Bicycle Mechanic Apprenticeship

Summary

Build your bicycle mechanic career at Clapham Cycle near Clapham Junction. Learn in a professional workshop with a friendly team, develop servicing and repair skills through an apprenticeship, and enjoy Sundays off and staff trade pricing.

Wage

Competitive

Competitive wage offered

£10 per hour, or the applicable statutory minimum if higher. Potential pay increase following successful completion of the three-month probation period

Training course

Bicycle mechanic (level 2)

Hours

Minimum 30 paid hours per week, including apprenticeship training. Flexible working pattern Monday - Saturday, to be agreed. Monday - Friday: 10.00am - 6.30pm; Saturday: 9.00am - 4.30pm. One hour of unpaid breaks per working day, including lunch. Sundays closed.

30 hours a week

Start date

Monday 16 November 2026

Duration

1 year 6 months

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

• Assist with bicycle servicing, repairs and assembly under supervision
• Learn to diagnose faults and carry out safety checks
• Develop skills in brakes, gears, wheels and bicycle components
• Keep the workshop, tools and work area organised
• Help customers and explain work clearly
• Complete apprenticeship learning and attend required training

Where you'll work

255 LAVENDER HILL
LONDON
SW11 1JD

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

ACTIVATE LEARNING

Training course

Bicycle mechanic (level 2)

What you'll learn

• 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.

Training schedule

• Apprenticeship in bicycle mechanics (ST0622) Level 2 (Intermediate)
  Remote (The apprentice will have to attend a training centre to complete Cytech qualifications)
• Ongoing in the workplace
• 18 months + (Up to 3 months) for End Point Assessment
• Dedicated Performance Coach
• Day release
• Functional Skills maths and English (Depending on previous qualifications)

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

Maths and English (grade Entry Level 3)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• Communication skills
• IT skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Customer care skills
• Problem solving skills
• Administrative skills
• Number skills
• Analytical skills
• Team working
• Initiative
• Non judgemental
• Patience
• Physical fitness

Other requirements

Interest in bicycles and practical work; willingness to learn; reliable, careful and customer-focused. Basic IT confidence for shop systems and online apprenticeship learning; extensive experience is not required. Previous bicycle maintenance experience is welcome. Able to undertake practical workshop tasks and handle bicycles and components safely, with appropriate support and reasonable adjustments.

The shop is near Clapham Junction station. This is practical workshop work involving standing and handling bicycles and components with appropriate guidance. Attendance at a training centre will be required for parts of the apprenticeship.