The owner of Scotty Browns Bike Emporium is a huge supporter of Canterbury cyclists, helping many young athletes, charities and community members achieve their dreams in the sport. Even when times were tough, Brown was there to help in any way he and his team could.
And this week, a group of cyclists returned the favor when Scotty Browns Bike Emporium celebrated 30 years in the trade. The milestone was marked with the closure of the old store in Wordsworth St and the opening of a new, purpose-built showroom / emporium at 16 Buchan St, Sydenham.
Brown says it will be “the best bike shop experience in the world.”
One of the biggest challenges that stood in the way of the opening of the new emporium was the need to move more than 50 bicycles from the old store at Wordsworth St 206 to the new store on Buchan St.
“Often when this volume of bikes is moved, the risk of damage is significant, so the team put on their lycra and thinking caps and came up with a plan,” Brown said.
After reaching out to Canterbury Schools Cycling, friends, customers with children, and the local school, Ladbrooks Primary, they were able to assemble a team of 50 children and teens who literally drove the bikes in a convoy to the new premises.
That relocation went smoothly on June 28 and was quite a spectacle, Brown said.
“The enthusiasm of the children and parents was quite overwhelming, and the weather happily played its part,” he said.
“I especially enjoy helping children at school-level cycling to achieve their goals and dreams – and ensuring that we are a national, if not global, cycling phenomenon,” Brown said.