A good head for the e-bike business

This story first appeared in the October issue of EVtalk – CLICK HERE to download the magazine FREE

The surging popularity of electric bikes is helping put businesses like Bikes & Barbers on the map, literally.

When owner Christian Hoff-Nielsen came to New Zealand in 2012 to “switch off” he had no idea it would lead to him switching on to e-bikes.

Danish-born but living around many parts of the world, Hoff-Nielsen had worked as an automotive engineer for about 30 years. He did a variety of jobs from modifying vintage vehicles to working as a chassis engineer for Jaguar.

Arriving on Waiheke Island from Brussels with his partner, their children, a toothbrush and $46, Hoff-Nielsen met an 80-year-old running a bike hire business and eventually bought it.

He still runs e-Cycles NZ, a mostly e-bike hire fleet, but now has five cycle shops around the country. He recently opened a branch in Queenstown.

About 40 staff work in the business and Hoff-Nielsen says it’s now almost as busy in winter as in summer.

One reason for the success is keeping the business open seven days.
“People hire a bike on Saturday and buy it on Monday,” Hoff-Nielsen says with characteristic humour.

More and more e-bike riders are enjoying the open air, scenery and good climate (for most of the year), and there’s a wide range of bikes to suit all.

Bikes & Barbers even has its own e-bike range, the Onya (as in “on ya bike”), as well as imports from around the world. Others include Avanti, Surly, Smartmotion, Scott and Moustache.

Hoff-Nielsen saw a need to tailor bikes to suit Kiwis.

“Riders here are generally bigger than what the bikes are designed for overseas so we worked on having New Zealand specifications – bigger spokes, better brakes, bigger motors and more.

“Some overseas cycle makers told me their bikes weren’t suited to everyday use.”

So he decided they would be.

“The bikes are more suited to New Zealand conditions and we provide a two-year warranty.”

More buyers are opting for e-bikes as commuter transport so they often select a wide range of accessories such as wet weather gear, carry bags, plus smart and safe Livall helmets.

A variety of comfortable riding gear is available too and the business also caters for bike servicing and repairs.

The e-bikes vary in price from under $2000 to nearly $13,000 for the top of the range. Most of them allow the rider to do up to 35kmh-40kmh on the flat.

“It’s a team effort, getting the health, fun and pleasure side of e-biking out there.

“E-bikes take the best bits out of biking and leave the worst bits out.”
Bikes are provided for both on-road and off-road. They sport a variety of tyres for the various purposes, have different powered motors and come in a huge range of frames. Some even provide for cargo carrying.

Tyres are available for all conditions, with bikes like the Onya Tui sporting strong, long-wearing tyres that include reflector strips for side visibility.

The shops also provide Ubco off-road electric motorcycles.

In the Newmarket shop, 35 bikes alone are stored across the ceiling and 24 demonstrators are available on the shop floor.

The whole nationwide rental fleet caters for about 15,000 rides a year.
Meanwhile, Auckland University is looking at researching the health benefits of e-biking with 250 random users and Bikes and Barbers’ help.
Oh! And about the name?

Yes, you can get a haircut while checking out the bikes.

Originally a barber’s shop, the bike business moved in and shared the rent for several years. Now the barber is upstairs so men and women can still book a cut and an e-bike test ride close together.

Visit bikesandbarbers.co.nz or ecyclesnz.com

for details.