Scared of fuel prices? Byron Bay has an exciting new bike shop! Located at the corner of Bayshore Drive and Banksia Drive, in the Byron Arts & Industrial Estate, this is Better by Bike’s second store in the region, building on the success of their flagship operation at Murwillumbah Railway Station.
The new shop is an authorised dealer for leading fat tyre e-bike and bicycle brands, and includes a full workshop, along with the expertise needed to get the most out of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail.
Campbell Shepherd is the Executive Director of Better By Bike Australia. While completing the fit-out, he told The Echo his company has its roots in the adventure capital of New Zealand, Queenstown.
Future opportunities
Now that Byron Shire Council has agreed to get on with completing the missing link of the rail trail, which will pass close by the new shop, Campbell can see great possibilities to get more people enjoying life on two wheels.
‘We want to run across the whole trail,’ he explained. ‘We want to run multi-day adventures. So we’ll drop you in Casino, and you’ll ride through to Murwillumbah. You’ll stay at accommodation places on the way. We’ll move your luggage for you, and you can stop along the way at local cafes and restaurants.’
Campbell says he’s been struck by the positive changes already brought to towns and villages along the rail trail, such as Burringbar, with visitor numbers far exceeding expectations. ‘Cycle tourism globally is growing at 22 per cent per year,’ he said.
‘E-bikes have made it even more popular, because it’s approachable for older people, and those older people are also the ones with the money to spend, so it supports all those other elements of the tourism industry. People are looking for new experiences.’
Campbell says bikes and e-bikes are also becoming more important for daily transport. ‘You’re seeing parents taking their kids to school on them. They’re just handy. Instead of taking your car down to the shops, you take your e-bike. It ticks a lot of boxes; quick, exercise, environmentally friendly.’
Legal e-bikes
As for the negative press around e-bikes, he says it’s important to distinguish between electric motorbikes, scooters and legal e-bikes, with the latest models unable to be unlocked.
‘The fires are largely being caused by scooters. All of our bikes are tested and certified to Australia and New Zealand standards,’ he explained.
Better By Bike’s new shop will specialise in high end e-bike brands such as Fatboy, Dirodi and Ampd Bros, and is also an official Giant Bikes dealer. ‘We want to match people well with the right bike at the stage of their life, in terms of what they need it for,’ said Campbell.
With a full-time qualified mechanic on staff, the new shop also has a food truck out the front to attract hungry cyclists. ‘We’re creating a little environment here that’s welcoming and fun,’ he said. ‘We want to be that operator in town that gives honest, reasonable advice, puts people on the right size bike for a start, and then helps with everything from there.’
Last year, Better By Bike took out a Gold Award for Tourism Sales and Retail Services at the NSW Tourism Awards, and now has its sights set on the national competition.
Campbell Shepherd says their focus on premium components, such as Bosch motors, and Shimano running gear, means customers will have no problems out on the rail trail.
‘In saying that, we still get the odd person who’s chatting to their mate and rolls right off the trail and down the bank. You can’t help that. It’s the human condition!’
Better By Bike’s new shop is open 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday. You can find them at 2/14-16 Bayshore Drive, Byron Bay or check out the website: betterbybike.com.au.
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