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Free Ride’s 2010 Bike Mechanics Classes start soon – Get your bikes in shape for the spring!
We have even more to offer this year.
Sunday Series Classes
Free Ride offers a great beginner’s Adult Basic Bike Mechanics classes on Sunday evenings. This is a six week course that starts on Sunday March 28th, and continues every Sunday until May 2nd.
The course is designed to give students the basic knowledge that they need to move onto more complex repairs and systems. Since each class follows in a logical succession, it is recommended that you attend every class. Bring yourself, a willingness to learn, and a pen and paper if you want to take notes. You may also bring in your own bicycle to work on (it’s a good chance to tune it up), but your bicycle must be similar to the course material (simply ask the instructor). Class size is limited and it usually fills up. It is first come first serve.
There are two class times to choose from:
A: 5 pm – 7 pm
B: 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Cost is $75 for all 6 classes.
CLICK HERE to find out how to register
Here’s the course schedule:
Week 1 – Sunday, March 28th
Week 2 – Sunday, April 4th
Week 3 – Sunday, April 11th
Week 4 – Sunday, April 18th
Week 5 – Sunday, April 25th
Week 6 – Sunday, May 2nd
The course is six weeks, giving each student 12 hours of class time.
- Week 1 – Tubes, tires and flats – In this intro to the course we will discuss tube and tire selection and sizing, and have a thorough exercise in patching a flat
- Week 2 – Hubs and bearings – An introduction to cup and cone bearing systems. We will disassemble, clean and reassemble the hub of a wheel.
- Week 3 – Wheel truing – How to prepare your wheel and make spoke nipple adjustment to make a lateral true and straighten the rim of your wheel.
- Week 4 – The Drivetrain (chains, chainrings, cranks, bottom brackets) – Learn how to remove, clean and fit a chain, how to remove cranks and replace a chainwheel or a bottom bracket.
- Week 5 – Brakes, cables and housings – Learn how to replace your cables and housings and how to make the basic adjustments to make your brakes work better.
- Week 6 – Derailleurs – Demystify one of the more complex components of your bicycle by learning its basic adjustments.
Drop-In Classes
We offer the same 6 classes individually on Sunday afternoons, Monday nights (and for women and transgendered folks only, on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Wednesday nights) This is good for those folks who need to learn how to make a specific repair, like adjusting brakes or trueing a wheel.
Sundays @ 2:00 pm
Mondays @ 6:30 pm
and the 1st, 3rd and 5th Wednesday @ 6:30 pm (for women and transgendered folks only!)
Check out the schedule or the calendar to see what courses are offer on these days.
Take one class or take all six. Cost is $15 or 2 volunteer hours for each class. Volunteer hours must be completed prior to class attendance. No enrollment is necessary. Just show up.
5 Responses to “Free Ride’s 2010 Bike Mechanics Classes start soon – Get your bikes in shape for the spring!”
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March 25th, 2010 at 7:22 pm
Will this program be offered in the summer?
March 26th, 2010 at 8:41 am
Hi;
Where are the classes held? Thanks
Peter Brown
March 28th, 2010 at 11:13 pm
We have 5 sessions of our series classes. The first session starts in March and the last Session starts in September. The dates are listed on Sunday Series info page.
The classes are held at our shop:
214 N. Lexington St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15208
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