The first SRAM Technical University (STU) session for 2026 was successfully hosted in South Africa on 27 January - 29 January presented by Rush Sports. This marked an important step forward in technical education and dealer support within the local cycling industry.
The inaugural STU ran over three days and brought together 50 SRAM retail partners from across Gauteng. Attendees included both retail floor staff and workshop technicians, all of whom were put through the structured and rigorous STU training modules designed by SRAM to build a deep technical understanding of the brand.
The focus of the programme is practical, real-world competence. From product knowledge to workshop procedures, the training equips staff with the skills required to confidently support SRAM products at every customer touchpoint. The ultimate goal of STU is simple: ensuring total consumer satisfaction when buying, servicing, and riding SRAM equipped bicycles.
The engagement throughout the three days highlighted a clear appetite for structured technical education within the industry. Participants actively contributed, asked detailed questions, and consistently requested further training opportunities. This reinforces the value of STU as a platform not only for education, but for ongoing development and continuous improvement at dealer level.
An important component of the STU process is the evaluation of technical competence by store. This allows Rush Sports to provide meaningful feedback to SRAM on the technical understanding of participating dealers and to identify areas where further education may be beneficial. This approach ensures that future training is targeted, relevant, and impactful.
Following the success of the first session, SRAM Technical University will be rolled out at regular intervals across all provinces in South Africa. The aim is to ensure that every SRAM retailer can offer the highest standard of product knowledge, service, education, and technical back-up to consumers nationwide.
The launch of STU locally reflects a shared commitment between SRAM and Rush Sports to invest in people, skills, and long-term industry growth. This first session has set a strong foundation, and we look forward to building on it throughout 2026 and beyond.
