NBDA buys the Barnett Bicycle Institute, plans expansion

The US National Bicycle Dealers Association has struck a deal to buy the Barnett Bicycle Institute.

Training up mechanics to a professional standard for the past 30 years, founder John Barnett oversaw the training of between 250 to 300 students a year.

In purchasing the business, the dealer association said that it plans to expand the school’s offering with interactive online classes, more regional availability and certification testing.

Speaking to BRAIN, NBDA president Todd Grant said: “The NBDA’s mission is to strengthen the specialty bicycle retailer — education being a key component of the association’s vision. We see that improving the service department — where every bike passes through — as natural place for us to make a significant education investment.

“It’s a profitable operation, so it will be paying back into the association reserves, and we will determine the appropriate rate of reinvestment.”

The purchase will be paid for by NBDA cash reserves, with the investment said to be among the largest to date made by the dealer association.

Barnett will remain as a full-time consultant for at least the next year, he said.