Park Tools School ?
09-06-10, 08:07 AM
#1
Full Member
Thread Starter
Park Tools School ?
Hello everyone,
I hope everyone is doing well.
My local REI is having a Park Tools class/school which consists of 4 2 hour class's for $200.00 and I was wondering if anyone here has taken this class or if it is recommended.
Basically and help and information would be appreciated.
Just want to know if it is a good class here is a copy and paste.
Description: Join an REI Specialist for a series of in-depth bicycle maintenance classes. This 8 hour series over 4 days will cover topics including drivetrain service, hub and headset overhaul, tire and tube service, and brake service. The goal of the class will be to equip participants with the skills to perform a basic tune up on their bikes. Participants are invited to bring their own bikes to work on. Tools will be provided. Participants are encouraged to have previous basic bike maintenance experience
Thank you for your time.
I hope everyone is doing well.
My local REI is having a Park Tools class/school which consists of 4 2 hour class's for $200.00 and I was wondering if anyone here has taken this class or if it is recommended.
Basically and help and information would be appreciated.
Just want to know if it is a good class here is a copy and paste.
Description: Join an REI Specialist for a series of in-depth bicycle maintenance classes. This 8 hour series over 4 days will cover topics including drivetrain service, hub and headset overhaul, tire and tube service, and brake service. The goal of the class will be to equip participants with the skills to perform a basic tune up on their bikes. Participants are invited to bring their own bikes to work on. Tools will be provided. Participants are encouraged to have previous basic bike maintenance experience
Thank you for your time.
09-06-10, 08:38 AM
#2
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$200 for 4 2hour classes? I should open a school. personally I am not sure if it is worth it, especuially if the add say "Participants are encouraged to have previous basic bike maintenance experience". what are they going to teach?
if you already have previous maint exp chances are you can already keep you bike tuned and cleaned. if your working on you bike and mechanically inclined it is pretty easy to self tech yourself to change a BB or Headset. the hard part if buying the 'heavy' tools for doing such things.
now if the course was going to teach people who knew nothing or was for advanced and they were teaching things like facing and chasing a BB and headtube, or threading a fork, aligning dropouts, frames and forks. all lots arts in the carbon world. it might be worth it.
Just my humble opinion. was there something special you wanted to learn? is this the REI on Rt 73 near Marlton? I was not impressed with the "bike people" there
if you already have previous maint exp chances are you can already keep you bike tuned and cleaned. if your working on you bike and mechanically inclined it is pretty easy to self tech yourself to change a BB or Headset. the hard part if buying the 'heavy' tools for doing such things.
now if the course was going to teach people who knew nothing or was for advanced and they were teaching things like facing and chasing a BB and headtube, or threading a fork, aligning dropouts, frames and forks. all lots arts in the carbon world. it might be worth it.
Just my humble opinion. was there something special you wanted to learn? is this the REI on Rt 73 near Marlton? I was not impressed with the "bike people" there
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
09-06-10, 09:02 AM
#3
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It seems awfully pricey for 8 hours of group instruction in the basics. I'd check around and see if other local shops offer classes and what they cost. dds are you can find a similar program, or a combination of classes costing far less.
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FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
09-06-10, 09:14 AM
#4
Mechanic/Tourist
It's really hard to judge the worth of such a class without knowing class size, format, experience (including training/teaching) of the instructor. If Park tools is officially lending their name, format and syllabus or training materials I would tend to give it a bit more value. For that price I would expect a primary trainer and another mechanic as an assistant, and no more than 6 students. I doubt that many shops could physically handle more than that. That would mean $150 per hour for the instructors and overhead, which I think is reasonable. If it's one instructor and any more than 4 students I would hesitate. You will be getting a "minor" tune-up in addition to the knowledge, but I am concerned that there is no mention of even minor wheel truing.
