Athletes’ corner?

Press, 20 October 1987, Page 36

Athletes’ corner?

The site of The Bike Rack store was carefully chosen. With the Front Runner sports shop directly opposite, it is an area already well known to athletes. The two shops hope to complement each other, turning their corner of the Cashfields’ Arcade into a place where the top Canterbury sports people will meet and shop. The Bike Rack is designed and staffed by experienced cyclists. The manager, Jon Andrews, holds the New Zealand titles in the sprint and 15,000 metres events. Extra help comes from John Morrison, the 1987 Canterbury road-cycling champion. The owner is Wayne Thorpe, who has taken New Zealand teams to three Olympic and three Commonwealth games and coached cyclists like Craig Adair, William Rastrick and Jon himself. The new shop specialises in bikes and accessories for top-level cyclists and triathletes, but they also stock basic ten-speeds, children’s

bikes and exercise equipment. Their range runs from one extreme to another, from $BOOO custom-built racing bikes to tricycles. As Jon Andrews, who should know, says "We can cater to New Zealand’s best cyclists and triathletes. We stock every-thing you’d use in top level competition. But we haven’t forgotten where it all begins.” With the relaxation of import laws, there is now a far greater range of upmarket cycling gear available in New Zealand at lower prices. Utilising this, The Bike Rack can build up a competition bike from a graphite frame with the best imported parts. They also have their own brand of Renown racing bikes, made in Christchurch by Laurie Dawe Cycles. With Laurie Dawe Cycles as their parent company, The Bike Rack, offers a blend of Jon Andrews’ cycling knowhow and the servicing and building expertise of an established business.