Bikes prove a real kick

This year the Te Awamutu College Level 1 Engineering classes have enjoyed working towards the Level 1 Engineering Certificate and have been challenged with the practical project that was introduced.

The brief was to take and disassemble an old push bike and remake it into a kick bike, which is a popular fitness item in many European countries.

Using design and construction skills the students have cut, filled, welded and created new life from old scrap.

As a measure of how popular the kick bike has proven to be, out of the thirty students finishing the course, only four have not completed a bike.

This is the best project completion rate for many years.

This success is also reflected in the theory aspect of the course which has seen over 80 per cent of the students achieving the 24 credits available to them at this level.

As well as the time at school, four of these students have completed a six week course at WinTec where they have also gained extra credits and completed a petrol powered mini bike each which they are able to keep.

If anybody has an old pushbike lying around and would like to dispose of it, please contact the Hard Materials Technology Department at the College (871 4199 ext 843).