You could take a course to get a qualification and some of the skills needed to be a cycle mechanic.

Courses include:

• cycle maintenance
• cycle mechanics

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

You could apply for a place on a Bicycle Mechanic Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship.

This can take between 1 and 2 years to complete.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

You could start as a retail assistant in a bike shop or bike hire outlet. You could then apply for a job as a trainee mechanic if they have a repair workshop.

You'll need good customer service skills, a keen interest in cycling and some knowledge of cycle repairs.

You could study for technical cycle maintenance qualifications offered by an industry body like Cytech.

You'll need:

• the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
• problem-solving skills
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• customer service skills
• to be flexible and open to change
• the ability to sell products and services
• knowledge of engineering science and technology
• the ability to work well with your hands
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

As a cycle mechanic, you could:

• talk to customers to identify problems with their bikes
• estimate the cost of repairs and give quotes
• carry out repairs and maintenance tasks like safety checks
• build new bikes to customer specifications
• order spare parts, keep a log of stock and process paperwork
• attend cycling events to provide repairs and technical support

You could work at a store or in a workshop.

You may need to wear protective clothing.