Quadra Bike School
athunter
(Jun 20, 2019 at 6:19)
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| Name | Quadra Bike School |
|---|---|
| Type | Other |
| Primary Activity | Mountain Bike |
| Website |
| Phone | 250-285-2447 |
|---|---|
| Geo | |
| Address |
1024 Heriot Bay Road
Quadra Island,
British Columbia
V0P1N0
Canada
|
4
Professional bicycle mechanic training. Five week course includes residence for four students at a time.
Cooking facilities included. Students buy their own food. Four courses per year currently. Two in the spring, two in the fall.
Cooking facilities included. Students buy their own food. Four courses per year currently. Two in the spring, two in the fall.
Nearby Trail Networks
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+ 2
athunter
(Jun 20, 2019 at 6:19)
The Quadra Bike School is a learning and vacation experience all in one (learncation?). Smokey is a patient and knowledgeable instructor who ensures students have plenty of hands-on experience with a wide range of bikes. Beyond basic instruction I appreciated the opportunity to learn more about bikes, from how they are made to actual trail riding on the island. My time at the Quadra Bike School was a fantastic life experience.
The shop is a good place to learn the basics of older bicycle repair, Smokey's training plan covers the whole bike from front to back, including wheel building. An additional benefit of the location is the micro culture of the island, personally I enjoyed the weekly communal soups. While on the island try to travel, as much as possible, to the other islands via the ferry service, you won't regret it. I believe that this course has increased my skills with regard to fixing older bikes. I do feel that more time could be spent on hydraulic brakes though.
The Quadra Bike School is a great place to learn all the basics required start work in a bike shop, set up a home shop or just for confidence out on the road or trail. Smokey’s programs are well organized and logical. I never felt I had to move on to something else until I was confident with the current step. With plenty of time to explore Quadra Island, it was both a learning experience and a vacation. I will forever remember my time there.
Great school. Great teacher that Mr. Dymny. Quadra island is a great Island to explore by bike. I rode out to the narrows on my cross bike. I rode many of the trails on a loaner MTB from Smokey
I even got the chance to ride some of the trails in the Snowden demonstration forest in Campbell River. The bike program was very informative. I learned a lot. Enough to get me a job a couple days after I finished the program. I've been working in the same shop since April 2017. Smokey even sold me a frame and I purchased some parts and built up a hard-tail trail bike. I'd recommend this course to anyone that wants to get into the biking industry. The only caveat I have is I wish there was some training in suspension. Like, fork overhauls and rear shock servicing. I entered the trade without any knowledge of suspension overhauls.
I even got the chance to ride some of the trails in the Snowden demonstration forest in Campbell River. The bike program was very informative. I learned a lot. Enough to get me a job a couple days after I finished the program. I've been working in the same shop since April 2017. Smokey even sold me a frame and I purchased some parts and built up a hard-tail trail bike. I'd recommend this course to anyone that wants to get into the biking industry. The only caveat I have is I wish there was some training in suspension. Like, fork overhauls and rear shock servicing. I entered the trade without any knowledge of suspension overhauls.
I attended Quadra bike school in 2017, shortly after attending the school I was able to apply my new skills first as a part time, then a full time mechanic for a large bike repair shop along the “Bow” in Calgary.
I found the school to be the best value for myself living in western Canada.
I couldn’t justify USD prices for the school in Colorado and driving out east to Guelph and staying in a hotel in a city.
Quadra as a quiet, small close knit community and relaxed atmosphere to study and develop your new skills. Living at the on-site dorms, literally 20 steps to the school shop is a huge advantage.
A typical school day is 8 – 4, then ride the trails before making dinner in the residence. Often we would return to the shop to work on a bike, a little studying and reading, maybe some offline Netflix then off to bed, and repeat.
I loved community soup Wednesday’s, the Community Movie nights, and coffee breaks at Cafe aroma.
The weekends were great to overhaul my 2 bikes, cycle w classmates around the island and attend open Mic nights at the Herriot Bay Inn, with a few beverages.
The practicum was very helpful to build confidence and practice the new skills I had learned.
It was a fun, educational informative, and unforgettable time attending school as a mature student.
While it’s true we did not cover suspension and not a lot on hydraulic brakes, I learned how to bleed brakes on the job from fellow mechanics (and of course YouTube) and there was a suspension specialists in my shop who did most of the suspensions as it required a specific skill set.
90% of the Quadra program covers what I did in the shop on a day to day basis,
Quick truing of wheels, repacking wheel bearings, and head sets w fresh grease and replacing cables and housing, checking bottom brackets, adjusting shifting, and brakes, and replacing tubes, and tires……. so many tubes and tires!
Thanks Smokey Alain P
I found the school to be the best value for myself living in western Canada.
I couldn’t justify USD prices for the school in Colorado and driving out east to Guelph and staying in a hotel in a city.
Quadra as a quiet, small close knit community and relaxed atmosphere to study and develop your new skills. Living at the on-site dorms, literally 20 steps to the school shop is a huge advantage.
A typical school day is 8 – 4, then ride the trails before making dinner in the residence. Often we would return to the shop to work on a bike, a little studying and reading, maybe some offline Netflix then off to bed, and repeat.
I loved community soup Wednesday’s, the Community Movie nights, and coffee breaks at Cafe aroma.
The weekends were great to overhaul my 2 bikes, cycle w classmates around the island and attend open Mic nights at the Herriot Bay Inn, with a few beverages.
The practicum was very helpful to build confidence and practice the new skills I had learned.
It was a fun, educational informative, and unforgettable time attending school as a mature student.
While it’s true we did not cover suspension and not a lot on hydraulic brakes, I learned how to bleed brakes on the job from fellow mechanics (and of course YouTube) and there was a suspension specialists in my shop who did most of the suspensions as it required a specific skill set.
90% of the Quadra program covers what I did in the shop on a day to day basis,
Quick truing of wheels, repacking wheel bearings, and head sets w fresh grease and replacing cables and housing, checking bottom brackets, adjusting shifting, and brakes, and replacing tubes, and tires……. so many tubes and tires!
Thanks Smokey Alain P
