A bike shop in Melbourne...why?

Why start a bike shop in Melbourne? Why did I give up engineering for My Mountain? I get asked this a lot,  I sometimes I ask myself as well because like any business it's a lot of blood sweat and tears. So while I am currently away being drawn back into my old world for a short period of time I have been able to reflect on the why, and even go so far as to put it down in writing to share.




My strongest memory of starting to ride apart from vague recollections of training wheels on very small bikes was the Christmas I got my BMX. It was all black with chrome handlebars that had a p yellow pad on the cross brace as well as the top tube. It had a coaster brake and shiny tough as nails wheels. In my eyes was the most amazing thing I had ever seen. This wasn't a bike; it was a ticket to freedom. My world had become exponentially larger and I could go anywhere! Well as large as the whole block, because I wasn't allowed to cross the street. But I didn't care because my front yard had just become a whole block that was about 3 kilometres in circumference. It's funny to think now about a 3 kilometre ride but when I was 6 my first adventure to try and go round the whole block was an ordeal. Would I get lost, what if a dog chased me, what if a car hit, and heavens forbid…. what if I get a puncture. Well I made it around all safe without incident and for me I think that was the start of a love affair with the sense of freedom a bike gives you.

The distances may have increased, my bikes have definitely improved a lot, and I now don't have to be home before dark.  But some things haven't changed in the last 30 years.

I still have an amazing sense of freedom every time I jump on a bike

I still want to see how fast I can go around a corner, and then feel the rush of adrenalin when I stay upright despite the fear

I still cheer and clap at my friends when they do skids, jump in puddles or do wheelies

I still think bikes are the most amazing things in the world. 

So why did I start MM and give up an engineering career. It's because I love the idea that we can give people that freedom. We can make positive change in people, the world, and the environment. And above all else we get to feel like 5 year olds over and over again every time we head out on a bike. Mountain, road, DH, or bike path cruiser. It doesn’t matter, just ride a bike and you'll understand.