The QBS Curriculum
Established in 2011, Quadra Bike School (QBS) provides professional bicycle mechanic training that exceeds industry standards.
Our five week course equips students with the knowledge and skills to integrate seamlessly into the professional bicycle repair industry. Once completed, our students receive two industry recognized certifications.
*Certificate of Graduation from Quadra Bike School
This document serves as proof of completion of the QBS curriculum as it pertains to bicycle assembly, maintenance, repair, & overhaul.
*Barnett Standard of Wheel Truing Certificate
Best-In-Practice Standard for bicycle wheel truing.
The QBS curriculum is built on a foundation of history, theory, practical application and was created with consultation alongside the Bicycle Trade Association of Canada.
We’ve worked hard to create a lesson plan that empowers our mechanics to learn the fundamentals of professional bicycle repair from the wheels up.
Module 1.
Bicycle Assembly & Tuning
This module is focused on the practical application of our course material. It’s applicable to everyone from Shop Owners, Professional Bike Mechanics, Home Mechanics, or Rental Shop Owners.
During this 7 day module you will cover everything from assembly, adjustments, lubrication, and maintenance. Each day begins with an interactive class review of the source material for the day's lesson followed by a live demonstration. Once the demo is completed, each student is then tasked with completing the exercise at their assigned workstation.
Module 1. Bicycle Assembly & Tuning
Introduction
Thread identification & preparation, measurement tools, professional compounds & liquids (lubricants, cleansers, solvents, & threadlocker compounds), shop tools introduction & application
Cockpit & Seating | Level 1
Headset inspection & retainer removal, seatpost fundamentals & maintenance, seatpost reaming, seatpost adjustments, stem greasing & alignment, threadless headset inspection & replacement, flat handlebar brake-shifter alignment, road bike bar alignment, shift lever installation
Drivetrain | Level 1
Crank arm removal & installation, pedal installation, adjustable-cup bottom bracket bearing replacement, cassette or freewheel removal & replacement, cassette & chain wear assessment, chain line assessment & correction, chain maintenance & adjustments, checking & correcting rear dropout alignment, rear derailleur fundamentals & installation, rear derailleur adjustments with limit & b screws, rear derailleur indexing, front derailleur fundamentals & installation, front derailleur limit-screw adjustment, front derailleur indexing adjustments
Brakes | Level 1
Optimal cable routing, cable pre-stressing, brake lever installation, cable routing, brake tuning, dual-pivot brake installation & adjustment, v-brake installation & adjustment, caliber brake installation & adjustment, mechanical disc-brake installation
Wheels | Level 1
Wheel hub bearing replacement, wheel assessment, wheel truing fundamentals, lateral & radial truing, dishing, spoke tension, tension balancing, tire sizing, rim & tire compatibility, tube installation & repair, wheel installation
Module 2.
Professional Bicycle Repair
This module builds on what we learned in Module 1. Each topic covered is required knowledge for professional bicycle mechanics within the industry.
Module 2. Professional Bicycle Repair
Drivetrain | Level 2
Spline-fit crank arm removal & installation, cartridge bottom bracket identification & service, alternate bottom bracket installation for stripped threads, assessing chainline error, chainline improvement, cassette / chainring wear identification and replacement installation, installation & replacement of bottom brackets such as square tapered / external / press-fit / bmx, freewheel bearing lubrication, chain damage assessment, chain & freewheel compatibility, precise rear derailleur adjustment, calculating chainring & cassette capacity, gear analysis & tuning, rear derailleur cable entry application, chasing threads & facing bottom brackets, drilling water exit hole
Brakes | Level 2
Brake lever troubleshooting, brake lever ergonomics & tuning, criss-cross brake & shifter cable routing, side-pull caliper installation & adjustments, disc brake rotor installation & adjustments, hydraulic disc brake bleeding using mineral oil & D.O.T, hydraulic disc brake precision adjustment, disc brake pad / caliper adjustment & cleaning practices
Wheels | Level 2
Fork alignment & adjustments, rear triangle alignment & adjustments, hub / freehub bearing assessment & upgrading, freehub body replacement, axle thread identification, hub cone replacement, hub bearing troubleshooting, spoke length calculation, wheel lacing, rim damage assessment, tire vs. rim compatibility, tire & tube repair, installation of puncture protection strips, tubeless conversion, tire wear / damage identification, tubeless wheel assembly
Cockpit & Seating | Level 2
Frame defect identification & repair, replacement & repair of threaded and threadless forks, headset measurement & calculation of stack heights, cutting steerer tubes, re-threading adjustable headset forks
Module 3.
