Registration now open for inaugural Education Summit at CABDA West

Registration has opened for participants to sign up for an inaugural Industry Education Summit geared around mechanics training.

The summit aims to achieve an agreed-upon minimum level of proficiency for bike mechanics and work towards varied levels of training for mechanics within the cycling industry.

The summit will take place 14-15 January in San Diego at the Hilton Del Mar before the CABDA West Bicycle Expo. Kicking off with a welcome reception on the 14th, the event will host a full schedule of talks the following day and conclude with CABDA’s opening reception that evening.

This venture will also see the formation of the first Bicycle Technology Council focused on industry technical education. During registration, attendees will be able to indicate their interest in being part of the committee, which will be made up of three representatives from the education sector, two component manufacturers, two bike brands, two e-Bike motor companies, one mechanic, one shop owner, one distributor, one PBMA Board Member, one NBDA Board Member, and one BPSA Board Member.

James Stanfill, President of the Professional Bicycle Mechanics Association (PBMA), said: “We want to create a safe space for competitors to come together and collaborate. Chemistry teachers from Stanford and NYU certainly get together and share ideas, theories, successes and failures, why can’t we do this in our industry? We’ve reached out to key partners such as Quality Bicycle Products to help us bring the industry together.”

Key presentation topics at the summit will include: Continuing Education for Mechanics; Industry Professional Development; Understanding how Mechanics Learn; Leveraging Education for Success; Manufacturer Direct Training and Industry Standards.

Quality Bicycle Products, Barnett Bicycle Institute and United Bicycle Institute have each confirmed their attendance and agreed to take part in key session discussions.

The cost of attending the summit, which includes a reception, breakfast and lunch, is $250 with attendees also invited to CABDA’s kick-off reception once the workshop has concluded.

A complete schedule, topic descriptions and registration information can be found here.