At 19, Kiama's Jonathan Keenan has launched his own bike repair business, filling what he identified as a clear gap in the market for fast, knowledgeable and convenient servicing.

Keenan said the idea for That Bike Guy came from noticing how many riders struggled to find quick turnarounds and trusted advice.

“I saw there was a gap in the market for quick and local bike repairs,” he said.

Jonathan.

“I can go straight to the customer, talk them through what's going on with their bike, and educate them on what needs servicing regularly.”

His business offers a full range of repairs and maintenance, including brake services, tyre changes, brake bleeds, general tune-ups, and bike builds, especially leading up to Christmas.

He works on everything from e-bikes and road bikes to mountain bikes and “anything in between".

Jonathan and Kiama Councillor Yasmin Tatrai.

The community response has already been overwhelmingly positive.

“I did a flyer drop two days ago and I’ve already had four phone calls,” Keenan said.

“That was from only about 100 houses, so it has come back pretty quickly.”

Being young has brought both benefits and challenges.

Keenan is a fully qualified bike mechanic with over five years of experience working in bike shops - “a quarter of my life,” he joked.

He says the biggest hurdle is people assuming he’s inexperienced before speaking with him.

But strong support from his dad has pushed him forward, along with a lifelong passion for cycling.

For Keenan, the best part of starting the business has been meeting people he wouldn't normally cross paths with.

”I love being able to help someone out, fix up their bike, and get them back on the road,” he said.

Looking ahead, he hopes to expand his service area and maintain his goal of same-day repairs.

His advice to other young people wanting to start a business is simple: “Just do it.

The community here is great - they'll jump on board and support you.”