The tire-destroying powers of spiky goat head thorns prove no match for Kevin Griffin—affectionately known as “Shifty.”
Motorists may have seen his “office”—a big, white truck emblazoned with his name—trekking across the Bay Area and Monterey peninsula. Within the truck, Griffin performs the cycling equivalent of a doctor curing a patient, except that his patients have two wheels.
His business, Shifty Mobile Bicycle Mechanic, doesn’t take bikes in need of repair back to a shop, but makes house calls, completing all repairs or maintenance right in the truck. Griffin said that his business builds off trust, as evidenced by his motto, “treat every bike like my own—equally, consistently and with confidence.” For this Northern California native and Gilroy High grad, that includes fixing flat tires punctured by goat head thorns or cobbling together a frankenbike.
“Really it’s about the guy who’s turning the wrenches,” Griffin said.
Shifty’s big, white truck has made repairs everywhere, at multi-million dollar estates and the Gilroy Skate Park. He recently donated his services to help impoverished bike commuters at the Aug. 2 Spokes4Folks event.
Griffin, 43, said his business is a word-of-mouth success story. He described himself as a lifelong cycling fanatic, and his résumé bears that out. He’s worked at Specialized, South Valley Bikes in Morgan Hill and at Fox Racing as an inside sales rep.
Despite rubbing elbows with cycling insiders, Griffin said he feels most at home in his mobile bike repair truck, even if it means driving across the bay to accommodate clients’ individual schedules.
The business started with a small toolbox, an empty truck and a passion for helping others.
“The concept originated at South Valley Bikes,” Griffin said. He also credited wife, Christie, as his biggest influence.
Motorcross, street, dirt, mountain— you name it, and he thrives on it. Cycling now runs in the family: sons Troy, 8, and Reese, 4, are big into kids’ bike racing and have traveled with family to competitions around the West Coast.
Inasmuch as Griffin passes the cycling stoke on to others—like repairing bikes at the Spokes4Folks event put on by Leadership Gilroy—he can “talk all day” about bikes.
Here’s how it works: after a client schedules an appointment online, Griffin will arrive in his mobile bike repair truck to offer a free estimate. He takes cash, check or credit card. Griffin said his schedule is dictated by clients’ timeframes: It’s not uncommon to commute from Portola Valley back to Morgan Hill in a single day, he said.
Avid bicyclist Jeff Holmes of Gilroy said Shifty “fixed my bikes more times than I can count.” That’s coming from a man who said he’s been a steady patron at four different bike shops.
“Every time it’s been phenomenal,” Holmes said. “You don’t get somebody more willing, able and helpful.”
Holmes is just one example of the people who entrust their beloved bikes to “Shifty’s” hands. For Griffin, who said business is “on fire” right now, it’s an honor to build that trust amongst clientele from Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Alameda, San Mateo and San Francisco counties.
Local rider Julie Arbuckle said Shifty is a “huge asset.”
“He’s there at your doorstep when you need him, he does work on your bikes, he identifies the problem and solves it,” Arbuckle said. “He’s mobile, and he makes it easy. He works 24-7, calls you back right away—he’s awesome.”
Griffin said he’s proud to be a Gilroy citizen and serve the local area, but he has big plans for his business’ future. He has hopes of possibly opening up a storefront or expanding his fleet manned by pro-level mechanics.
“Growth has led me to think of other opportunities,” he said. “There is no season for cycling. I don’t slow down.”
More information
For more information, visit shiftyusa.com or call (408) 891-9916.
You’re ready to hit the road on a bicycle. The adrenaline is pumping, and it’s time for a release. Whoa there, hold on: Consider these tips before heading out the door:
1. Check tire pressure: Do this prior to every ride to avoid flat tires—always.
2. Slime it: We’re not talking Ghostbusters. Use synthetic “slime” for a two-year guard against flats caused by protrusions like puncture thorns. This is especially helpful in areas with thorns in surrounding open spaces, like Gilroy.
3. Wear a helmet: Never leave home without it because it could cost your noggin. Ask paramedics how many head-related injuries they respond to.
4. Go digital: No more bike computers needed. Download Strava, an app designed to track everything from elevation and distance to time and route—makes it a fun competitive outlet, too.
5. Hydrate: 100 degree temps means more water—but drink it on every ride, before and after. “You need water on every ride, whether it’s a bottle or Camelback,” Shifty said.
