Bicycle Mechanic Apprenticeship

WICKED BIKE REPAIR LTD

London, E15 2SJ

Closes on Tuesday 1 April 2025

Posted on 11 February 2025


Summary

Are you a young, enthusiastic individual with a passion for cycling? Wicked Bikes, a leading bike shop in London, is looking for a dedicated apprentice to join our team and start their journey towards becoming a professional bicycle mechanic!

Wage
£15,704 to £25,396.80 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

National Minimum Wage

Training course
Bicycle mechanic (level 2)
Hours
40 hours on a weekly basis rota Weekend availability on rotation 1 hour break daily

40 hours a week

Possible start date

Thursday 1 May

Duration

1 year 6 months

Positions available

1

Work

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

What you’ll do at work

What We Offer:

  • A 1.5-year apprenticeship with hands-on experience in a busy and dynamic workshop.
  • Enrolment in the Cytech programme, the industry-standard training for bicycle mechanics.
  • The opportunity to learn from experienced professionals and gain valuable skills in bike maintenance, repair, and servicing.
  • A supportive and friendly work environment with a team that shares your passion for cycling.
  • Competitive app rentice wage with opportunities for progression.

What We're Looking For:

  • A young and motivated individual looking to start a career in the cycling industry.
  • A keen interest in cycling and bicycle mechanics.
  • Willingness to learn and develop new skills.
  • Good attention to detail and a proactive attitude.
  • Strong communication and customer service skills.
  • Ability to work well in a team and interact professionally with customers.
  • No prior experience necessary – just enthusiasm and a commitment to the apprenticeship!

If you're ready to kickstart your career in the cycling industry, we'd love to hear from you! Apply now and join the Wicked Bikes team.

Where you’ll work

Unit 6, Echo Building

East Bay Lane

London

E15 2SJ

Training

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

College or training organisation

ACTIVATE LEARNING

Your training course

Bicycle mechanic (level 2)

