The Escuela Técnica de la Bicicleta (ETB) is located in the area Carabanchel-Oporto in the south-east of Madrid  – just 20 minutes away from the city centre. You can check our location by clicking in the following link. Nearest tube stations are Oporto (Lines 5 & 6) and Carpetana (Line 6) If you are interested in visiting our premises and receive further information about our courses, you can get in contact and ask for an appointment.

For most of the courses there is no requirements in terms of previous knowledge or specific skills for their successful completion.  A basic knowledge of bicycles at user-level and a minimal dexterity working with your hands are important but not strictly necessary.

In some courses we provide some reading material in advance so students can do an initial approach to the topic and get familiar with some concepts and terms that would be used during the courses.

The main aim of our bike-design and frame-building courses is to offer comprehensive understanding of the whole process and, for this reason, there are certain limitations regarding the specifications of the frame that can be built during the course; you are going to build a fully-functional good quality frame, not your dream bike.

 In the course DCB-I there are different types of frames to choose from (road, track, randonneur, urban, single speed, cyclocross, gravel or hardtail MTB) using Columbus tube sets we have specifically selected as they offer the best compromise between quality, weight and ease of work. Please take into account that this is going to be your very first frame. You can visit our store to check the different specifications of the tube sets available for our courses here.

For students doing the DCB-II course, the second frame can incorporate more advanced elements in the design like for example thru-axles, wider tyres, shaped tubes, etc… if you have any question regarding the specs for your second frame, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

All the frames built in our courses leave the workshop ready for assembly but not painted. We would prep the headtube, the BB shell and the seattube for the installation of their respective components. We will explain how to apply an anti-rust treatment to the frame and how to clean it properly before taking it to the painter.

 The Integrated Modular Courses (MIB) include the pre-assembly of the complete bike ready to be tested in a ‘beta’ version – before fully dissembling it for paint job.

We usually run all of the courses throughout the year; so first thing would be to ask for the next scheduled date for the course you would like to enrol at the ETB. If you cannot attend that date or the course is already full, then we would offer an alternative date or create a new course on a date convenient to you. We have certain flexibility to accommodate and arrange dates according to the requirement of our students. No teaching during the weekends, though.

It is important to wear appropriate clothes and shoes for the workshop according following guidelines: fully-enclosed shoes (not sandals allowed) to offer certain feet protection in case of falling tools, impacts, etc… Clothes used in the course may get stained with grease, oil, brake fluid, etc… Clothes should allow you free movements at all times; neither too loose nor too tight. We provide plastic nitrile gloves and clear workshop glasses to all students in addition to all required PPE according to the types of activities to be performed by student.

Most courses are imparted during the weekdays from Monday to Friday. Total duration of 8 hours per day divided in two sessions. Morning session runs from 10:00 to 14:00. Then there is one-hour lunch break. Evening session from 15:00 to 19:00. The premises are open from 9:30 for students to come earlier and be ready to start their courses on time.

Some courses and events taking place during the weekend can have different schedules that would be announced to all participants well in advance.

We always recommend to have a notebook and pen at hand during the courses to take notes. You are also allowed to take pictures (not videos) of the different processes and tasks performed during the courses as long as it doesn’t compromise your safety (i.e. no selfies with a live welding torch)

 All the tools and equipment of the workshop are available for all students to use as directed by the course supervisor. It is not necessary to bring any specific tools. All students are supplied with their own PPE at the start of the course and would be required to use it when performing certain operations and tasks at the workshop.

You need to bring your computer with you, specially if you want to work/refine your design after the classes are over.

Please remember to get in touch with us with  some time in advance to talk about the bike/s you would like to do. We need for the course the complete rear wheel + cranks and BB. We have various options at the workshop but please make sure we have something similar like the components you want to use (in case you want to use something we don´t have you have to bring your own). If you have any doubt regarding this issue please ask so we can find the best solution.

BIKE FITTING results. Bring them with you. We will use them as a starting point to locate the 3 contact points in your bike to nail you position on it. Main goal here is to learn, not to have your life bike, but we are starting from scratch, lets take the oportunity!.