Cycle Academy: a reality
The beginning
The Downland Cycles Training Centre, established in 1997 by its owners Bryan and Julie in Canterbury, was initially meant to be just a cycle shop and small training centre with a welcoming ambiance where the local people came to either buy their bicycles or few ambitious ones came in to obtain a professional training to make their mark in the growing cycle industry.
The growth
As the company flourished, with the passage of time, this very unique training facility was turned into a fully fledged, highly equipped academy and was relocated to their specially designed premises with state of the art equipment in 2012 near Canterbury in the picturesque background of rural Kent. The new premises offered the peaceful rural surroundings along with an excellent accommodation with a unique opportunity to learn, ride and enjoy the savoury home cooked food.
The Cycle Academy
The academy welcomes all levels of cycle mechanics from beginners aspiring just to customize their own bikes, to experienced mechanics wishing to further develop their skills and knowledge and set new standards in the cycle industry. The aspiring frame builders are trained by Bryan who is himself a very accomplished frame builder with his very own brand. He is aided by Martyn who is a master wheel builder himself and a great mechanic. The quality control, co-ordination and cooking is under the care of Julie who leaves no stone unturned in providing the most delicious and healthy home cooked meal using the local meat, bread and home grown vegetables.
The Courses
The academy has very smartly broken down the process of building your very own customized bike into three easy and surprisingly affordable courses. They provide specialised training courses for bicycle maintenance, frame building and wheel building as well.
While the frame building course is carried out strictly under Bryan’s expert supervision only where the essence of an artisan frame builder is maintained with the traditional handmade frame legacy, the mechanics course aims mostly at developing an understanding in the building, servicing, repair and maintenance of cycles and polishes the skills of the apprentice throughout the learning process.
Although the wheel building course is the shortest, it provides a concise and precise approach to the art of wheel building. It does not only provide the learner with theoretical knowledge of wheel building but gives a complete two days hands on practical experience of the complex art.
On the whole, the Downland Cycles has redefining the entire learning process with a healthy, welcoming and friendly environment where there is a combination of some group interaction and some solo learning. The service is completely customer friendly and special arrangements have been made for accommodation in the purpose built highly equipped premises itself. To top it all they have a super friendly team that is very welcoming and caring and would love to continue their interaction with you even after you leave the academy. Also, visitors are always welcome to come back and work whenever they like for a surprisingly minimal fee.
About The Author
Downland Cycles are an approved ELCAS training provider, Cycle Academy, city and guilds bike mechanic maintenance courses.