Become a Mindful Mechanic
We are thrilled to announce a two day, mindful mechanics course in collaboration with Vicky Balfour. Throughout 2021, we partnered with Vicky to deliver 2 workshops and a 2 day mechanic course. The riders who attended these workshops have grown significantly more confident in their abilities to maintain and fix their bikes.
In 2022, we want to provide the opportunity for more people to uncover natural talents and feel empowered to learn more about their bike.
Vicky is a huge supporter of the New Forest Off Road Club, regularly attending rides and celebrating our passion to dismantle the patriarchy.
In October 2021, Vicky and her daughter Ce Ce, founded the Canterbury Off Road Club. A community dedicated to encouraging people to ride their bikes, off road, in Kent.
We believe self-sufficient, confident women improve all spaces they occupy. Learning about your bike, being able to maintain it and feeling empowered to ride for longer and further is truly magical.
Whilst mechanic courses are available, being able to learn in a matriarchal environment, with the encouragement and support of other women is rare.
We are excited to be able to facilitate a space where people can learn, connect with others and leave feeling empowered and inspired to get out on two wheels.
Headline
2 day mechanic course.
26th - 27th March. Book here
29th - 30th October. Book here
£250
Where
Bad Hand Coffee Courtyard. The course will take place in the courtyard of the Bad Hand Coffee warehouse. This space is covered, well ventilated and outdoors.
Who
The course is for 9 people who want to uplift themselves outside of the patriarchy and experience bike mechanics in an environment designed to help you understand your bike as well as how to fix it.
The size of the group is optimum for the space. Experienced professional mechanic Vicky Balfour will be conducting the course and Nic, Director of the New Forest Off Road Club will be facilitating.
Each rider will have their own work stand to work on their bike for the duration of the course.
How
Day 1:
Introductions and objective setting.
We will start the weekend by getting to know each other and hearing about each other's objectives for the course.
We will be asking
What do you want to get out of the course?
On a scale of 1 - 10, how confident are you currently in bike mechanics?
What’s your favourite thing about riding your bike?
How do you feel when something goes wrong on your bike?
Describe how being able to conduct regular maintenance on your bike will make you feel.
The practical part of the course will involve you working on your own bike. The group environment will make it easy for you to learn about other bikes and practice what you have just learnt by supporting others. Over the two days, Vicky will introduce the following and guide all students through the removal, cleaning (where appropriate) and reassembly of the following.
Day 1:
Groupsets (gears)
Cassette, removal and placement
Hanger, removal and fitting
Derailleur and gear cables, discovery, replace gear cable, index gears
Chain, check stretch, measure and replace quick links
Chainrings, check and identify
Cranks, removal and replacement
Day 2:
Pedals, removal and replacement
Bottom brackets, removal of cranks, identification, checking and cleaning, replace cranks
Brakes, cable/ hydraulic: rim/ disc. Checking pads, replacing cables (if appropriate), setting brake pads
Headset, identification, taking apart, checking and cleaning headset, putting back together
Stem, discussion, impact on fit and handling
Both days will start intention setting and end with a debrief.
As part of the course price, two meals will be provided. We are proud to partner with local, women led business Green Label Kitchen.
Day 1: Lunch will be a Mezze of 3 seasonal salads, olives and beetroot hummus. Served with a fresh apple, carrot, ginger and turmeric juice.
Day 2: Breakfast will be crushed new potatoes, spinach and mushrooms with a garlic aioli and harissa sauce. Served with Freshly squeezed orange juice.
The course will take place at Bad Hand Coffee HQ which means delicious, freshly roasted and unlimited coffee will be available for the duration of the course.
You will leave the course being able to index gears, maintain your headset and bottom bracket, replace your chain and replace your gear cable.
Information beforehand
We want to make sure we have all the tools you will need to work on your bike for the weekend. Some bikes require specific tooling. Prior to the course, please email Vicky with the answers to the following questions…
What is your bikes make, model and year?
Have you upgraded or changed any parts?
What brand are your cranks?
What brand is your groupset?
If you’re not sure how to answer these questions, (I didn’t), get in touch with Vicky and she can help you.
Testimonials
We asked some students about how they found the 2 day course. Read their answers below.
What was the best thing about the course?
“It felt very supportive and non judgmental, no question felt too silly to ask!”
“The pace of the learning and the style of teaching made it all very understandable”
What did you find most useful?
“Indexing and adjusting gears as this is something I’ve always found confusing and needs doing most frequently!
I’ve now managed to do it at home which was very satisfying - I previously would have asked my husband to look at it so it’s given me confidence and independence give it a go and enough knowledge to troubleshoot the common issues.”
What bike mechanics have you done since the course?
“Replaced my gear cable, replaced brake pads, replaced handlebars, replaced tyres”
“Indexed my gears and adjusted limiting screws.”
“Replaced my bottom bracket, headset, handlebars and gear cables”
What would you say to others considering learning more about bike mechanics?
”Do it! I gained confidence and the knowledge I needed / or the good places to look for info, to tackle most common bike issues on my own bike. I still have more to learn but I now feel more confident to give it a go rather than surrendering my bike to the bike shop or my husband every time there is a problem.”
Any questions about the course, please do not hesitate to get in touch, either with Vicky or Nic. You can get Vicky at vicky@vickybikes.co.uk and Nic at newforestoffroadclub@gmail.com.
We can’t wait to learn mindful mechanics with you ✌️
26th - 27th March. Book here
29th - 30th October. Book here
