Queenstown’s Vertigo Bikes is taking to the hills next month when it proudly opens its second mountain bike shop.
The experienced Vertigo Bikes team is opening up a rental store on Bob’s Peak beside Skyline, overlooking Queenstown Bay and the mountain ranges beyond.
The new rental outlet will kit out riders of all abilities and ages before they head out on Queenstown’s new network of adventure trails criss-crossing the Ben Lomond Forest.
Located behind the main Skyline building, outdoor enthusiasts will be able to choose from a full-on downhill fleet. Professional, trained staff with years of international experience will also be on hand delivering in-store customer advice and bike servicing.
Vertigo Bikes launches the store as Queenstown Lakes District Council officially opens its eight, mixed-level riding trails in the Ben Lomond Forest on January 24, 2011.
The exciting new bike tracks will range from widened beginner ‘family’ tracks to downhill ‘black diamond’ expert tracks – all part of Queenstown’s latest ‘must-do’ activity.
Alongside Vertigo’s new premises, it will continue to maintain the ‘Vertigo’ track which is a 100% purpose-built downhill single track built by the Vertigo boys themselves.
Vertigo Bikes co-owner Tim Ceci (pronounced Che-Chi) said the joint-venture by QLDC and Skyline’s was the perfect opportunity for them to increase their exposure in an adventure activity that was “growing substantially” in the region.
“Summer mountain biking is becoming as trendy as bungy-jumping, jet-boating and rafting on the resort’s “big-activities” itinerary,” he said. “Vertigo keeps at the forefront of the biking and adventure tourism industry so we immediately recognised this is as an unmissable opportunity.
“Bikes available for hire at the top will reflect what’s on hire in our Brecon Street branch, downhill, full suspension ‘Norco’ or ‘Giant’ bikes. There will also be a limited range of kids’ bikes that we’ll look to expand with demand.”
Skyline Chief Engineer and Mountain Bike Project Manager Ross Davidson said the development of the new biking trail in the Ben Lomond Forest required a reputable rental company to align with.
“Riders have some great options to hit the trails with. They can independently hit the trails themselves by clipping their own bike onto a gondola, embark on a Vertigo Bikes tour, or ride the gondola and hire from Vertigo at the top,“ he said.
“It’s taken a long time to cut the trails in and the Vertigo boys have been regulars on the old trails, as great ‘helping hands’ bringing the company’s fantastic know-how and enthusiasm for biking.
Vertigo Bikes has the biggest rental fleet of bikes in Queenstown and has introduced a full range of brand new rental bikes for summer.
The company was recently endorsed as a Qualmark visitor activity after being assessed on the quality of its customer service, systems, safety, delivery of the ‘New Zealand experience’, environmental procedures and staff training procedures.
