Learn how to do a full service on your bike - for free

Graduates (and trainers) of our last Build-a-Bike program

Over six weeks from October to December 2025, the Recyclery piloted the ‘Build-a-Bike’ program for seven volunteers at community bike sheds across the ACT. Now we are making a call-out for seven keen, beginner bike mechanics to join us for the next program, starting on Saturday the 21st of February.

In last year’s edition, each participant built a bike up from the frame - all came away with a custom ride. With a new year, however, comes new ideas, and so we are pivoting to a new model. This year, we will be working on complete bikes, and learning to overhaul each component. There’ll still be room to make a cool, custom whip, but we’ll have more time to focus on practicing mechanical skills. 

Based on the Park Tool Big Blue Book, the industry standard bicycle repair manual, this 6-week program will cover all the most important aspects of bicycle mechanics, from gear tuning to wheel truing to hub overhauling. Each participant will get an old bike in need of love from the Recyclery and will overhaul this bike for the duration of the program, diverting a bike from landfill and learning new skills in the process. At the conclusion of the program, each participant can buy their bike at a discount price if they wish. 

We are looking for seven people to partake in this first edition, which will run on six consecutive Saturday afternoons beginning on the 21st of February. Our ideal participants have spent a little time tinkering on their bikes before: perhaps they have changed a tube or tuned their gears before. Most importantly they are keen to learn more about bike mechanics, and share these skills with their community. 

And did we mention, it’s totally free! Thanks to an ACT Government Community Zero Emissions Grant, we are delivering this six week bicycle repair program totally free of charge. In the future, we will probably start charging for it, so if you want to participate, get in now.

If this sounds like something you’re interested in, please fill out this expression of interest form by Wednesday the 4th of February. We can’t wait to hear from you!