Like many of us growing up in the 70's and 80's, I lived on my bike.
Cruising the neighbourhood on bikes with friends from dawn to dusk, having adventures and exploring the world - in what felt like an endless summer! It was freedom. It was fun. And that feeling never really left me.
Fast forward a few decades, a few thousand kilometres, and a lot of saddle time - from cycling to get fit, to an epic 850km bike-packing tour through New Zealand’s South Island with three mates.
But discovering e-bikes brought a completely new dimension, like it has for many of us.
The ease. The convenience. The pure joy. Just jumping on and exploring the beauty of the Beaches. Cruising around my local community at street-level, enjoying the sights and sounds - and engaging directly with people - without the barrier of a car.
Cruising to the beach with an esky, some tunes - and even a friend or beach cabana onboard! Not to mention the convenience of pulling up outside the local shops without the hassle of parking!
From that moment, I was hooked: exploring what the market offered, testing the latest bike tech, figuring out what worked (and what didn't!) and sharing the joy with others.
I also experienced the challenges: the bewildering range of bikes and gear, the safety concerns of riders and the community, the need to protect my investment from theft, the fact that a lot of 'bike accessories' didn't actually suit e-bikes — and getting my own bike set up in a way that actually worked for my lifestyle.
Friends and other riders loved my rig! They asked where I got my bike, my accessories, how it all worked. But actually getting to this point involved tons of research and sourcing items from all over the world.
Encouraged by friends and colleagues to share my passion and learnings, I decided to combine my love of cycling with the experience I gained in business over the last 30 years, and start Beaches Bike Co in June 2025.
Speaking of friends and colleagues, a lot of them helped in amazing ways - with incredible support, resources, trust, love and friendship - only they will ever know. But I remember, and I'm truly grateful 🙏.
Six months after starting my e-bike odyssey, I followed their advice - and here we are! And it's a thrill and a privilege to share it now with you.
I look forward to having fun together in our growing Beaches Bike Co community, and sharing the joy of cycling.
Thank you for joining me on the journey. See you out there!
Gavin Ger
Founder, Beaches Bike Co
August, 2025