It wasn’t long after getting my first mountain bike at 12 that I destroyed it, and my father threw me into the local shop and told them I’d work for free to learn how to repair my poor bike. I raced my first downhill competition that year and knew that’s what I would be doing for the rest of my life.

Fast forward a moment, now riding for the local shop, cutting pizzas to earn money to race the national series, and building my bikes to compete in various competitions around the country. I was getting quite the hot head on my shoulders and made a mistake that landed me in hospital for a couple of weeks and off the bike for the good part of the year. I decided to set my sights on university, grinded my way into a mechanical engineering degree, and after a few battles made it out the other side with a handy qualification.

I was working part time at a well-known shop in Brisbane, learning all there is to know about the bike industry, and having a great time working alongside my archrival. We did it all, downhill, enduro, xc, BMX, freeride, road & triathlons. The competitive nature between us spread from the racetrack to who could change tires quicker. Once I had my degree in hand, I briefly investigated the world of engineering and became worried it would have an impact on my bike obsessed world. So, I stayed.

After 10 years working in the thick of shops, from the beloved local favourites to the massive corporate giants, I learnt a more than plenty. But I still had that engineering itch, which was accompanied by the urge to build something of my own, so I built a brand of components. It wasn’t the right time, but I was able to lay it on ice and look back on lessons learnt. Missing connecting with customers, seeing kids stoked about bikes, the freedom it gave people, and the life that bikes brought to everyone, I figured it was about time I made the jump to start my own workshop.

The Future only knows what’s in store, the workshop feels like another new beginning, and a great base for all the dreams I had when I was a teenager. Bring back the components? Start that brand of bike frames? Now a dad & husband, it’s a better time than ever to build with my family, and if it wasn’t already clear…

I Really Love Bikes…