Bicycle Repair Practicum
The third component of the QBS curriculum allows for students to hone the skills they’ve learned in a real world environment while working on used bicycles. These can range from simple “beaters” to high-end custom bicycles from real customers.
The added advantage to this is students will learn when it is feasible to repair a component, or to replace it. The cost/benefit of this part of the course is that it creates a mechanic that will be able to run their own bicycle repair shop.
The shop opens to students at approximately 9:00 am each morning and due to the unique nature of having a student residence on site they are able to practice after hours and on weekends, further reinforcing the skills they have learned through the first two modules.
After careful preparation both in theory and application students are then required to participate in a series of tests to prove their retention of the knowledge they were taught over the course of the program.
QBS Graduation Requirements
A passing grade for the QBS curriculum is 80% because we believe that all bicycles must be safe both on the road, and on the trail. This grade is achieved by participating and completing the following knowledge tests.
Practical Knowledge Test
This is a written test that students from each course must take at the same time to ensure score integrity.
10% of final grade
Upon completion of the written component, each student must prepare for the remaining test applications and once ready organize a time to perform their practical application exams.
Wheel Lacing
Passing a bicycle wheel lacing test requires precision and attention to detail. This intricate process involves carefully weaving spokes through the hub and rim to create a stable and evenly tensioned wheel.
10% of final grade
Brake Installation
Students must successfully install and tune a brake system on a bicycle of their choosing.
10% of final grade
Wheel Truing
This skillful process involves meticulously aligning the rim to eliminate any wobbles or deviations, ensuring a perfectly round wheel. Success in this test showcases the ability to fine-tune a wheel's tension and alignment, resulting in improved stability and a smoother ride for cyclists.
20% of final grade
Drivetrain Tuning
Students must successfully tune both front and rear derailleur systems on a bicycle of their choosing.
20% of final grade
Bicycle Build
Building a bicycle from the ground up serves as the ultimate test in the QBS curriculum, encompassing a comprehensive understanding of bicycle mechanics. This demanding task requires understanding components such as the drivetrain, brakes, and wheels with precision and expertise. Successful completion of this final test demonstrates mastery of bicycle construction, ensuring a safe and efficient ride for future cyclists.
30% of final grade
Upon the successful completion of all three modules each student will receive a Mechanics Certificate, and a Wheel Truing Certificate. Both of which are recognized at the Canadian Outdoor Co-Op as well by top Bicycle shops.
APPLY TO QBS TODAY
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APPLY TO QBS TODAY ⋆
Each course has only 4 seats available. These small class sizes are part of what makes our curriculum so unique. Apply today and reserve your spot in one of our upcoming courses.
Don’t take our word for it, we encourage you to browse through our many testimonials to get a better understanding of what you can expect at QBS.
With over 110 graduates who have successfully completed the QBS curriculum, we have no shortage of testimonials for you to explore. We’ve had a wealth of students attend and successfully integrate into the professional bicycle mechanic industry from as far away as Germany, Great Britain, Canary Islands, Croatia, Iqaluit, and South Africa.
Testimonials
“First let me tell you how much I enjoyed the course and stay at your lovely property. This was one of the best experiences I have participated in for a very long time. Aside from the course itself I was glad that I had an opportunity to experience “Island Life”. In regards to the course I found it to be well set up to maximize the lessons you...”read more
— David, QBS 2016 Graduate
“I've been meaning to email you for a while now, to let you know that I've been working at a bike shop as a mechanic since January 3! I'm loving it. I'm still learning lots, but am much more confident after 3 months of real mechanics work than I was when I started. My boss is especially impressed with my wheel building and truing skills!…”read more
— Naomi, QBS 2013 Graduate
“Only two weeks in, I’ve learned a ton and am loving this course! Smokey offers a great combination of patient and methodical teaching, passion for all things bicycle, a wealth of knowledge and experience, and a beautiful friendly island community to take part in. The bike shop and student housing connect to amazing forested trails…”read more
— Kimi, QBS 2012 Graduate
Frequently Asked Questions
Know before you go. Visit our FAQ page to get an even more in-depth idea of what to expect when you attend QBS.
Get in touch!
Have a question that isn’t in our FAQ? Fill in the form and send us a message and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
jsmokeydymny@protonmail.com
(250) 285-2447
1024 Heriot Bay Rd,
Quathiaski Cove, BC V0P 1N0