Equal to GCSE

Course contents
  • Use specialist bicycle diagnostic equipment to identify fault and formulate a plan to solve the problems; identifying when it is uneconomical to proceed.
  • Use cycle workstand correctly to safely and securely hold a bicycle on the appropriate part of the frame.
  • Service a cup and cone type hub, identifying worn parts and correct replacements.
  • Remove and replace sealed cartridge bearings using appropriate tools.
  • Service cable operated brake systems, correctly sizing and routing cabling using the correct spare parts and torque settings.
  • Bleed hydraulic brake systems.
  • Service derailleur gear systems, correctly sizing and routing cabling using correct spare parts and torque settings; straighten a derailleur hanger.
  • Tap the crank arm threads.
  • Identify the different standards of cranks and bottom brackets; remove and replace crank arms, bottom brackets and tap and face the bottom bracket shell.
  • Identify chain wear; assess compatibility issues, taking account of chain line and correctly split and install a quick link based chain.
  • Tape road handlebars.
  • Remove and replace a set of forks, taking account of the correct way to cut a fork steering column to size. Hydraulic fork servicing, disassemble and clean stations and cartridges and re-grease properly.
  • Remove, replace and service a headset, taking account of sizing standards.
  • Perform alignment checks to a bicycle frame.
  • Hand-build a wheel of differing complexities (for example, from simple 3-cross to manufacturer specific wheel systems) in the patterns required for non-disc, front disc and rear disc to the required tolerance and correctly dished and tensioned.
  • Set up and adjustment of internal gears.
  • Conduct quality assurance check of build or repair work completed.
  • Complete handover once completed build or repair is finished, including advising on further and future work required, changes to operation, required on-going maintenance and complete paperwork as appropriate.
  • Serve customers or clients on any required area of the store; refer them on to a more senior colleague or to ask for help; seek after market sales.
  • Communicate via suitable means with customers (telephone, text, email, social media) in order to ensure good service is maintained.
  • Use catalogues (hard copy and online) to identify parts and order to fulfil customers needs.
  • Use manual system and workshop diary and complete any associated paperwork.
  • Deal with complaints, following employer and manufacturers policies.
  • Identify when something has failed or is not fit for purpose.
  • Maintain proper tool maintenance and general workshop cleanliness and tidiness.
  • Use specialist bicycle diagnostic equipment to identify fault and formulate a plan to solve the problems; identifying when it is uneconomical to proceed.
  • Use cycle workstand correctly to safely and securely hold a bicycle on the appropriate part of the frame.
  • Service a cup and cone type hub, identifying worn parts and correct replacements.
  • Remove and replace sealed cartridge bearings using appropriate tools.
  • Service cable operated brake systems, correctly sizing and routing cabling using the correct spare parts and torque settings.
  • Bleed hydraulic brake systems.
  • Service derailleur gear systems, correctly sizing and routing cabling using correct spare parts and torque settings; straighten a derailleur hanger.
  • Tap the crank arm threads.
  • Identify the different standards of cranks and bottom brackets; remove and replace crank arms, bottom brackets and tap and face the bottom bracket shell.
  • Identify chain wear; assess compatibility issues, taking account of chain line and correctly split and install a quick link based chain.
  • Tape road handlebars.
  • Remove and replace a set of forks, taking account of the correct way to cut a fork steering column to size. Hydraulic fork servicing, disassemble and clean stations and cartridges and re-grease properly.
  • Remove, replace and service a headset, taking account of sizing standards.
  • Perform alignment checks to a bicycle frame.
  • Hand-build a wheel of differing complexities (for example, from simple 3-cross to manufacturer specific wheel systems) in the patterns required for non-disc, front disc and rear disc to the required tolerance and correctly dished and tensioned.
  • Set up and adjustment of internal gears.
  • Conduct quality assurance check of build or repair work completed.
  • Complete handover once completed build or repair is finished, including advising on further and future work required, changes to operation, required on-going maintenance and complete paperwork as appropriate.
  • Serve customers or clients on any required area of the store; refer them on to a more senior colleague or to ask for help; seek after market sales.
  • Communicate via suitable means with customers (telephone, text, email, social media) in order to ensure good service is maintained.
  • Use catalogues (hard copy and online) to identify parts and order to fulfil customers needs.
  • Use manual system and workshop diary and complete any associated paperwork.
  • Deal with complaints, following employer and manufacturers policies.
  • Identify when something has failed or is not fit for purpose.
  • Maintain proper tool maintenance and general workshop cleanliness and tidiness.

Your training plan

  • Bicycle mechanic:

Level 2 (GCSE)
Typical duration: 18 months
Standard

  • Functional Skills Maths and English
  • Dedicated Performance Coach

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

  • Maths and English (grade 3-4 (D-C))

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Customer care skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Presentation skills
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience

About this company

We are a busy bicycle workshop and retail unit based in Hackney Bridge, a new exciting canal side destination with lots of businesses, bar and restaurants. Our workshop is located in a vibrant neighbourhood, by the canal in Hackney wick. Surrounded by many green spaces, first among all, the Olympic Park. We are a small team of passionate cyclists and mechanics, promoting a happy workplace characterized by positive relationships between colleagues and management. The demand for our services is growing rapidly. We work as a team undertaking all sorts of repairs and services to keep our customers' bikes running in tip top condition. The quality of our services and repairs are our top priority, whether they want a brand new bike bespoke to their requirements or top notches service on their latest road, we cater to everyone!

https://wickedbikerepair.com/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Colleague Discount

After this apprenticeship

  • Upon termination of the apprenticeship, you’ll be offered a
    full time position as bike mechanic.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

ACTIVATE LEARNING

Jenny Hyam

faculty.enrolments@activateapprenticeships.co.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000302916.

Apply now

Closes on Tuesday 1 April 2025

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