Yeah, Cytech is the most common one, I think; I did levels one and two. For the home mechanic I wouldn't recommend them, it's nothing you can't learn from Sheldon or Parktools websites (so long as you have a bike to practise on, that is...). I got sponsored to do the courses by my (ex) employer, so I was happy to do them, but I wouldn't pay unless I wanted to be a bicycle mechanic as a career (and I would go all the way to level three, too).
The jump from level two to level three is enormous, though; strip-down and servicing of suspension forks and hydraulic brakes, use of specialist and proprietary tools etc.
That said, even the most complicated bicycle is a rather simple thing. Unless you have a very fancy, expensive and brand-new bicycle, or you need to do frame repairs, there really isn't anything you can't do in your living room with some basic hand tools and a few bicycle-specific ones.
Yeah, Cytech is the most common one, I think; I did levels one and two. For the home mechanic I wouldn't recommend them, it's nothing you can't learn from Sheldon or Parktools websites (so long as you have a bike to practise on, that is...). I got sponsored to do the courses by my (ex) employer, so I was happy to do them, but I wouldn't pay unless I wanted to be a bicycle mechanic as a career (and I would go all the way to level three, too).
The jump from level two to level three is enormous, though; strip-down and servicing of suspension forks and hydraulic brakes, use of specialist and proprietary tools etc.
That said, even the most complicated bicycle is a rather simple thing. Unless you have a very fancy, expensive and brand-new bicycle, or you need to do frame repairs, there really isn't anything you can't do in your living room with some basic hand tools and a few bicycle-specific ones.