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13 Aug 2025

The ACT is set to be in attendance at the inaugural Cycling Industry News Live (CIN Live) trade show, which is set to bring together industry-wide education, market insight and product showcases...

12 Aug 2025

Britain's high street crisis has deepened dramatically with nearly half of independent retailers, including many in the independent cycling retail sector, reporting sales have crashed compared...

11 Aug 2025

ACT parent company Bira has condemned the Government's inaction over the "de minimis" import loophole following a Sky News investigation revealing £5.9 billion worth of cheap imports...

7 Aug 2025

Bira has warned that criminals are undermining legitimate retailers as trading standards services collapse, following a new Which? investigation.

1 Aug 2025

A number of ACT members and partners have been named among the final nominees for the 2025 BikeBiz Awards, which celebrate excellence across the UK cycle industry.

30 Jul 2025

A former student of South Africa’s Torq Zone Academy has taken a major step forward in cycling mechanic training after completing the prestigious UCI Level 3 Mechanics Course in Aigle,...

23 Jul 2025

A leading cycle traders association has backed the government's move to protect consumers from dangerous products sold through online marketplaces, following Royal Assent of the Product...

23 Jul 2025

Cytech training provider Activate Cycle Academy will be at this year’s Cannondale Malverns Classic Mountain Bike Festival over the August Bank Holiday.

18 Jul 2025

Bike hire schemes across the UK are sparking a rise in interest in bike ownership, according to new research from ACT member Paul’s Cycles.

17 Jul 2025

A new local pilot scheme has been launched aimed at reducing traffic by encouraging more people to cycle instead of drive.

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Cytech Training Returns to Darlington as Activate Cycle Academy Reopens Workshop

Posted on in Business News , Cycles News

Activate Cycle Academy has reopened its Cytech training facility in Darlington, offering a full range of courses from Home Mechanic up to Cytech Technical Three.

Activate Cycle Academy

The academy, a Cytech training provider and member of the ACT, has reinstated the workshop inside the ZyroFisher building in Darlington.

The workshop is now led by new trainer Chris Borrowdale, a former British Army instructor and experienced downhill racer with a background in outdoor adventure.

Borrowdale gained his cycle mechanic training and Technical Trail Leader qualifications while in the military and brings a wealth of leadership and mechanical experience to the role.

“During my time in the forces, I was incredibly lucky to take part in and gain qualifications in loads of adventure training, including my cycle mechanic training and my Technical Trail Leader,” Mr Barrowdale said.

After leaving the army in 2017, Borrowdale worked and travelled abroad, including a summer as head bike guide in Greece, where he managed a busy hire fleet and developed the skills of his team.

“Taking on this role felt like something that had been a few years coming,” he added.

The facility first opened in 2022 but was temporarily closed while the academy searched for a new trainer.

Reacting to the reopening, Jonathan Harrison, Director of the ACT, said: “It’s fantastic to see Cytech training return to Darlington, helping ensure high standards of cycle maintenance training are accessible to more people across the UK.”

Courses at the Darlington workshop are now available to book through the Activate Cycle Academy website.

Members of the ACT get exclusive access to Cytech accreditation. To learn more, visit the Cytech website.

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