Love of riding, Kaua‘i translates into mobile bike-repair business

Inspired by the natural beauty of the island, where his wife was born and raised, James Wilson decided to leave crowded California for laid-back Kaua‘i, where he has opened up Kauai Mobile Bike Repair.

Starting his bike career at Lucadia Cyclery (one of the San Diego-area’s most popular bike shops), Wilson brought his passion for the cycling culture to Kaua‘i after a honeymoon trip inspired him to move.

“I was blown away by the natural beauty and great year-round weather, and my wife – born and raised here – was all for the move,” he said.

“Kaua‘i is one of the best places I’ve seen to be a bike rider, and after living with the rat race of Southern California I was ready for a change of pace,” said Wilson, a professional rider and personal trainer.

After working for a short time at a Kaua‘i bike shop, Wilson began hearing a recurring complaint that prompted him to start his own business.

“Most people had to drive 20 to 45 minutes to drop off their bikes, wait for them to be fixed, and then drive back to pick them up,” he said.

“For these customers, this trip was a big hassle, resulting in a lot of people putting off repairs and tune-ups as long as possible, and oftentimes having to pay much more when they did come in because of the extra wear and tear their bikes suffered,” he said.

“Starting this business actually parallels my experience as a personal trainer to a large degree. I started out working in a gym, and learned that most of my clients were pressed for time and found coming to the gym to be a hassle,” he explained.

“Taking this need into consideration, I began to bring the gym to them. This gave me valuable insight into creating a mobile service, and I simply used what I learned from that business and applied it to Kauai Mobile Bike Repair,” he said with his trademark smile.

From a flat fix to a shifter adjustment to complete bike overhauls, the mobile bike shop does it all.

“Road bikes, mountain bikes, BMX bikes or beach cruisers, if it has two wheels and pedals, I can fix it,” he added.

“Anyone can work on the latest and greatest bikes and parts, but only a real bike mechanic can take an older Wal-Mart bike and resurrect it from the dead,” he continued.

Besides the convenience a mobile shop provides, Wilson also pointed out how his low overhead allows him to save people money on parts and labor.

“Rent for retail space here on Kaua‘i is relatively high, and this cost is traditionally passed on to the consumer. By keeping my overhead low, the savings can be passed on to my customers,” he said.

“This way, I can charge comparable, if not cheaper, labor rates than a regular bike shop, without the hassle of you bringing the bike to me. I can also provide parts for the same price a Mainland shop or mail-order catalogue could,” he said.

“Kauai Mobile Bike Repair will stock all the common parts and accessories any biker would need, including chains, tires, tubes, derailers, wheels, pumps and grips.

“I’ll even deliver the parts right to their door.”

He will host “shop rides,” something Wilson feels is important for developing a biking culture on Kaua‘i.

“Another common complaint I heard was that people either didn’t know where to ride, or had no one to ride with. By starting to host group rides, I hope to foster a greater sense of community among the bike riders here on the island,” Wilson said.

“Each Saturday, we’ll head out and explore some of Kaua‘i’s fantastic trails. The rides usually last one to two hours, depending on the trail,” he said.

“No matter what your riding level, everyone has a great time.

“In fact, I would strongly encourage anyone to come along. One of the coolest parts of riding with a group is the chance to improve your skills,” he continued.

“I guess it’s the personal-trainer thing, but I love to see people overcome challenges and progress,” he continued.

For more information, please call 652-4579, or see the Web site, http://www.bikejames.com.