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The Escuela Técnica de la Bicicleta (ETB) is a comprehensive research and training centre focused in all aspects related to the design, building and mechanics of the bicycle.
In the absence of any educational institution where bicycle studies are imparted as if they were an engineering career or technical profession, the ETB aspires to create a basic body of knowledge, techniques and procedures that can be transmitted to the student in an effective and systematised way for its subsequent practical application at the workshop.
The aim is to offer a solid base of knowledge and skills from which students can develop independently in their respective areas of interest both at a professional or personal level.
The courses at the ETB are conceived to cover a wide range of training requirements and follow a modular structure that allow them to be undertaken either individually or combined to create a integrated modular course (MIB). They are aimed to appeal a broad range of students, from the bike enthusiast interested in learning to design and build a one-off custom bike to the person considering to quick-start his/her professional career in bike-design, frame-building or bicycle mechanics.
All courses are taught in reduced groups; all students perform practical exercises individually to ensure that the training received is adapted to the necessities of each of them and meets high-quality standards. The courses are aimed to provide students with the necessary knowledge and resources to continue learning and developing in their area of interest independently after their completion.
Our commitment goes beyond our courses. The ETB also offers its students a series of on-line resources and supervised practices to help them attain their personal goals. We like to follow closely the progress of our students who have already started to take their first steps as frame-builders and bike-mechanics. We also organise different events and activities for sharing knowledge and experiences, thus contributing to create an active community brought together by a common interest and passion for the bicycle.
Finally the ETB is also a centre of research which collaborates with departments at different universities (both domestic and international) towards the goal of achieving a better understanding of the various technical aspects of bicycle design and frame-building.
Who Are We
The ETB has a permanent staff:
ANDRÉS ARREGUI
Doctor in Chemistry from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain) in the field of Chemical Physics, area of Molecular Dynamics.
Founder of Ciclos La Universal and Arregui Velázquez.
With ten years experience as bespoke frame-builder, he has been teaching bike-design and frame-building courses at the ETB and other design schools. He also works regularly for other bicycle brands assisting in the design of prototypes and the production supervision of limited bespoke series.
He works regularly with designers and creative artists in the production of scale model, prototypes and diverse steel structures.
He is an accomplished saxophone player with more than 20 years of practice in free improvisation.
ALEXEY ALEXANDROV
(Blagovechnsk, Russia) has a degree in Telecommunication Technologies and Systems from the Saint Petersburg State University of Telecommunications and an Alumni of the Bicycle Technical School. Welder approved by the ISO 9606-1 standard.
All his life pedaling, years of experience as a messenger and frame builder led him to change countries and settle in Spain to work as a teacher at the Bicycle Technical School. Alex also has his own brand of custom bicycles, HNK.
Alex is a specialist in the bicycle frame manufacturing process (prototyping and serial production) and is the head professor at the ETB. Lover of long fixed gear routes, Chinese food and good music.
JAIME «AUKERMAN»
(Gijón, Asturias) is a communication professional and bicycle lover for more than 15 years.
For more than a decade, Jaime has been an active part of the state fixed gear scene, having been part of the “Criterium Gijón”, of Mad City Rides, or actively collaborating with the BFF Madrid, although most notably in his “curriculum” has been his experience on long fixed-gear routes with his collective “The Roosters” where he would travel to Portugal, France, Ukraine or Japan.
Within the world of communication he has worked for companies such as FOX, National Geographic, MMR and has been a teacher at the “TAI University School of Arts” and has been a brand ambassador for companies such as Oakley, Orbea, Arregui Velazquez, Cinelli… Lover of music above all things, history and nature sports.
Teaching Methodology
Our courses offer a balanced combination of theoretical knowledge and practical skills that enables students to make progress independently once their training with us has been successfully concluded.
At the ETB we approach the design, building and assembly of the bicycle in a way in which the student is encouraged to participate actively in the learning process from start to finish. The theory imparted in our courses provide students with the basic concepts which later on will help them to understand the different techniques and procedures that are put into practice during the training at the workshop. In this way, the student acquires an understanding not based exclusively on the repetition of particular action, but rather on the comprehension of the theoretical principles and their practical application along established procedures.
The approach of the ETB to the design, building and bicycle mechanics is firmly based on offering a high level technical training to the student by teaching:
- a tried-and-tested working methodology
- different procedures that can be repeated and evaluated objectively.
The bicycle is not an art based only on the experience and skill of each person, but rather a set of theoretical principles and practical procedures which, accordingly, makes possible the development of different tasks and operations in an adequate manner in order to achieve optimal results both in terms of performance and security.
Collaboration and Research with IBERG
The ETB is part of the IBERG (International Bicycle Engineering Research Group), a collaborative network of engineers from different world-wide universities whose aim is to promote the development of the research and the dissemination of advances in the field of engineering and applied technologies to the bicycle.
The materials and components are evolving constantly and, for this reason, it is necessary to modify the methods for the design, building and assembly of the bicycles in the light of these changes like, for example, the development of new materials (new alloys and composites), brazing and welding techniques, new typologies and standards in bike components, as well as advances related to bio-mechanic studies or the certification of the processes and products.
In addition of keeping in regular contact with frame builders and university researchers of different countries, the ETB also organises some events with visiting researchers or frame-builders to explore a particular area or subject of expertise which are open to all current and former students to attend and benefit from.
At the moment the ETB is involved in the following on-going studies*:
– Differences at fundamental level between different brazing techniques (TIG and Fillet-Brazing) Study of the mono and bimetallic joins.
– Structural differences of welding in the HAZ in relation to filler material and welding temperatures
– Importance of fillet size and composition in the structural performance of bicycle frames build with different types of steel tubbing.
*all studies sponsored by ISEA, as part of “Steel Bicycle Project”.
Premises
We are located in the South-East of Madrid city in the popular neighbourhood of Carabanchel, just five minutes away from the tube station of Oporto (Metro Lines 5 & 6). Our premises are divided in two main areas, one ‘clean’ area for imparting theory lessons and doing bike-fitting studies, another larger area for our workshop with different working spots for frame-building and bike mechanics. The workshop is equipped with all the necessary tools for the courses and has also plenty of natural light during the day
Food: all students can make use of our pantry to prepare or heat their lunch or enjoy a strong expresso from our coffee machine Rancilio Silvia. There are also few restaurants in the area that offer lunch at competitive prices.
Accommodation: If you are not resident in Madrid and require to book an accommodation during your stay, we recommend you to look for a hostel or apartment at the centre of Madrid (Chamberi, Malasaña, Centro, Chueca, Universidad) so you can enjoy the city in the evenings. We are just 20 minutes aways from the centre by public transport.
If you are interested to learn more about our courses and visit our premises, please give us a call in advance to arrange for an appointment.
