In this week's episode of the Cycle Systems Online Podcast, Sean dives into a pressing issue in the bike industry: are the products being released truly fit for purpose and safe for use? Join us as we explore historical and current safety concerns, industry accountability, and the economic motivations behind product releases. From carbon clincher wheels to Shimano crank recalls, we discuss real-world incidents and the ongoing debate over product safety. Tune in for an eye-opening discussion and share your thoughts on the matter!  ..read more

Welcome to Episode 199 of Cycle Systems Online Academy! In this episode, our instructor discusses common practices among bike mechanics that need improvement, the importance of formal qualifications, and the varying standards across different countries. Working in commercial workshops in Switzerland during 2023 and 2024, Sean has noticed some common corners mechanics cut. Tune in to see if you are guilty and gain valuable insights to enhance your understanding of the bike servicing world.  ..read more

In this week's episode of the Cycle Systems Online Podcast, Sean chats with Dino Pavledis, a Cycle Systems Academy graduate. Dino shares his inspiring journey from head chef to bike mechanic, sparked by a passion for cycling at Riverford Organics. He highlights the structured learning at the academy, overcoming challenges, and completing a 136k ride on a bike he rebuilt. Dino now excels in bike maintenance and enjoys both mountain and road biking. Sean and Dino discuss modern bike complexities like ebikes and internal cable routing. Tune in for Dino's story and his future aspirations in cyclin ..read more

In this episode, we delve into the dynamic landscape of the UK bike industry. We cover: The Rise of Electric Bikes: Discover how e-bikes are transforming the market, driven by environmental consciousness and convenience. Industry Challenges: Learn about the supply chain disruptions and rising material costs that manufacturers are grappling with. Expert Insights: We speak with industry experts who share their perspectives on navigating these challenges and what lies ahead for the bike market in the UK. Future Trends: A look into what the future holds for the UK bike industry and how companies ..read more

 In this episode of the Cycle Systems Online Podcast, host Sean delves into the often-overlooked ethical concerns in the bike manufacturing industry. With a spotlight on the recent investigation into Shimano’s Malaysian factory, he explores issues such as labor exploitation, environmental degradation, and the lack of fair trade standards in bike production. Sean discusses historical parallels to indentured labor and highlights potential solutions by drawing comparisons to the apparel industry’s efforts towards ethical manufacturing.  ..read more

In this episode of the Cycle Systems Online Podcast, we are joined by Lee Kidger, a prominent figure in the cycling industry who recently transitioned from his role as Managing Director at Raleigh UK to embark on new and exciting ventures. Lee shares his career journey, starting from his early days in a health food store to leading roles in the bike industry, and discusses his latest projects, including his work with The Electric Bike Shop and various consulting and charitable endeavors.  ..read more

Warranty work, unless you sell exclusively Pashleys and Bromptons you'll have lots of this. It seems most mainstream manufacturers see warranty cases as a cost of business. However, are they taking their fair share of the hit or does the humble bike shop shoulder the burden instead ..read more

Internal routing does look cool, but does is equate progress and modernity? Well, if like me, you have been working on these bikes you may have been starting to think maybe not ..read more

The long overdue Shimano 11spd crank recall seems to be throwing up as many questions as it is answering. Is this a genuine recall, or an attempt to push as much of the responsibility elsewhere as possible ..read more

Cycle Systems Academy Level 3 graduate, Anthony Foy has got years of experience as a product designer, and a hands on mechanic in the bike industry. Here about his new start up at the performance end of things here ..read more