AUSTIN, Texas (BRAIN) — The Professional Bicycle Mechanics Association has opened registration for three-day technical workshops to be held this fall and next spring in three cities.
The organization said the workshops are being designed to bolster individual mechanics' skills while growing their business acumen.
They will be held in Denver, Nov. 7-9, Portland, Oregon, Jan. 9-11; and in Ashburn, Virginia, Feb. 6-8, 2018.
The workshops will include hands-on technical training from Campagnolo, DT Swiss, Full Speed Ahead, Magura, SRAM, SR Suntour and Stan's No Tubes. The PBMA is also collaborating with several e-bike companies to offer a broad overview of e-bike mechanical training at each workshop.
In addition to technical training, each workshop will feature two presentations focusing on service-related growth, profitability, and efficiency in bike shops. Park Tool and Winged-Wheel Development will conduct these presentations.
"One of the goals with training needed to be beyond the basics of nuts and bolts. Service is an upward trend of profitability for many retail locations. The more we as a cycling community can do to bolster our service staff, the better off we will all be in the future," said PBMA's president, James Stanfill.
In addition, PeopleForBikes' DRAFT Meetups will be coming to PMBA workshops beginning in 2017. The DRAFT get togethers will include talks and announcements from the association in addition to beer and food.
Workshop sponsors include Park Tool, Abbey Bike Tools, BiciSupport, Feedback Sports, and Pedros are supporting four scholarships for each workshop, which will cover the recipients' attendance and meals.
Registration is $375 for non-PBMA members. PBMA Individual Mechanic Members save $100 off the cost of registration, and PBMA Shop Members save $125 per person when registering two or more participants.
Registration is open to PBMA Mechanic and Shop Members only until July 1st.
More information: ProBMA.org/PBMA-Events-and-Tech.
