In 2025, we launched ‘Mechanic of the Month’ in partnership with bikebook to champion bicycle mechanics around the UK.
We now have additional support from Topeak, who agreed to support the initiative by offering Topeak tools and best trade pricing across the Topeak Tools/Workshop range (via Extra UK) for 12 months.
Nominations are open to the public via bikebook, allowing anyone to nominate their favourite mechanic.
Here we chat to our most recent winner, Lloyd Kelly from Lloyd’s Bicycle Services.
Walk us through your journey into the world of bicycle mechanics. What initially sparked your interest in the job, and how did you get started?
I started my journey in Bristol, where I bought a second-hand bike to work for Deliveroo alongside uni, learned to fix it myself due to lack of funds, before getting a part-time role at Bike UK on Clifton Triangle and joining the uni cycling club. Then later, working for Go Outdoors as a trainee mechanic.
I liked it so much that I moved to the Preston area & worked for Leisure Lakes Bikes Lancaster/Preston/Leyland for years, getting Cytech trained with them before later going self-employed in 2025.
Tell us about your current role and where you work?
I own Lloyd’s Bicycle Services in the gorgeous town of Garstang near Preston! Very simple job: fixing and servicing all kinds of bicycle/tricycles/recumbants/e-bikes.
What does a typical day look like for you in terms of the bikes and jobs you most often encounter in your workshop?
A real mix of everything: puncture repairs, suspension servicing, e-bike motor bearing replacements; no day is the same. I also get a lot of Lands End to John O’Groats riders!
In your opinion, what is the most important, or perhaps misunderstood, aspect of a bicycle mechanic’s role?
Attention to detail, taking the time to test ride.
Do you feel mechanics receive adequate recognition for their expertise and the value they add?
Where I work, absolutely! I have the best customers in the world.
Do you have a favourite tool you can’t live without, or a particular type of job or repair that you find most satisfying or challenging?
LOVE a wheel build; it’s very therapeutic, especially when silver parts are involved. My impact gun is my favourite unconventional tool.
Beyond the practical skills, what do you believe are the most important qualities that make someone a great bicycle mechanic?
Patience and experience, which come with time in the industry. Willingness to learn every day, regardless of how experienced you are!
How important have formal qualifications or continuous learning been in your development, and what are your thoughts on their value in the industry?
Cytech Technical 2 is invaluable as a baseline for doing a quality job on any bike. Highly reccommend, and it gives new customers peace of mind, alongside reviews, of course.
What changes in trends, bike technology, or rider culture have you seen during your time as a mechanic? How have these shifts impacted your work and the skills required?
Since starting, e-bike systems (Bosch, Shimano, Brompton, Mahle, Brose, Yamaha) are generally getting more reliable and weather-proof. Proprietary tooling can be expensive but hasn’t really affected the way I work.
What advice would you offer to someone who is just starting out or considering a career as a bicycle mechanic? What have you learned that you wish you’d known when you first began?
Try it! It’s very rewarding from a community point of view!
Follow Lloyd on Instagram to keep up to date with his work.
