In the bustling world of cycling, the importance of a well-maintained bicycle cannot be overstated. Behind every smoothly gliding wheel and perfectly tuned gear lies the expertise of passionate individuals dedicated to the art of bike maintenance. Among them stands Brian Clissold, the visionary owner of RoadMaestro Bicycle Service, a beacon of excellence in our cycling community. Finding time to get your bike serviced can be a challenge. But what if the repair shop came to you? That’s what you get with RoadMaestro Bicycle Service, an innovative and convenient mobile bike repair service. From Brian’s beginnings tinkering with bikes in a shop. Brian’s journey to creating RoadMaestro has been one of passion, dedication, and unwavering commitment to his craft. With his cycling expertise and dedication to safety, Brian strives to get as many people on bikes as possible! This Bike Month Brian has partnered with GMTMA as a Golden Wheels Sponsor. Brian has donated a $200 gift certificate for his services, which can be used for bike tune ups, service repairs, bike assembly and even a Fix It instruction class to learn how to do your own repairs! There is still time to sign up for the GMTMA Bike Month Challenge!
Join us as we delve into the world of RoadMaestro Bicycle Service and learn more about its Maestro!
- Tell us your story. How did you get into doing bike repairs? I’ve been fixing bikes and working in bike shops off and on since the early 90s when I was in high school. I have always had a passion for bikes, starting as a BMX racer, then road, mountain, and now touring, commuting, and bikepacking. Working in shops was the best way to get discounts on bike parts and live the bike culture. When Covid hit, my day job (concert production for student music groups) took a huge hit. Fixing bikes was therapeutic, and I needed to help make ends meet financially. The mobile aspect was a product of needing to offer contact-free services and, well, it stuck!
- How did you come up with the name RoadMaestro? RoadMaestro is a handle I came up with many years ago for some kind of biking app. Not sure which one. It combines my love of road cycling and my background in classical music. I am a professional musician with a master’s degree in conducting. That term marries the two passions of my life, and I think suits the idea of being on the road and mastering bicycle services.
- What is the biggest challenge you face in this industry?In my little corner of the bicycle industry the biggest challenge is trying to effectively manage customer expectations for bicycle service. A department store bike will never operate at the same level as a higher quality bike from a bike shop. Communicating that to a customer without insulting their bike can be challenging. In the larger view of the industry, I think we are struggling to stay current with bicycle technology, including ebikes. Bicycle advocacy, transportation infrastructure, and driver education is also a critical part of keeping cycling, and cyclists, alive in this country. I’m currently a member of Hightstown Borough’s Complete Streets Committee, and I serve as a Trustee on the West Windsor Bicycle Pedestrian Alliance. In addition to my service work, I’m happy to offer tips on maintenance, equipment, bike safety, and anything else bike related.
- What do you do for fun…when you’re not working on bikes?I love to be outside. My favorite recreation is bicycle touring and bikepacking. I also love hiking and kayaking. I’m new to kayaking and love that I can just sit there in the middle of the lake and look at the sky.
- Where is your favorite place to bike? My two go-to places for bike touring are along the C & O Towpath and other parts of northern Virginia, as well as Michigan (my home state). Northern Michigan, in particular, and the Lake Michigan shoreline is absolutely breathtaking.
- If you could give your younger self advice what would it be? Spend more time paying attention to details and basics. I think this applies to everything in life. Details matter, and fundamental skills in any field are what more complicated skills are based upon.
We at Greater Mercer TMA extend our sincerest gratitude to Brian, whose dedication to offering trustworthy and hassle-free bicycle repair services while also advocating for bike safety truly captures the essence of Bike Month.