Gearshop is a big supporter of the Nelson mountain biking community and really gets what
local riders need. With a team full of bikers, they’ve grown their business to include lots of
cycling gear while staying connected to our local trails.
“We sell a lot of mountain biking products, I’m a biker and many of our team and their
families are also bikers,” explains Hamish Pirie, owner of Gearshop. This shared love of
biking has shaped how they run their business and support our community.
For Hamish, sponsoring our club is pretty simple: “We’re Nelson-based and Nelson’s our
local club. It’s about giving back to the community and the people supporting us.”
Nelson: The Best Biking in NZ
What makes Nelson special for mountain biking? Hamish reckons it’s the variety we have.
“We’ve got the best mountain biking in the country. I do a lot of backcountry wilderness heli-
biking, and Nelson’s got it. There’s not really anywhere else in the country that has the
choice we have – Old Ghost Road, Paparoa, Wakamarina, Heaphy – no other area has that
many trails.”
But he’s also big on local trails: “I like Te Ara Koa and the Gorge, especially Creamed Rice,
Cheesy Morts—technical but not too technical. I like to come home in one piece. If I’m
looking for something tougher, I’ll ride “Screaming Turtle and Slippery Weka—really rooty,
rocky” trails that give even good riders a challenge.
Supporting Gearshop
Gearshop doesn’t offer special member discounts as their prices are already very
competitive and a range of good deals are continuously available. Hamish asks riders to
“support us by shopping with us and by coming in to see us. Our staff give good advice
based on firsthand experience and only sell you something you want, not selling for the sake
of it.”
New Stuff: Gear Hire Website
Gearshop has just launched something cool that club members might
like: www.gearshophire.co.nz. “We started the hire website where you can hire outdoor gear,
PLBs, to reduce barriers to people accessing the outdoors with good, safe gear. There’s a
bikepacking category on the site,” says Hamish. “We’re testing the water with the new site to
gauge demand, and if people show us it’s a service they’re keen on, we’re intending to add a
bunch more stuff for hire via the site next summer.”
They also rent via ferrata gear for anyone wanting to try something different.
Thanks Gearshop!
Remember to support the awesome businesses that support us! Next time you’re
gearing up for a ride, stop by and say hello to the team that helps keep our wheels turning.
