Mechanic of the Month: Tom Holland of TJ CycleWorx

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.

We chat to our most recent winner, Tom Holland from TJ Cycleworx in Swansea.

My first year has seen me supporting local charities (Ospreys in the community) with mechanical support abroad and holding maintenance seminars for local clubs along with my personal highlight, supporting local female athlete Madison Shaddick as she won her age group at Ironman wales and also competed in Ironman world champs in Marbella – Tom Holland

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 have always been a tinkerer, which started out at a young age, trying to repair my own mountain bikes. Living in the Gower in Swansea, it was a long way to get to a shop! I then self-funded a Cytech Course, did some volunteering with a local charity called Bikeability and took my first steps into the cycling industry by taking on a part-time job in Action Bikes Swansea and then onto Tredz/Giant Swansea, Nextbike bike share and then Sigma Sports and then finally setting up my own business.

Tell us about your current role and where you work?

I am the owner of TJ Cycleworx, a small repair business based in the Ware-house gym in Cwmdu, which I work at part-time whilst holding a part-time position at Sigma Sports.

What does a typical day look like for you in terms of the bikes and jobs you most often encounter in your workshop?

During peak season, it’s 7 am starts with the aim of getting bikes returned to clients by the time their work day finishes in the evening. The jobs vary depending on the time of year, with winter mainly seeing groupset upgrades and full stripdowns, and summer consisting of pre-race checks, the odd marginal gain upgrade and emergency repair.

Tubeless tyre replacement and sealant cleaning out/replenishment is definitely up there with one of the most common jobs.

In your opinion, what is the most important, or perhaps misunderstood, aspect of a bicycle mechanic’s role?

In my opinion, building a relationship with a client to ensure they return and tell their friends is quite an important and misunderstood part. The modern mechanic does so much more than simply fixing your bike. They also offer sound, honest advice, which builds trust with clients and can ultimately ensure the future of a business.

Do you feel mechanics receive adequate recognition for their expertise and the value they add?

Personally, I feel mechanics receive adequate recognition, but only from their clients and customers. As this competition being held by Bikebiz, bikebook and Topeak shows.

However, recognition from within the industry is very poor, and I feel mechanics should be championed more in the sense that when bike/PAC sales dry up, the store mechanics often keep the store afloat by offering good quality servicing and aftercare and thus, keeping customers coming back. In this day and age of modern bikes with electronic drivetrains, tubeless tyres and complex cable routing, a clued-up mechanic with good customer service skills will really add value to a business.

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?

Derailleur hanger alignment tool. Worth its weight in gold! I find replacing bearings on an internally cabled headset very satisfying. Time-consuming, yes, but seeing a customer’s joy when their bike is returned with brakes freshly bled and smooth headset bearings. What a feeling!

Are you using Bikebook? If yes, what’s your experience been like?

As I am only part-time, I have not been using BikeBook, but I will be looking into this for 2026.

Beyond the practical skills, what do you believe are the most important qualities that make someone a great bicycle mechanic?

100% having people skills and being able to communicate effectively with a pinch of empathy when a fellow cyclist is up against it.

Working the problem and coming up with solutions is a really important quality. After all, no one wants to be off their bike too long!

How important have formal qualifications or continuous learning been in your development, and what are your thoughts on their value in the industry?

Cytech qualifications were an excellent gateway. Big shout-out to Jules Thrasher for being so patient! Brand-specific training has also been useful, and there will be value in this as technology evolves.

Nothing ever stands still in the cycling industry, so educating myself, getting hands-on or reading a manual has also been very important and will continue to be important as components get more complex.

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?

So Much! Road tubeless has come on leaps and bounds. Electronic systems are quite commonplace now, along with hydraulic brakes. The need for the latest and greatest frame with all cables hidden is more prevalent than ever, which ensures that mechanics will be busy for years to come.

Getting familiar with these new technologies and embracing them has been really important. Dismissing these new advances as “trends” is foolish, but getting behind them and getting familiar with them will often result in a thriving repair business.

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?

The advice I would offer is to believe in yourself and your skills and be open to learning new things. Never give up, and after all, if you do not believe in yourself, who else will?

I often experienced imposter syndrome when I started my own business, but by sticking to my values and believing in myself, along with support and encouragement from friends and family, I had a highly successful year, which gave me the confidence to push on.

I have learnt that you should never underestimate customer loyalty and the power of word of mouth. If their face is a regular one through those doors, then look after them. You never know who they know and who they may talk to that could change the course of your business.