Read below for upcoming courses and fees. For course details please read The Course page.
To apply to the Quadra Bike School
Submit by e-mail or by postal service:- A resumé describing your mechanical experience with bicycles
- Reasons for wanting to take advanced mechanic's training
- Contact information and your place of residence.
- A $1000 deposit that will secure your spot in the course by by Interac deposit, direct bank transfer or cheque.
- Students NOT wanting to register in all three components to obtain full mechanic's training will be held on a waiting list. Those who want full mechanic's certification get first priority
Fees, for 2022
Tuition for Part 1. Bicycle Assembly and Tuning is $1800 plus Goods & Services Tax of 5%
Tuition for Part 1. Bicycle Assembly and Tuning is $1800 plus Goods & Services Tax of 5%
Tuition for Part 2. Professional Bicycle Repair is $1800 plus GST of 5%
Tuition for the Bicycle Repair Practicum is $1800 plus GST of 5%
Taking all three courses costs $5400 plus GST of 5% ($270)
Tuition for the Bicycle Repair Practicum is $1800 plus GST of 5%
Taking all three courses costs $5400 plus GST of 5% ($270)
Additionally, the Barnett Manual is required and costs $260.00
An early PDF version 5 of the Barnett Manual will be emailed to you upon receipt of your deposit.
There are only FOUR spots available in each course because my student residence has four bedrooms. Do not ask to be added as a fifth student because you want to live your own camper, etc. The bicycle shop has FOUR fully equipped work stations for students plus many specialized tools which we all share. I tried fitting a fifth student in and that did not work well.
There are only FOUR spots available in each course because my student residence has four bedrooms. Do not ask to be added as a fifth student because you want to live your own camper, etc. The bicycle shop has FOUR fully equipped work stations for students plus many specialized tools which we all share. I tried fitting a fifth student in and that did not work well.
Registration is on a first-come-first-served basis and does not become complete until your $1000 deposit is paid. This deposit is non-refundable unless you withdraw in enough time to allow another person to register for the course you reserved. If your place is filled by someone new, I will transfer your deposit to a later course or issue you a refund. The balance of the course fees plus the GST and $270 for the Barnett Manual DX need to be paid one MONTH before the course starts.
Other bicycle repair courses do not include the Quadra Bike School's all-important practical component, which is called Bicycle Repair Practicum. It's the second half of this course. You will repair many types of customers' bicycles and integrate the skills you have learned in a very practical way. This is not done in any of the other courses as they are advertised. In the past, this allowed my grads to move right into bicycle repair at cycle shops instead of being relegated to assembling new bicycles out of the box. Not that I understand why new bicycles are assembled by the least experienced mechanics in a bicycle shop. Bicycle Repair Practicum worked very well in the course in Toronto and continues here on Quadra Island. I also will NOT use Park Tool's Big Blue Book of Bicycle Repair for an instructional manual nor do I only use Park Tools. As described in the Barnett Manual, and from my own years of experience, there are better tools available for many bicycle repairs. Especially be wary of Park spoke tension gauges which have fallen off greatly in accuracy in recent years. We use much more accurate gauges from Wheel Fanatyk.
Other bicycle repair courses do not include the Quadra Bike School's all-important practical component, which is called Bicycle Repair Practicum. It's the second half of this course. You will repair many types of customers' bicycles and integrate the skills you have learned in a very practical way. This is not done in any of the other courses as they are advertised. In the past, this allowed my grads to move right into bicycle repair at cycle shops instead of being relegated to assembling new bicycles out of the box. Not that I understand why new bicycles are assembled by the least experienced mechanics in a bicycle shop. Bicycle Repair Practicum worked very well in the course in Toronto and continues here on Quadra Island. I also will NOT use Park Tool's Big Blue Book of Bicycle Repair for an instructional manual nor do I only use Park Tools. As described in the Barnett Manual, and from my own years of experience, there are better tools available for many bicycle repairs. Especially be wary of Park spoke tension gauges which have fallen off greatly in accuracy in recent years. We use much more accurate gauges from Wheel Fanatyk.
The added benefit in this course is that students can cook for themselves in the the residence which includes all the necessary kitchen gear and several different ways to make coffee including an espresso machine. The recommended motels at other schools do not allow cooking. As well students must commute to class. Most importantly, there are no evening or weekend practise times available. The Quadra Bike School is just a few steps from your student residence. You can practise your skills or rebuild you own bicycles during evenings and on weekends. The cost of this course is two-thirds of the cost down south. I can't possibly calculate what eating at restaurants would cost you in the U.S. There are even more daytime instructional hours here. The evening and weekend practise time in the bike shop is not contemplated in other courses. I investigated several B.C. mechanics courses also. If you inquire about any other course ask whether they use the Park "Big" Blue Book of Bicycle Repair. It's a single volume paperback and in no way compares to over 14,000 pages of the current Barnett version 14 DX.
2022 Course Dates:
May 30 - June 30 Course 43
May 30 - Jun 7 1. Bicycle Assembly & Tuning
Jun 8 - 16 2. Professional Bicycle Repair
Jun 17 - 27 3. Bicycle Repair Practice
Jun 28 - June 30 Free practise days & testing.
Jun 28 - June 30 Free practise days & testing.
July 1, Canada Day Federal Statutory Holiday
One spot is reserved, three are uncertain.
Sept 6 - Oct 7 Course 44
Sept 5 Canadian Labour Day holiday
Sept 6 - 14 1. Bicycle Assembly & Tuning
Sept 15 - 23 2. Professional Bicycle Repair
Sept 26 - Oct 4 3. Bicycle Repair Practice
Oct 5 - 7 Free practise days & testing.
Oct 5 - 7 Free practise days & testing.
Three places are reserved, one is available.
Oct 24 - Nov 25 Course 45
Oct 24 - Nov 1 1. Bicycle Assembly & Tuning
Nov 2 - 10 2. Professional Bicycle Repair
Nov 11 - 21 3. Bicycle Repair Practice
Nov 22 - 25 Free practise days & testing.
Nov 22 - 25 Free practise days & testing.
One spot is reserved, three places available.
Postal mail: Quadra Bike School, P.O. Box 791, Quathiaski Cove, B.C. V0P 1N0
