Young bike mechanic opens independent cycling shop in Nelson CBD
A 26-year-old bike mechanic has taken his decade of industry experience and turned it into a new independent bike shop in the heart of Nelson.
Hunter Chung said he and his partner, Emma Shuttle, were “very excited” to have opened their own business – Roost Cycles on Trafalgar Square East – last week.
Photo: BRADEN FASTIER / STUFF
The move brings another locally owned business to the Nelson CBD, catering to the region’s thriving cycling community.
The opening marks a major milestone for Chung, who said he first discovered his passion for bikes as a youngster.
“I got into it as a kid, going out riding with dad and all my mates,” he said.
“So that’s sort of where it began, and then during high school, I got an after school job at a local shop, and that’s how I got into the the industry.
“I’ve been working in the bike industry about 10 years now, so it just became time to start something of our own.”
Chung is no stranger to running a business, having spent the past three to four years undertaking contracting, building work and fitting out campervans. He put those skills to work immediately by completing the shop’s interior fit-out himself before the doors opened.
The couple first met while working together at a bike shop in Tasmania, sharing a passion for cycling that they now hope to build into a community hub in Nelson.
Shuttle said over the years, Chung had become a familiar face to many local cyclists, helping everyone from families and commuters to mountain bikers keep their bikes running.
“We’re really excited to be bringing another independent business into the CBD and hope the shop becomes a welcoming place for everyone,” she said.
“Beyond a retail shop, our vision is to be a community hub where we run workshops and host events.”
While the pair will initially run the shop on their own, Chung said he hoped to expand the team as the business grew.
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