Mechanic Training School
a long history & respected reputation - Mechanic Training School
The Bike Inn mechanic training school has a long history and much respected reputation within our industry. Most of today’s bicycle mechanic training schools have built their own businesses on the Bike Inn model in an attempt to emulate our successes and rival our position in the market.
Our mechanic training school we train individuals to meet their career goals and we train companies to compete better in the cycling industry.
Bike Inn has a B2B website for all students to access tool at trade price : www.bikeinnb2b.co.uk and sale of E-bikes on : https://eden-e-motion.co.uk/
2024 sees the 33rd anniversary of the Bike Inn in it’s current guise – that’s 33 years of offering full time courses with professionally accredited qualifications.
The school is led by Jon Colborne – a highly respected wheel building master, and himself a Bike Inn graduate. After gaining his qualification, Jon continued to work with the then owners Alf and Theresa Webb and helped them to expand the school and build their benchmark reputation. When Alf and Theresa reluctantly retired in 2017 it was only natural that Jon should take over the business, and it was then that he decided to move it back to his home territory (and cycling nirvana) in Cumbria.
be the best
Train with Bike Inn
The Bike Inn is the industry’s leading training provider of professional, accredited bicycle mechanic qualifications here in the UK.
At Bike Inn, our goal has always been to offer the best, most comprehensive, and relevant courses for cycling professionals, hobbyists, future mechanics, and those seeking a career change. Our IMI-accredited courses deliver exactly that. These qualifications are internationally recognized, as shown by the many students who travel from abroad to the UK to attend our school.
With this global reputation, you can trust that an IMI-accredited mechanic, whether in India or Inverness, will always provide the same high-quality service.
Our course structure also includes advice and guidance for new graduates looking to start their own business. Whether you want to become a mobile mechanic, event support provider, custom bike engineer, or run a repair workshop, we’ve got you covered.
In addition, we offer access to tools from top brands at very competitive prices, thanks to our trade associations.
Mechanic's Continued Professional Developement:
In addition to our professional IMI qualifications, we’ve developed a range of 1- to 2-day short courses. These courses allow existing mechanics to dive deeper into specific areas like hydraulics or wheel building. For avid amateurs, we offer general maintenance programs that provide the knowledge and skills needed to care for their own bikes.
meet the team
The Bike Inn Family
At Bike Inn, we’re all about the cycling community. From our social media pages and Strava cycling club to our graduate forums and branded cycle wear in the iconic orange and black, we connect cyclists everywhere. Our team, naturally, consists of Bike Inn graduates. We also operate Helmwind Cycles, our servicing, maintenance, and repair workshop, right on-site.
It’s no surprise that cyclists from near and far see our place as a little slice of bicycle heaven!
M.D. & Chief engineer
Jon Colborne
Jon originally trained at the Bike Inn when it was located in Spalding, Lincolnshire – and when owners Alf and Theresa Webb retired in 2018 he took over the business and relocated it to it’s current home in Cumbria.
Having worked tirelessly to bring the Bike Inn racing into the 21st century, making it the industry leading educational establishment that can boast itself as the place where the trainers train!
He has also expanded the scope of the Bike Inn’s course schedule to offer a wide range of short courses.
Away from work Jon is an avid foodie, and can whip up a mean dinner with little more than his trusty wood fired stove, and some locally sourced ingredients.
Director & tUTOR
Mark Wilcox
Being an avid cyclist, and a local man, his path inevitably crossed with Jon. He attended the Bike Inn and did the professional training course and the rest, as they say, is history!
Now Mark has had a successful career in his own right, but when he decided to take early retirement he found he had too much time on his hands and started looking for something more to fill his time.
Mark teaches at the Bike Inn a couple of days a week, as well as continuously reviewing the written course materials to ensure they are fully up to date with all the latest specifications.
When trying his hardest to be semi-retired Mark manages to relax out and about on the fells with his dogs or on a touring adventure on his bike overseas – often with his camera in hand.
Director & pro rACER / COACH
Henrietta Colborne
Henrietta is most definitely her father’s daughter – and the apple has not fallen far from the tree! Known affectionately as simply ‘H’ she is also a Bike Inn graduate, and the driving force in the Helmwind Cycles workshop when it comes to get things organised.
She has recently started teaching in the Bike Inn school too, as well as being an assessor for course ‘homework’.
H splits her time between Cumbria and mainland Europe, where she trains and competes at UCI level for the Dutch based GT Krush TUNAP women’s pro cycling team.
In order to keep her fitness in peak condition to optimise performance there is no such thing as a rest day for
H – she trains every day – rain or shine – cycling or running, and working on her strength and conditioning in the gym.
When in Cumbria, H is almost always accompanied by her ‘partner in crime’ Bailey – who has rapidly become a permanent and much loved member of the team.
Our Courses
Courses
Theory and Foundation
“What is says on the tin”
This course incorporates an IMI Level 2 qualification
Part 1
Modules 1-3 30h of supported guided learning over 3 weeks
Part 2
80h on site over 2 weeks
Professional
“Stretch the envelope”
This course incorporates an
IMI Level 3 qualification
Part 1
Modules 1-6 60h of supported guided learning over 6 weeks
Part 2
80h on site over 2 weeks
E-Bike
“Be part of the revolution”
Part 1
2 weeks supported guided learning
Part 2
2 days on site
Cycling Essentials
“Get to know your bike”
5 days on site
Bike Fit
“a fish on a bicycle”?
Part 1
2 weeks supported guided learning
Part 2
2 days on site
Wheel Building
“just like knitting”
Part 1
1 Week supported guided learning
Part 2
2 days on site
