Sydney bike shop Wooly's Wheels is named after the 1970s hairstyle that founder Michael 'Wooly' Kamahl used to be able to pull off.

Michael, or "Wooly," started selling bikes in 1979. He only earned $7 on his first day of trading. The early years were lean, and he had to live in the back of the shop until he could afford better.

In the almost five decades since then, he has been a mainstay of the cycling world.

When asked how he has managed to keep his store open for so long, he said, “We like to be the all-rounder. We’ve got the athletes but, being in Paddington, we also have people who want to commute."

If you ask Wooly what kind of bike to buy, he will tell you that no bike can do everything. Bikes are designed to be good at just one thing, so choose based on the type of riding you do most.

His own daily ride is a Specialized Tarmac road bike.

"I have about three road bikes from different years," he told CycleHub. "They come in handy when a friend comes in from out of town and has a really nice bike to borrow."

Sydney's First Mobile Mechanic

In 1973, Australian university students were given free education for the first time, Aussie combat troops were pulled out of Vietnam, the White Australia policy finally ended, and the Sydney Opera House was officially opened.

More momentously for cyclists, that's also the year that Wooly moved to Sydney. He could ride all day long back then and not see another person on a bike. There are definitely more cyclists out there today.

Wooly first worked as a mechanic for Clarence Street Cyclery. That shop is still around, but it's now called Trek Bicycle Sydney.

Then he became the city's first mobile mechanic, repairing bikes for UNSW students out of the back of his station wagon.

A Passion for Cyclists

What Wooly loves about owning a bike shop is the hustle and bustle of people coming through and the connections that he makes.

He loves bikes but seems to love people more.

"Cycling is a hugely positive force," he said, "and it’s a pleasure to serve riders that feel the same way."

Wooly's favourite ride is out towards Watsons Bay, he told us. He lives in the Eastern Suburbs, and that route offers him a hilly ride close to home.

He told CycleHub, "Most people don't realise how much Sydney cycling has grown." He approves of Sydney's Council's new bike paths and loves their attitude of "build it, and they will come."

Asked for any final words in the interview, and Wooly added that, "It's great to see so many people using the cycling lanes. We're finally catching up with other countries in the world."

You can find Wooly's Wheels online or online at 82 Oxford Street in Paddington, Sydney.

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