Cytech training

The Cytech journey

The Cytech journey is a comprehensive range of technical courses designed to take even the most inexperienced mechanic and mould them into a master professional cycle technician.

It is a requirement that candidates wishing to undertake any of the Cytech technical courses have first completed those before it, e.g. a candidate wishing to undertake Cytech technical three must already have earned technical one and two qualifications.

Theory one is your first step toward becoming a fully qualified cycle technician. Suitable for all cycle trade employees, Theory one consists of an interactive online distance learning course, providing a strong foundation for candidates to build their career upon. This can be completed in your own time, at home or at work on a laptop, desktop, tablet or smartphone.

Technical one is a practical course that will see candidates able to work safely and efficiently in the workshop environment. Technicians qualified to this level are able to build new bikes to a high standard.

Technical two is the industry standard for professional cycle technicians worldwide. Technicians qualified to this level can build, service and repair most types of bicycle and have a firm understanding of the basic engineering principles under which all bicycle components work.

Technical three represents the pinnacle of technical proficiency. This level can be attained only by experienced cycle technicians with a full understanding of the advanced engineering behind high-end, performance cycles. Technical three is taught on a modular basis, and technicians who are qualified to this level are able to install and calibrate top-level electronic groupsets, service complex suspension systems and hydraulic brakes as well as building high-performance, lightweight and robust wheelsets which are specific to purpose.

Cycling enthusiasts not looking to work within the cycle trade have a different set of requirements compared to those of a professional cycle technician. Cyclists wishing to understand how to maintain and repair their own bikes at home may complete our Home mechanic courses.

Training providers

Only organisations authorised by the Association of Cycle Traders (ACT) are able to offer Cytech training courses. There are currently five authorised training providers internationally; two based in the UK, one in South Africa, one in Canada and one in Australia.

For more information on our training providers click here, or to find your nearest training provider click here.

United Kingdom

Activate Cycle Academy, part of Activate Learning, is a large training provider with specialised training centres in Oxford, Stafford (Junction 14, M6) and a further workshop soon to be opening in Guilford.

Visit the Activate Cycle Academy website for more details or call +44 (0) 1865 550 324.

One of the original pioneers of Cytech training, Pete Cowling operates a highly professional workshop in Milton Keynes.

Visit the PJCS website for more details or call +44 (0) 7786 375 431.

South Africa

Cytech technical training is presented in South Africa exclusively by Torq Zone Academy.

Torq Zone Academy is passionate about training and offering the latest up to date, most relevant and best quality cycling related technical programmes.

Visit the Torq Zone Academy website for more details or call +27 (0) 12 667 1890.

Canada

Cytech technical training is presented in Canada by Specialized Bicycle Components of Canada Inc. Trade level courses are open to all Canadian retailers regardless of brand affiliation.

Cytech courses are presented in the SBCU training centre located at the Canadian head office in Montréal, Quebec. The classroom has been reconfigured to offer the highest quality training to bicycle technicians.

Visit the Specialized Canada Inc. website [Français] [English] for more details or call 1-800-465-8887 ex 223.

Australia

Cytech technical training is presented in Australia by Bicycle Industries Australia (BIA), the peak body for the Australian bicycle industry.

The BIA utilises a selected training provider in Sydney to deliver the highest quality training to bicycle technicians.

Visit the Bicycle Industries Australia (BIA) website for more details or call +61 (0) 438 871 271.

Alternatively click here to find out more about the selected training provider in Australia.

So, why choose Cytech?

There are many reasons why people choose Cytech over other organisations, from wanting nothing less than the industry leading bike mechanics qualifications to receiving the highest quality of training that all of our trainers and assessors personally deliver. Here are a selection of benefits that technicians, businesses and customers all get from choosing Cytech:

Technicians:

Learn the skills needed to work safely, efficiently and to the highest standards within a bicycle workshop environment – 91% of candidates agree that they are better at their job after a Cytech course

Get certified as a professional bicycle technician

Get featured on the international Cytech directory which also provides a Cytech technician status

Enjoy our courses! Just take a look at our feedback

Businesses:

Have motivated and loyal staff that feel valued as their employer invests in them and their development with the leading bike mechanics qualifications

Benefit from promotion on the international Cytech directory (all qualified technicians who opt in are displayed and are searchable)

Save time and costs involved with training both new and existing members of staff

Benefit from repeat servicing and repairs as well as new customers due to a consistently high standard of workmanship that results in customer satisfaction and a positive reputation

Customers:

Are able to find their nearest/local Cytech qualified technician using the international Cytech directory

Have peace of mind that their bike will be serviced/repaired to the highest standard by a qualified technician who they know by name

Can be safe in the knowledge that their bike is being well looked after by a business who cares about their customers and invests in their staff

Can be confident that the technician(s) will be able to find the cause of any issues on their bike, and be able to find a solution as well as offer advice

Technicians:

► Get featured on the international Cytech directory which also provides a Cytech technician status

► Enjoy our courses! Just take a look at our feedback

► Learn the skills needed to work safely, efficiently and to the highest standards within a bicycle workshop environment – 91% of candidates agree that they are better at their job after a Cytech course

