Inspired by the formation of The Great Taste Trail, The Gentle Cycling Company was the first cycle tour company to be formed in sunny Nelson. Since 2009, thousands of cyclists have made use of our knowledge, support and inspiration to explore the Top of the South Island on two wheels. Our passion and commitment towards providing bespoke cycle tours to suit the needs of your group makes for peace of mind travel at your own pace.
When you visit us at The Gentle Cycling Company, you will be welcomed by a family who are passionate about Nelson. For us, travelling by bike is the best way to really explore and experience the many varied pleasures to be found in the top of the South!
Meet the Gentle Cycling Team
Petra
The Magnificent
Petra is the upbeat and inspirational cycling guru who has an encyclopedia of cycling experiences in its many fantastic forms.
An Energiser Bunny of excitement and enthusiasm, Petra keeps the wheels in motion on many levels.
Petra has supported many cyclists through the trails around Nelson, the Rameka Track, Old Ghost Road and so much more. Her wisdom and wit are dished out in equal measure, and she loves a good “Whoop!” when flowing on two wheels.
After a long hot summer of cycle tours, Petra loves nothing more than jumping on her bike and forging an on-and-off-road route from Nelson to Bluff.
We love positive vibes, energy and enthusiasm; therefore we love Petra and we love having her on our team!
Bernie
The Boss
Bernie is the organised, efficient and caring queen of the team. She works tirelessly to make sure that everybody is happy and prepared for the adventures ahead.
Being surrounded by nature keeps Bernie grounded and she will encourage you to take your time whilst on your cycle tour. Her mantra is not to rush, but to regularly stop, breathe and take in the wonders of the world as you ride through our slice of heaven.
An accomplished triathlete in a former life, Bernie now prefers extolling the virtues of life in the steady lane. “Gentle Cycling means fun, flowing bike rides with my family, without moaning and rushing around so we enjoy the finer things in life”
If you want to enjoy a cycle tour with a company that genuinely cares for you, then talk to Bernie. Better call Bernie!
Chris
Chatter box
Bernie’s right-hand man loves to connect with people, pubs and mountain bike trails.
From back country tracks to guided sustainability and winery tours along the Great Taste Trail, Chris loves cycling in its many forms.
You can find Chris flowing at the Wairoa Gorge, encouraging the kids in the Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park or cruising to his favourite beaches along the Great Taste Trail for a beer and a swim.
“Cycling brings out the inner child in me. I love the feeling of freedom as I fly through lush forests and coastal trails with friends and family, a big cheesy grin on my face!”
Chris was a Science teacher in a previous life and is well accustomed to managing and refining health and safety requirements. He has developed the procedures and systems required to safely deliver tours including Heli biking to some of our most remote trails.
Felix Laufcotter
Fix it Felix
We are very lucky to have Felix as our “on-call” bike mechanic. Felix’s bike workshop is a pristine wonder-land of bike tools, and his attention to detail is legendary. This is no doubt one of the main reasons he has been the bike mechanic with the NZ Paracycling team in Italy in August 2018. Felix is a treasure. Enough said!
Will
Junior mechanic / bike valet
The next generation inspired by cycling and adventuring on two wheels
Our bikes can handle a bit of off-road cycling and get muddy on their adventures. Will is good with a bucket of soapy water and a sponge. He’s used to getting dirty!
Will is a fast learner and enjoys getting stuck into the tools. We appreciate his attention to detail when he cleans a bike – a great mechanic in the making!
Lily
Junior mechanic / bike valet / smoothie maker
A rocket on two wheels and with great attention to detail, bikes are always left spotless after a clean by Lily.
Smoothies are Lily’s speciality, and they keep the wheels turning when we need a refreshment break.
Lily loves to take breaks on bike rides to climb trees and build huts. There are some great places to build or add to huts and teepee’s along the Great Taste Trail.
Proud to be Climate Positive
and Kaitiaki (guardians)
As a Climate Positive business and the Kaitiaki Promise made by The Gentle Cycling Company, we are evolving and adapting as best we can to minimise the impacts of our tours. Choosing to offset 120% of the carbon emitted by our vehicles and electricity consumption, the wonderful people at Carbon Positive are planting native trees on our behalf around New Zealand to sequester the carbon dioxide we emit whilst providing cycle tours. We’re proud to support this and many other great initiatives to improve the biodiversity and resilience of our natural habitats.
Sustainability means more to us than simply paying for trees to be planted. We are continually reviewing what, why and how we do things to reduce our use of the world’s precious resources and to reuse whatever we can in innovative ways day to day. Furthermore, we take part in community planting, weeding and pest eradication programs and regularly clear up plastic and glass waste around the Great Taste Trail, coast and bush, recycling / upcycling whatever we can.
Social sustainability is also of great importance to us. Read here to find out about some of the recent initiatives we have been involved in to get people cycling, gain independence and educated for safer roads.
See below about the Zero Carbon Weekender, an amazing eco-friendly holiday that we are proud to be a part of.
The Zero Carbon Weekender
A joint Nelson Tasman Tourism initiative
We are proud to be part of the Zero Carbon Weekender – your eco-friendly holiday in the Nelson-Tasman region.
It is a joint initiative created by Nelson Regional Development Agency involving like-minded businesses that are Zero Carbon or Climate Positive. That means we are regularly audited to measure, reduce and offset our emissions. What’s more, when you book this itinerary through Nelson Regional Development Agency, they’ll help tailor it, especially for you and will offset your travel to, from and around the region. Check out the Seven Sharp feature video below and click on the button to book your spot!
