the second day on the spur of the moment when there was a cancellation. But I had a great time. Now, having had the wheels off, the gears adjusted so they work again, new brake cables and pads, the ball bearings greased so that they run like a dream, I feel I have fully taken possession of my old bike again. It was quite surprising to find that although there was some brute force needed, many of the jobs are quite delicate – like getting threads lined up or sensing when something is grating a little or running free or adjusting the spokes on a wheel – and even experience at cake baking came in useful when replacing ball bearings in a bed of grease! The teachers were experienced, friendly, encouraging and relaxed. They explained things very clearly and were patient and able to give everyone and their bikes the personal attention needed for everyone to make the most of each day. Both days had a really nice bunch of people with mixed experience – men and women – younger and older. I thoroughly recommend this excellent course for anyone who wants to understand their bike better and is willing to get to grips with it, as well as those who are already pretty clued up.

Fab-you-lus. A well instructed course with a good pupil/instructor ratio (6-2). Content was suitable even if the tuning of the derailleur gears went over my head a bit. Identified what was good and bad about my bike and learnt how to fix some of it. Looking forward to day 2 where I hope to reinforce the gear stuff and learn some more.Good coffee!

I decided that it was time to take the plunge and face up to my bike maintenance phobia once and for all! Up till now, hubby has always come to the rescue, but I’m a grown woman and I should be able to do it! And sure enough, by the end of a day of clear, methodical instruction by Mike and Julien, I was confident enough to understand why my bike did what it did sometimes, and have a go at tweaking it to make it work better. Both Mike and Julien were very patient, helpful and friendly and my fellow students were a really good bunch, so it was a laugh too. I’m hoping to volunteer on Wednesday afternoons so that I can keep up what I’ve just learnt and also help out at the Bike Project. One day I’ll pluck up the courage to do Day 2 of the Intensive course!