BIKE TECH
Providing tools for life through bicycle education and mechanical training.
Project Bike Trip’s Bike Tech program is a one-year bicycle technical education class that teaches high school students the mechanical fundamentals of bicycle assembly and repair while promoting and teaching about the bicycle as a means for personal health, environmental health, and a fun way to explore the outdoors. Bike Tech is offered to high school students within the daily schedule of their public high school and for school credit. Bike Tech is certified by the state of CA and administered in partnership with the local Regional Occupational Program. Bike Tech gives students the necessary skills to work as a mechanic in the cycling industry, while acting as a stepping stone to a multitude of industry career paths including: engineering, fabrication, marketing, film-making, graphic art, sales, and writing for publication. Bike Tech has three main components:
Curriculum Classroom Instructors
(1) CURRICULUM: PBT created the “Teaching Bike Shop at School” teacher’s manual, which was written by our founding instructor. The manual includes curriculum, a syllabus, and student worksheets. In-class demonstrations, discussions, and practice prepare students to work as mechanics in the cycling industry, while introducing students to internship opportunities and a multitude of industry career paths. Bicycles assembled and repaired by the students become their vehicles to explore the outdoor classroom. Guest speakers and field trips to local corporations further expose the students to the various opportunities available within the cycling industry.
(2) CLASSROOM: The classroom is designed and equipped for bicycle assembly and repair like a bicycle shop service department.One classroom contains 11 repair stations, which includes 11 bikes, 11 bike stands, 11 work benches, 11 sets of professional level tools, 25 helmets, and shared classroom tools. Two students work daily at each repair station, allowing at least 22 students to be working simultaneously on the bikes.
(3) INSTRUCTORS: Professional bicycle mechanics with demonstrated experience in the bicycle industry are certified and trained by the local ROP and teach specifically formulated Bike Tech curriculum.
“The Bike Tech program expertly meshes the needs of the community with the capabilities of the cycling industry. This symbiosis provides a wonderful atmosphere where students get to experience the building blocks of a career while they discover an activity they can participate in for their entire life.” -BILL ARMAS, PARK TOOL CO.
FALL 2011 – SPRING 2012 SCHOOLS:
Pajaro Valley High School – Watsonville, CA
Instructor – Kirk Bernhardt
Three class sections are being offered at PVHS this year
Sponsoring bicycle shop - Watsonville Cyclery
Scotts Valley High School – Scotts Valley, CA
Instructor – Bobby Richardson
Sponsoring bicycle shop - SV Cycle Sport
Aptos High School – Aptos, CA
Instructor – Steve Hess
Sponsoring bicycle shop – Bike Station Aptos
Harbor High School – Santa Cruz, CA
Instructor – Steve Hess
Sponsoring bicycle shop – Bicycle Trip
Natural Bridges High School/Green Career Center – Santa Cruz, CA
Instructor – Steve Hess
Sponsoring bicycle shop – Another Bike Shop
