07.08.14

The New Zealand Team's fleet of Avanti Bikes are heading to a New Home - The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games is over and the athletes and officials from the New Zealand team have packed up and are heading for home.

With 30 Avanti Inc’s and Metros given to the New Zealand team to ride during their stay at the Glasgow Games Village, Avanti has been honoured to be able to show their support and commitment to the New Zealand Team. 

Avanti and the New Zealand Olympic Committee would like to say ‘thank you’ to the host city Glasgow, not only did they host a wonderful Commonwealth Games but they also showed fantastic support to the Kiwi Team, and embraced the values of the Commonwealth Games Federation; Humanity, Equality and Destiny.   

During the games the Avanti bikes have been whizzing around the 35 hectare village by the Kiwi athletes.  The New Zealand Team were proud to be the only team in the village with their own designated fleet of cycles!  But the time has now come for these bikes to find new homes.

During the planning stages with the New Zealand Olympic Committee to have this fleet of Avanti bikes available at the Games village, Avanti was keen to ensure the 30 bikes, Volta helmets, locks and tools would be to be donated to a deserving charity in the region, when the 2014 Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games came to a close.  Hence Avanti and the New Zealand Olympic Committee are delighted that The Bike Station have collected 30 Avanti bikes, Volta helmets, locks and tools.  The Bike Station is a Glasgow based charity who do amazing work in the local community promoting and encouraging mental and physical health through cycling, a philosophy that fits well with the values of Avanti Bikes.

As CEO, Steve Paraskevas stated, “Here at Avanti Bikes we’re delighted to be able to assist the Glasgow Bike Station in the outstanding work they achieve.  The charity shares a similar ideology to us; we’d love to see everyone – from wee adventure-seekers to tea and scone-makers, Sunday coffee cruisers to medal-chasing racers, all sharing in our passion for cycling and letting loose on a bike.  The process behind our Avanti Design Technology means every bike in our range is crafted with the rider’s purpose and enjoyment in mind, and are built to be taken on a journey.  And what better place for this journey to start than with our kids, so we support local bike clubs in an effort to make cycling accessible to all. We believe in the freedom and enjoyment that cycling brings and are honoured to be able to share this with riders across the globe”.

The Managing Director of The Bike Station, Gregory Chauvet, is delighted to be receiving these bikes and explains what the plans for the new Avanti fleet are.  “We are very honoured to be receiving this kind donation from the New Zealand Olympic Committee and Avanti Cycles. It will be a huge boost in helping us deliver our services to the people of Glasgow. Some of the bikes will be used to provide cycle training sessions that encourage the Glasgow public to get around by bike and we also plan on selling some in a charity auction. All funds raised will go towards promoting cycling in our local community and making it more accessible for everyone.

This includes our work with nurseries and schools and our Bike Swap scheme, which gives children from disadvantaged backgrounds the opportunity to upgrade their old bikes for free. By getting children engaged with cycling from as young an age as possible, regardless of their circumstances, we hope to create a future generation of cyclists. This will be our Glasgow 2014 Legacy.”

Photo  – Victoria receives an Avanti Metro from Rob Waddell, Chef de Mission for the New Zealand Summer Olympics and Commonwealth Games Teams.

AVANTI RIDERS