BBI is a renowned bicycle industry trade school that has been in the business of training bicycle industry professionals for over 30 years. We are located in Colorado Springs, CO. www.bbinstitute.com.
Our Philosophy of Bicycle Mechanics:
Bicycle Mechanics is science, not art. Whether just tightening a bolt, making a delicate bearing adjustment, or precisely truing a wheel, we believe measurement quickly achieves accurate and repeatable results. We strive to eliminate subjectivity in every way. This means that you don’t have to "get it," or have "a knack." We believe we are unique amongst bicycle-mechanic schools in this philosophy.
Eliminate guesswork. How much of an adjustment is needed? In the old-school tradition of bicycle mechanics, you would use a trial-and-error method (a guess), then do it again differently when the results were unsatisfactory—in our approach, you analyze the problem, calculate the corrective action, then check the result and you are done!
Eliminate reliance on subjective "feel." Is that shift quick? Does that axle rotate smoothly? Does that wheel spin so truly it doesn't even look like it's moving? Does that bolt feel like it's about to "bottom out?" These are all subjective judgments, and as long as they are the basis for mechanical technique, then results will be inconsistent. Each of these examples can be evaluated in non-subjective ways, and that is what we will teach you at BBI.
Eliminate reliance on memorization. Good mechanics know they don't know everything, but they know how to look up the answer when they need it. In order to do that, a good mechanic needs to be trained from the beginning on how to rely on information resources. Only BBI writes and publishes a manual for professional bicycle mechanics (Barnett's Manual DX). The manual is the heart of our training program, and it will become the most frequently used tool on your workbench. It's nearly 10,000 pages long, and includes over 6,500 hi-res color photos. Two things our students never need to worry about is whether they'll be able to remember everything they were shown or whether they did enough note taking during class!
Incomparable personal attention:
Our class size is limited to 16 students—larger classes would enable us to boast about our total enrollment, but would you benefit?
With two instructors in the labs at any time (and sometimes three), our maximum 8 to 1 student/teacher ratio guarantees you a level of personal attention that can't be matched! For most labs, your instructor is monitoring just three other benches in addition to yours.
Five levels of learning:
See it, hear it, read it, do it, and share it. Our instructional approach starts with great instructors giving demonstrations that you watch from just a step away, while you hear the instructor carefully explain the method and reason of each step. At the same time, from worksheets in your hand or from the overhead projection screen, you can read the step and see the accompanying illustrations. After just a few minutes, it's your turn to do the same procedure at a workbench with a lab partner. You and your lab partner get hands-on time, while sharing with each other your insights and challenges about the procedure. And throughout the lab, a supervisor is close at hand giving you encouragement, feedback, and tips, while answering questions you might have.
Our commitment to help you learn after leaving the classroom is unmatched.
By providing you with written materials in excess of the subject matter covered in class, and by providing you with detailed worksheets that guide you through all procedures down to the last detail, you will have us at your side for years after you leave our classroom.
Training classes for enthusiasts & professionals alike, Barnett's Manual DX, Service Manager System, Ultimate Flat Rate Chart, Selling Service book, Service Documents, Universal Shaft Clamp Set, Torque Wrench Adapter, Front Derailleur Rotation Tool, Chain Size Simulator, Fork Bushing Tool, Legacy Kit for Fork Bushing Tool, Rubber Stopper Kit, Front Derailleur Wedges for road and mountain bikes, shirts, aprons, sweatshirts, and hoodies!