► Get certified as a professional bicycle technician

Businesses:

► Have motivated and loyal staff that feel valued as their employer invests in them and their development with the leading bike mechanics qualifications

► Save time and costs involved with training both new and existing members of staff

► Benefit from promotion on the international Cytech directory (all qualified technicians who opt in are displayed and are searchable)

► Benefit from repeat servicing and repairs as well as new customers due to a consistently high standard of workmanship that results in customer satisfaction and a positive reputation

Customers:

► Are able to find their nearest/local Cytech qualified technician using the international Cytech directory

► Have peace of mind that their bike will be serviced/repaired to the highest standard by a qualified technician who they know by name

► Can be safe in the knowledge that their bike is being well looked after by a business who cares about their customers and invests in their staff

► Can be confident that the technician(s) will be able to find the cause of any issues on their bike, and be able to find a solution as well as offer advice

This is just a selection though, so head over to this page here to read more!

Feedback and testimonials

Below are just a selection of the feedback and testimonials we've received from those who've either completed our courses or had their staff trained to Cytech standards. To see more please click here.

EXTERNAL BLOG POST

"HiTech, MyTech, CYTECH ..."

"... For a modern course with a truly pragmatic outcome, I can say with most confidence that the quality of the course (although we were only being assessed) and the pedagogy which underpins their teaching is exceedingly high. I cannot comment on the NVQ-backed year apprenticeship, but the in-house courses are well worth the money, especially if you feel your skills could do with some confidence-boosting..."

Continue reading...

Laurence Sadler-Moore
Black Country Bikes

"Despite having over 25 years of experience in the bike trade, both on the shop floor and in the workshop, the Cytech technical two course provided our shop manager with a comprehensive underpinning of knowledge to his existing experience. Whilst further installing confidence in how our workshop could and should operate.

Throughout all of the various interactions we have had with Cytech and ATG Training, from administrative processes to training and assessments, they have proved themselves to be a company and a team of people we can and do trust. I would further go to say that they have had a significant influence in the success of Bay Cycles. Consequently, I would have no hesitation in recommending ATG Training and their delivery of Cytech training and apprenticeships to others."

Lisa Gubby
Bay Cycles

"I want to thank you guys for giving me a professional foundation in cycle mechanics, and especially the Cytech instructors who gave me really good advice on seeking out other training after the Technical three course. Following completion of Cytech training I went on to open a mountain bike suspension service center in the US called Trail Labs – we’re the only suspension service center in the Midwest (an area 8 times bigger than the UK), and one of a few in the entire US that are recognized to service most of the mountain bike brands currently on the market. Had I not participated in the Cytech program, this would all still be a dream!"

William Angle
Trail Labs

"Despite having over 25 years of experience in the bike trade, both on the shop floor and in the workshop, the Cytech technical two course provided our shop manager with a comprehensive underpinning of knowledge to his existing experience. Whilst further installing confidence in how our workshop could and should operate.

Throughout all of the various interactions we have had with Cytech and ATG Training, from administrative processes to training and assessments, they have proved themselves to be a company and a team of people we can and do trust. I would further go to say that they have had a significant influence in the success of Bay Cycles. Consequently, I would have no hesitation in recommending ATG Training and their delivery of Cytech training and apprenticeships to others."

Lisa Gubby
Bay Cycles

"I want to thank you guys for giving me a professional foundation in cycle mechanics, and especially the Cytech instructors who gave me really good advice on seeking out other training after the Technical three course. Following completion of Cytech training I went on to open a mountain bike suspension service center in the US called Trail Labs – we’re the only suspension service center in the Midwest (an area 8 times bigger than the UK), and one of a few in the entire US that are recognized to service most of the mountain bike brands currently on the market. Had I not participated in the Cytech program, this would all still be a dream!"

William Angle
Trail Labs

EXTERNAL BLOG POSTS

"Back to School: Cytech’s Bike Mechanics Course"

"... Even just from the online course, I quickly learnt how little I really knew about my bike, and I began to worry. Greases, oils, lubes, hazardous chemicals, and even correctly changing an inner tube and checking tyres, it was all new to me. With my notebook and pen, I jotted down everything I didn’t know… which was about 90% of the material..."

Continue reading...

"Bike Mechanics: An Unprecedented Qualification in Confidence"

"... There's something highly rewarding about being considered a bike mechanic. Perhaps it's because it's a skill that I couldn't read and study my way out of, or perhaps it's because there was always a quiet self-doubting whisper that had finally been silenced. Either way, I was so stoked to go home that day and strip a friend's old fixie bike for a service and rebuild..."

Continue reading...

"7 Irrefutable Reasons to Learn Bike Mechanics"

"... A few months on, I caught up with Stephanie to see how she was getting on and how her Cytech qualification had helped her…

“Going back to work [after Cytech training] was great as I had a better understanding of how to spot faults in bikes and how to fix them. Since I qualified, I have noticed that when a senior mechanic checks my work, there are much fewer things that I’ve missed which in itself makes me feel a lot more confident – although, over the past few months there have been very few times when I’ve missed something!”..."

Continue reading...

Jessica Strange
Total Women's Cycling & Velo Me

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