The support and enthusiasm from Kiwis for cycling trails in Central Otago has been phenomenal since Covid-19 lockdown with solid forward bookings continuing for summer, according to biking specialist company Bike It Now!

Co-owner Duncan Randall says the response has been rewarding, particularly referrals from clients.

“It was fairly daunting during lockdown when we lost all our overseas bookings. At times we wondered if we would survive it but we are so fortunate that biking is an activity that we all love doing and so many people want to come to this region for our trails.”

Bike It Now! operates several tour options and with the imminent opening of the 52-kilometre Lake Dunstan Trail will be ideally placed with its Clyde and Cromwell stores to service customers at either end of the trail.

“There is a lot of anticipation about the new trail which will eventually connect to Gibbston and on to Queenstown. It is amazing how much awareness of the new trail there is around the country and it will certainly put the Southern Lakes on the map as a true cycle destination.”

Duncan says that because biking was one of the few activities people could do during lockdown there was a huge uptake locally in the numbers of people taking up the sport.

“This also led to an unprecedented explosion in demand for E-bikes which is happening all over the world and has subsequently led to a short supply. There is also a worldwide shortage of bike accessories such as tubes, tyres and chains because factories are not keeping up with production.”

Bike It Now! stocks several cycle brands including Trek, Specialized, Merida, Scott, Marin, Avanti and Sinch.

“Between our Clyde and Cromwell outlets we have a good range which gives us more option for stock and a better chance of providing our clients with what they want,” says Duncan. “ In the seven years we have been in business we have built up a good reputation and relationships which see people continually returning and using our services.”