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10 Apr 2026

It’s easy to forget the moment your love for bike shops began. Mat Clark, owner of BRINK - a UK-based business specialising in cycling retail, brand strategy, and industry insight -...

8 Apr 2026

Bike frame and fork protection specialists BikeWrap has confirmed its sponsorship of the Cytech Pub Quiz, part of the build up to Local Bike Shop Week next month.

2 Apr 2026

Bikebook has announced a new integration with Shopify

1 Apr 2026

An awards scheme celebrating independent bike shops that go above and beyond for their communities launches this week.

30 Mar 2026

ACT parent company Bira has warned that falling retail sales in February are an early sign of consumers reining in their spending amid growing economic uncertainty.

26 Mar 2026

A flagship cycling borough in outer London is poised to lift its eight-year ban on dockless e-bikes, with Waltham Forest Labour Party pledging to introduce a scheme if it retains control of...

26 Mar 2026

Bira has welcomed the government's £319 million investment in high street revitalisation, while warning that without reform of business rates and action on overseas imports, many high...

19 Mar 2026

This one's sobering: 42% of small businesses reported a cyber breach in 2024, according to the National Cyber Security Centre. And it's not just massive corporations being targeted. It's small,...

19 Mar 2026

The Chancellor held a roundtable discussion on a future high street strategy last week, with Bira the sole voice representing smaller retail businesses. Read an update on Bira's place at a...

18 Mar 2026

An independent bike shop is refusing to sell or repair e-scooters over concerns about how they are being used, with the area’s police force backing the call and urging others to follow...

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BikeBiz editor gets hands on with Cytech technical one

Posted on in Cycles News

Spokes People Cytech trainingDaniel Blackham, editor of industry magazine BikeBiz, has been writing about his experience of completing the Cytech technical one qualification at training provider Spokes People in Milton Keynes.

Writing about his experience, Daniel said the idea came from former editor, Alex Ballinger as a way of helping the BikeBiz team gain a better understanding of what their readers experience daily.

Spokes People, based in Milton Keynes, is run by Lee Niven & Darren Hyland. Lee has worked with bikes for more than 30 years and is an MIAS and Cytech trained instructor. Initially spending five years working as a bike mechanic, Darren set up his own mobile mechanics business, which led to him becoming a Cytech trainer and educator.

In his article, which you can read by clicking here, Daniel talks through his two-day experience on the course explaining how, as with all practical learning, Cytech technical one provides the foundations on which to build on to Technical two and so on.

He writes that “just like any other recognised qualification, it should be encouraged and seen as a valuable asset” and that “as long as it’s being taught by experienced and trusted providers like Spokes People, then the future of bicycle mechanics is in good hands.”

He explains how, to pass Cytech technical one, all attendees must pass an assessment addressing all the content that has been learned during their time on the course. They are presented with work stands each with a bike in that has been tinkered with to simulate a bike fresh out of the crate. Each student must go through a traditional PDI checklist ensuring that all tasks have been completed and then the tutor checks all work and offers feedback if required.

To find out more about Cytech technical one, visit cytech.training/courses/technical-one

To learn more about Spokes People, visit: cytech.training/training-providers/spokes-people

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