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22 Oct 2026

Bira is urging businesses of all sizes to check their websites are protected, following a warning about a critical security flaw affecting PHP.

21 Oct 2026

Independent retailers, including cycle shops and IBDs, face a looming cost crisis unless the Chancellor acts in the Budget, ACT parent company Bira has warned.

20 Oct 2026

The E-Bike Positive scheme has won the Cycle Advocacy of the Year award at the 2026 BikeBiz Awards, recognising its work to improve e-bike safety, raise standards and help consumers identify...

16 Oct 2026

ACT parent company Bira has welcomed plans to make online marketplaces collect VAT but warns that proposed exemptions could undermine the crackdown.

14 Oct 2026

A strong security setup can help retailers reduce the risk of repeat incidents and protect their insurability. Joanna Evans, Head of Bikmo for Business, explains in the next instalment of a...

13 Oct 2026

Several e-bikes have been rejected at the UK border in recent weeks after checks found serious safety and compliance problems, including fire risks, inadequate documentation and components.

12 Oct 2026

The ACT is hosting an online retailer support session on Thursday 22 October at 10:30am to help independent bicycle dealers affected by the administration of Accell Group UK.
 

9 Oct 2026

E-Bike Positive has gained further recognition from MPs, Government ministers and Transport for London (TfL), strengthening its position as a safety trust mark helping consumers identify safe,...

8 Oct 2026

Deliveroo is piloting new speed and GPS technology to identify riders using illegal e-bikes, with riders found to be repeatedly travelling at sustained speeds beyond the...

1 Oct 2026

Europe will need around 105,000 additional bike mechanics by 2032, according to new industry analysis which says the sector is already 45,000 mechanics short of meeting current demand.

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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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