My short instruction sessions started off with quick terminology, then the components in the ABC Quick Check (air, brakes, crank/chain, quick releases) -- the kinds of repairs and simple checks that can be done with a multitool if that's all you have. Considering these were ninety minute classes that sometimes went ninety minutes over, there should be plenty of room for the basics.
One thing I found very useful, and I couldn't tell if you were incorporating it, is getting hands-on. The Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen is always swimming in used tires, tubes, and wheels, and it was simple enough to put a full wheel together for each student, then have them pump up their tires, find holes, patch them, and put the wheel back together.
--Ryan
On Fri, Feb 5, 2016 at 2:25 PM, Jim Sheehan jim@ohiocitycycles.org wrote:
Like Reno, OCBC's classes are in the order you would do a tune up (or overhaul, in their case: Bravo!). We just switched from a lecture/demo format to mostly hands-on, using bikes from stock, also like Reno, but we choose a variety (1 & 3 piece cranks, horizontal and vertical dropouts, and different types of brakes, derailers and shifters), and always bikes that do not need parts replaced (other than tires, pads, and perhaps a chain). Info on that is here:
http://ohiocitycycles.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&...
Our hands on curriculum is still in dev. but you can see our old lecture format (rough) lesson plans here:
http://ohiocitycycles.org/wiki/tiki-index.php?page=ShopClassCurriculum
Much of that info is out of this new format, tho. We concentrate on just fixing the bike in front of us! Someday we will probably bring that back as a companion lecture series; probably AFTER we add a hands-on overhaul, or "Build a Bike" class.
A couple years after that outline was written, modules for fixing flats, bike fit adjustments and other info for beginners were broken out into the first hour of the 4-class lecture series, for what could then be a 3-hour class for them. Too long! We will probably bring those "Bike Basics" classes back, as they can be taught by less-mechaical volunteers, and are what we offer free with a refurbished bike (along with a 3-hour Traffic Skills intro ride).
Info on Bike Basics is here:
http://ohiocitycycles.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&...
Peace, Jim
Jim Sheehan Director, Ohio City Bicycle Co-op 1840 Columbus Rd Cleveland, Ohio 44113 216 830 2667 OhioCityCycles.org jim@ohiocitycycles.org
On Fri, Feb 5, 2016 at 4:31 PM, Genevieve Parker < genevieve@renobikeproject.com> wrote:
Sarah,
At Reno Bike Project we offer a 9-week, 2 hour-long class on Thursdays to teach members the basics of bike repair. We use donated MTBs with rigid forks and braze ons for racks - good, sturdy commuters; and we try to select bikes either with caliper or V brakes only. When the class/bikes are finished. they are set aside for our create-a-commuter program.
We hit one component or component group a week in this order: Week 1 – Bike Inspection, Strip Cables & Housing Week 2 – Wheels: Inspection, Hub Overhaul Week 3 – Wheels: Truing & Dishing Week 4 – Bottom Bracket & Headset Overhaul Week 5 – Makeup & Review Week 6 – Cables & Housing Week 7 – Brake Setup Week 8 – Shifter Setup & Chain Week 9 – Makeup & Review/End-of-Session Party
After several curriculum edits, we think this order makes the most sense. We start each class with a brief discussion and demo of what we're working on (including going over variations on the component to give students a more broad introduction than just what style of BB/brake setup/etc. their class bike has), then get into the hands-on work, overseen by two instructors for a class of ~10. Having a small student-to-teacher ratio ensures that everyone gets the one on one attention they need to absorb the lesson and get their work for the night done.
More info here, or email me: http://renobikeproject.org/programming-and-events/education/ Genevieve Parker RBP Program Director http://www.renobikeproject.com/
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