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• CCycle Maintenance Academy2026-10-13Video✓ Read

  Why is Europe running short of bike mechanics? The hidden crisis behind Europe's cycling boom!

  Why is Europe running short of bike mechanics? A major new industry report reveals that Europe already needs approximately 45,000 additional bicycle mechanics, with around 105,000 mechanics needing to be recruited by 2032. In this video, we investigate the growing bicycle mechanic shortage across Europe, using findings from the 2026 NextGen Mechanics Report, published by European Cycling Industries. The research, based on more than 600 responses from 30 European countries, highlights some serious challenges facing the bicycle repair and maintenance industry. From low wages and poor professional recognition to limited training opportunities and the increasing technical complexity of modern bicycles and e-bikes, we explore why the cycling industry is struggling to attract and retain skilled mechanics. We also examine how e-bike growth, bicycle leasing, commercial fleets, and increasing demand for bicycle servicing are changing the industry — and why many experienced mechanics are choosing to leave the profession. Most importantly, we look at what can be done to address the shortage, including better qualifications, improved working conditions, career development, and greater recognition of bicycle mechanics as skilled professionals. 🚲 Are bicycle mechanics undervalued? Do you think they receive the pay and recognition their skills deserve? Whether you're a professional bicycle mechanic, work in a bike shop, or simply enjoy cycling, I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences in the comments! Sources and further reading: 🔹 NextGen Mechanics Report 2026 — European Cycling Industries: https://cyclingindustries.com/publications/ If you found this video informative, please give it a thumbs-up and subscribe for more videos about bicycle maintenance, cycling technology, and the cycling industry.

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• CCycle Maintenance Academy2026-10-06Video✓ Read

  The Truth About Bike Chain Stretch: When Should You Replace Your Bike Chain?

  What really happens when a bike chain “stretches”, and when should you replace your bike chain? In this video, I explain bicycle chain wear, chain elongation, replacement limits, and why changing your chain at the right time can save your cassette and chainrings from expensive wear. A bicycle chain doesn’t simply stretch like an elastic band. The wear happens inside the chain joints, gradually increasing the effective distance between the rollers. Over hundreds of links, those tiny amounts of wear add up — which is what we commonly call chain stretch. In this video, we look at: - How a bicycle chain actually wears - What “chain stretch” really means - How chain elongation is measured - What 0.5%, 0.75% and 1% chain wear actually mean - Why even tiny amounts of elongation matter - How a worn chain damages cassette sprockets and chainrings - When you should replace your bike chain - Why different drivetrain manufacturers recommend different wear limits - SRAM’s 0.8% replacement recommendation - KMC’s chain-wear guidance - Campagnolo’s precision-caliper measurement method - Shimano’s TL-CN42 chain-wear indicator - How often you should check your chain - Why there is no single universal chain-wear limit General chain-wear guidelines often suggest replacing a chain around 0.5% on modern 11-, 12- and 13-speed drivetrains, around 0.75% on many 5- to 10-speed systems, and around 1% on some single-speed systems. But manufacturers such as Shimano, SRAM, KMC and Campagnolo can specify different limits and even different ways of measuring chain wear. Understanding these differences can help you replace your chain before excessive elongation starts wearing out the more expensive parts of your drivetrain. 00:00 - Why Chain Wear Matters 00:48 - How a Bicycle Chain Works 02:04 - What Is Chain Stretch? 04:14 - How Chain Wear Is Measured 05:05 - 0.5% vs 0.75% vs 1% Chain Wear 06:14 - How a Worn Chain Damages Your Cassette 07:36 - When Should You Replace a Bike Chain? 08:07 - SRAM

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• CCycle Maintenance Academy2026-09-29Video✓ Read

  Did England’s £4.1 billion CWIS2 investment in cycling and walking actually deliver?

  Did England’s £4.1 billion investment in cycling and walking actually deliver the changes promised by CWIS2? The final 2025 National Travel Survey is now available, giving us the first opportunity to compare the targets of England’s Second Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS2) with the data from its target year. In this video, I look at the four main CWIS2 targets for 2025 and compare them with what happened between the end of CWIS1 and the end of CWIS2. We look at: • the percentage of short journeys in towns and cities made by walking or cycling • walking stages per person • the long-standing target to reach 1.6 billion cycling stages • the percentage of children aged 5–10 walking to school • how cycling changed between 2021 and 2025 • why the 2025 walking figures need to be treated carefully • and what around £4.1 billion of active-travel investment actually delivered I also look at official findings from the Department for Transport, National Audit Office and Public Accounts Committee to understand why investment did not always translate into the level of behaviour change originally expected — including fragmented funding, differences in local-authority capability, infrastructure design standards and the role of Active Travel England. The aim is not simply to look at how much money was spent, but to compare the original targets with the official data and understand what actually changed during CWIS2. Sources include: Department for Transport CWIS2, CWIS2 Report to Parliament 2026, National Travel Survey 2025, National Audit Office and House of Commons Public Accounts Committee.

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• CCycle Maintenance Academy2026-09-23Video✓ Read

  How to Fit Full-Length Mudguards | SKS complete step-by-step guide!

  Learn how to fit full-length mudguards to a bike (using SKS Chromoplastics in this example) in this complete step-by-step guide. I cover everything from checking tyre and frame clearance and choosing the correct mudguard size to fitting, adjusting, and cutting the stays on both the front and rear mudguards. Before fitting full mudguards, it is important to make sure there is enough room between the tyre, frame, and fork. In this video, I explain the recommended tyre-to-mudguard clearance, how to measure your bike, how to choose the correct mudguard width for your tyres, and how SKS mudguard sizes such as 45, 50 and 65 mm relate to tyre width. I then show the complete installation process for SKS Chromoplastics, including: • How to check whether full mudguards will fit your bike • Recommended tyre-to-mudguard clearance • How to measure clearance at the fork, seatstay, and chainstay bridges • How to choose the correct mudguard width for your tyre • What tools and fittings you will need • How SKS Secu-Clips work and why they are used on the front mudguard • Fitting the front mudguard to the fork crown or suspension-fork arch • Fitting the stainless-steel mudguard stays • Using fork eyelets or suspension-fork direct-mount adapters • Setting the correct mudguard clearance • Measuring, marking and cutting the stays • Filing the cut ends and fitting the protective stay caps • Fitting the rear mudguard • Positioning the sliding bridge at the seatstay bridge • Attaching the mudguard to the chainstay bridge • Fitting and adjusting the rear stays • Final alignment and safety checks Full-length mudguards are particularly useful if you regularly ride in wet weather. As well as keeping water, mud and road spray off the rider, they can help protect components such as the lower headset bearing, front derailleur and seatpost area from dirt, moisture and road grime. The installation shown in this video uses SKS Chromoplastics, but many of the measuring, sizing and fitting principle

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