New Chainz celebrated its first birthday this July. Bob Fretwell, who owns the Coronado mobile bike repair company, has more than 20 years of experience working on bikes. As a Coronado resident, he knows how important bikes are in the community. Bob recognizes the level of difficulty that can take place when trying to get a bike repaired. “The Coronado mom of three who has a flat tire or any issue, no longer has to pack up all her kids and the bikes to get them fixed. I come to you! I’m not picking up your bike and taking it somewhere else, I can do everything there. I can come to your work, your home, CBC!,” Bob laughs. He shares that the one question he gets the most (and in a variety of ways) is if he really does come to where the customer is and the answer is emphatically yes!
Over the years, Bob has seen a shift in the traditional shops, paving the way for his mobile bike repair business. He explains, “Brick and mortar shops are understaffed. They have to deal with high rents, and the time frame to get your bike back has increased.” Particularly in Coronado where people bike often, most locals need their bikes fixed and rolling again as soon as possible. The length of time the bike takes to be repaired depends on the issue. Bob shares that he has fixes in as little as fifteen minutes, while others extend to a couple hours. Before Bob does any work, he provides the customer with a quote for the work, free of charge.
After being in business for a little over a year, Bob smiles as he says the response has been, “really positive. Everyone has an attachment to their bike repair shops, it’s refreshing that they trust me. I have been pleasantly surprised.” Former Mayor Tanaka shares his own experience with New Chainz, “Bob from New Chainz provides a wonderful service to the residents of Coronado. He brings his professional expertise straight to your home to fix and service your bicycle. The Pedego dealership I used on First Street closed down, but with New Chainz, I am still taken care of if anything is broken or in need of repair.” Bob also has a no judgement policy promising that if you purchase your parts elsewhere, “We’ll install them for you, no judgment.”
Over two decades of experience is not enough to keep up with updates in the biking world, so Bob prioritizes continuing his education of the machines. He is BG Fit Certified and has received extensive training, including from Specialized Bicycle Component University and the Biking Solution. Bob looks forward to bringing his exceptional mechanic skills to your door (whether that’s while you are at home, at work, or grabbing a beer at a local restaurant!).
To learn more about New Chainz and schedule your free estimate click here.
