I love my bike. I love my bike so much I’ve often thought about it late at night shivering in the garage all alone. The truth is I have two bikes but I can’t decide which one I love the most so I tell both of them that I’m thinking of them only.
There’s so much good riding in this area there’s nothing better than getting on my steed and riding up some big hills. We are the luckiest people in the country with some of the best weather and so I say every day is a riding day. Let’s be honest here, we live in Queenstown, there is no such thing as a shortage of hills to climb up. So when I hear that the audacious Around The Basin people are opening up a shop for all your biking needs. I stuck on some lycra (yes, it’s for all the cool people) and turned those pedals into town.
Around The Basin have been around the town (see what I did there?) for over 4 years now offering a guided bike service to all the amazing trails that have opened up in the area. Steve Norton and Lisa Cooper have been in Queenstown forever and saw an opportunity to get out amongst the swoopy goodness and take you lot with them. Don’t know your chamois from your elbow? Don’t need to. Stuck on how to fix a puncture? Not a problem. Everything along the way is catered for. With only the best technology a biker could ever ask for.
Open for all levels (but a large proportion of you wanting to give it a go/ try something new) they guide you to all the secret and not so secret but still fabulous places to ride in the area. The thing about Queenstown that rates highly above anywhere else is we’re a busy wee town but we can be out there and surrounded by nothing but hills and sunshine and NOONE ELSE in mere moments. Leave the comfort of your hotel room, caravan, or back of your car to be taken to some of the most beautiful scenery this side of the earth. Lord of the rings country it is, and you can also feel like you’re in the middle of middle earth before you’ve had chance to learn how to change a tire and strap your helmet on.
Bike shuttle service where they pick you up, drop you off and then come get you in all your sweaty glory after you’ve finished riding said swoopy goodness. So when you arrive on these fair shores you don’t have to worry about how to get to and from. Bike hire service so there’s no need to wrap up your bike and bring it here, there’s one waiting for you! From top spec to easier ride around town bikes they have it all sorted. Or if you’re completely on the ball and know what you’re doing you can get all of it in a great big delicious combo. Quicker than you can say I’ve-got-my-bike-and-I-like-to-ride-it.
BUT wait for it. I told you, you’d be excited. The shop. I’ve been living here for ten years and STILL haven’t experienced all there is to see in the cycling department. The information centre has everything you need to know about the trails, which includes on road and off road cycling. They are both real life locals and so know EVERYTHING there is to know about the area. Whether you’re here for 2 days or 2 years they can help you, guide you, create the perfect day of riding for you, your friends and your friends friends if you need.
Want to add a winery visit into your ride, as like me you get slightly parched whilst out on the trails, this is available too. There is a half day and a full day bike-the-wineries option for all you grape lovers out there with no less that eight, that’s EIGHT wineries to visit. You don’t even have to cycle home because a pickup is all part of the tour. So you can bike, sip and buy your wine knowing you’ll not be wobbling home in the wrong direction.
Want to get to know your boss or your team mates really well? There is absolutely no other way to get down to the nitty gritty whilst out doing something you love. Want a pay rise? Get your boss on a steep climb during a corporate tour and ask him/ her then. Only got a few hours with your loved one and know she’ll love you even more once she sees you in all that lycra? Head out on a private tour that the team will custom make for you (including cake stops people!).
You’ll be dreaming of bikes and bike goodness for the rest of your life and that to me sounds like a plan. And when you’ve finished you can head over to Trip Advisor and write about all the swoopy-sweat-laden goodness there and see all the amazing reviews they have.
Around The Basin are the trail bike specialists in town. Everything you need to know, bike aplenty, trail information aplenty and you know what. They’re really nice too.
Around The Basin
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New shop: Duke Street (Back of The Station Building)
Email: [email protected]
027 952 5801