Meet the Fixers! Forest Holley-Hime

We'd like to introduce you to one of our handy and handsome bike mechanics, Forest Holley-Hime. He's coming all the way from the Big Smoke to help you pump up the tires and grease the chain to get you back in the saddle.

Forest demonstrating his handy umbrella holding skills

Forest grew up in Prince Edward County and Belleville and at the tender age of only 33, is a veteran in the bike world with 20 years in the biz. He got his start at the Bloomfield Bicycle Company at 13 where he learned to wrench on bikes and tackle the trails.

He's now the manager of Bateman's Bicycle Company in Toronto (owned by Belleville native Rob Bateman) where he spends his days on the sales floor making dreams come true, in the back shop cursing seized seat posts and wonky frames, and encouraging bike love in the hearts and minds of the shop's many loyal customers. If you're ever in Toronto, stop by and say hello to the Bateman boys, they'd love to see you (913 Bathurst St. Toronto, in the Annex).

So Forest, tell us why you want to volunteer at the Repair Café?
A little knowledge goes a long way. I'm a firm believer that if you teach people the basics of bike repair, they'll be more likely to get on, and stay on, their bike. At the end of the day, that's good for everyone. 

If you had to give one piece of bike repair advice, what would it be?
Listen to your bike. She'll tell you when there's something wrong. 

What's the craziest repair you've ever done?
The great ant infestation of 2013. I was taking off an old handlebar for a customer at the shop and it just started bleeding ants. I'm talking hundreds of ants just pouring out of the stem of this bike. Turns out, the guy had stored the bike upside down in his backyard. Don't do that. Please.