Aaron Hill (GHS ’92) has recently opened a bike repair shop at 17 Water Street, in a home he lived in briefly as a child. Hours are W-F 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and weekends 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. (closed Mon & Tues). Hill is a new member of the Gorham Business Exchange and can be reached at (207) 310-8661 or at aaron.hill@cyclingwithoutage.com

This is no ordinary bike shop–there is a twist. Along with the opportunity to get their bikes fixed locally, customers will also be contributing to a new and exciting program that gives back to the community.

“One hundred percent of the profits from the shop will go toward supporting the Gorham Chapter of an international, nonprofit organization called Cycling Without Age (CWA),” said Hill.

As Founder and President of the Gorham CWA Chapter, Hill will be offering free bike rides to Gorham’s growing population of seniors and people with disabilities in a specially designed electric-assisted, three-wheeled “trishaw” (eBike), piloted by volunteer bike enthusiasts from the community. This is a win-win for the volunteers and for the seniors or disabled.

The trishaw has the stability of three wheels, meaning almost anyone can pilot it without the fear of lacking adequate leg strength or tipping over. “I believe the social dynamic created by CWA will promote greater community, empathy and cohesion, leading to a happier and healthier community overall,” Hill said.

Raised by a single mom who worked three, sometimes four jobs, Hill said “go out and play” was a common parental request. This usually meant going bike riding with neighborhood kids. With his older brother to keep an eye on him, they had significant freedom to explore the various nooks and crannies Gorham had to offer.

Hill believes there is a need for a local bike repair shop. He said, “We are a fully-insured, full-service repair shop offering everything from flat-tire repairs and tune-ups, to machining services and suspension repair.” He added that they also service eBikes and are a Bosch-certified repair shop. They are guided by the Barnett Bicycle Institute, the gold standard in bicycle-repair education, and are investing in all of the tooling that Barnett recommends for a bike repair shop.

Hill is committed to doing quality work. “We stand behind all of our work, and we offer discounts on bikes primarily used by kids under 18, seniors, and those with adaptive needs,” he said.

They also have accounts with several major wholesalers, which provides access to a broad range of brands. The website heretherebike.org clearly explains more about his business and the pricing structure.

Hill also feels that the timing is right in his own life to start a new venture that is close to his heart. Hill is happy to be working from home in Gorham and to be involved in a more fulfilling endeavor. His most recent work in construction management in the energy sector, required a lot of travel and very long hours at a computer, which left him with an overuse injury. In a sense, opening a bike repair shop where he can work with his hands, brings him back to his roots.

Hill describes himself as thoroughly over-educated. He briefly attended Northeastern University, but financial circumstances brought him back to Maine where he attended Southern Maine Community College, earning an A.S. in Architectural & Engineering Design 2003, another A.S. in Automotive 2004, and also completed 3⁄4 of Machine Tool program.

He then attended USM and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.S. in Industrial Technology with a concentration in Construction Management, while also completing significant coursework in Sociology and Accounting.

Unfortunately, his graduation coincided with the housing/construction market collapse in 2008, so he applied and was accepted at Maine Law, earning a J.D. in 2012. Hill said, “I found the study of law truly fascinating and had hoped to pursue a career supporting social or environmental justice but found it difficult to find a local career path with such ideals.” In fact, he said that he found the actual practice of law to be unappealing.

Now, in his spare time, Hill hits the trails on his bike nearly every day, sometimes a couple of times a day, along with his dog (who needs lots of exercise). He enjoys hiking, camping, fishing, canoeing, and spending time with friends and family. He likes woodworking and metalworking, as well.

Hill’s mother, Gail, lives in Gorham. His dad, Bruce, lives in Florida. Brother, Brenden, GHS ’90, resides with his wife and daughter in Standish where he is the owner of Crossroad Games.