He’s been doing it since he was 16.

And before he opened Pearl City Cycle, 600 Fairmount Ave., he had a mobile gig going on with his van.

“So I would show up to people’s houses and take care of the (bike) repairs right there on the spot. It’s literally just a full-service bike shop on wheels,” Canby said.

He opened the Fairmount Avenue location on March 1 in the space of the former Hollyloft. The grand opening will happen later this month.

Owner Matt Canby stands inside his mobile Pearl City Cycle van. P-J photo by Michael Zabrodsky

In his younger years, while learning how to repair bikes, Canby rode and raced Bicycle Motor Cross (BMX). He also worked with his father at the Cycle Shop, and then worked at the global headquarters for Trek Bikes in Wisconsin.

“We’re passionate about bicycles. We believe that bikes offer a simple solution to many of our communities’ complex problems,” Canby said on his company’s webpage, pearlcitycycle.com. “Bikes are great for your personal health and for the health of our environment. Bikes can help you save money on transportation, and bikes can provide you with endless miles of fun with your family and friends. We proudly serve all types of cyclists, including new and veteran riders, road and mountain aficionados, and recreation and transportation cyclists.”

Canby said one of the common things that he fixes is flat tires, as they make up the majority of the work. But one of the most popular services that Canby provides at the Fairmount location as well as the mobile shop is a tune up. The tune up consists, he said, of tightening brakes, adjusting the shifting mechanism, checking every nut and bolt, making sure the tires have correct air pressure, and just giving the bike a good once-over to make sure everything is working.

The mechanic added that the way bikes are made are different from a decade ago. “There has been a lot of advancements in carbon fiber and the composite industry, so bikes are a lot stronger, stiffer, and more durable,” Canby said.

For more information email info@pearlcitycycle.com or call 716-201-0885.