At Good Cycles, we are incredibly proud of the hands on the tools and the faces in our showrooms. To kick off the winter season, we sat down with two of our latest team members, Master Mechanic Dan and Product Specialist Ando, to talk about cycling culture, the art of the perfect fit, and what drives them.
To kick things off, how did your respective journeys into the world of craftsmanship and retail begin?
Dan: I started as a mechanic in 1989, right when I fell into mountain bike racing. By 1991, I was on the Australian Team racing the World Titles in Lucca, Italy. From 1991 to 1996, I raced full time as a domestic ‘pro’, consistently ranking in the top 10 nationally, and was short listed for the Australian Institute of Sport Team for the Atlanta and Sydney Olympic period. I finished my elite racing career with the US Team ‘Barracuda-DosEquis’, always turning wrenches part time between events to stay grounded in the trade.
Ando: My background began in a different arena but with a similar focus on detail. I have spent the past 15 years building a career at the intersection of personal style and customer experience. Beginning in the world of streetwear, I developed a sharp eye for emerging trends and an intuitive understanding of how clothing shapes identity. Working across independent boutiques and established urban brands, I cultivated deep product knowledge and a loyal clientele who trusted my instincts implicitly.
You both transitioned into highly precise, specialised spaces. How did those chapters shape your skills?
Dan: In 1996, I went full time as lead tech at the iconic VIC MTB. By the end of the 90s, I moved into wholesale distribution across customer service, race support, and product management with brands like Kona, Mavic, Look, GripShift, Magura, Marzocchi, Northwave, and Biemme, finishing up as National Manager for Colnago. During this time, I also worked as a test rider, writer, and model for magazines like Australian Mountain Bike and Freewheel.
Ando: Over time, my focus evolved toward the refined end of the spectrum, moving into bespoke suiting where precision, craftsmanship, and the art of the fitting room became my daily vocabulary. I became known for my ability to translate a client’s personality into a garment, reading posture, lifestyle, and aspiration as fluently as a tape measure.
Dan, you then pioneered the workshop-only model in Australia and ran your own business for over a decade. What was that era like?
Dan: In the early 2000s, I ran my own import business for niche MTB gear, wrote for ONE magazine, and raced the World Single Speed Championships across the US and UK, even hosting the 2003 event in Melbourne. I was also one of the pioneers of early Aussie ‘bikepacking’, pushing 200km daily on multi-week trips like the ‘Cannonball Run’.
In 2006, I launched one of Australia’s first ‘workshop only’ shops, running it until 2019 with a focus on custom wheelbuilding and bespoke maintenance. We combined it with a gallery and event space, catching global press along the way. Cycling Tips named us one of the ‘10 coolest shops in the World’ in 2013, and I spent those years as a rider ambassador for brands like Zipp, Moots, Trek, Pedla, and Vittoria.
Ando, you made the move into bikes three years ago. How does that bespoke suiting background carry over?
Ando: Three years ago, I made a natural pivot into the cycling industry, channelling that same philosophy into a new arena. Joining a specialist boutique focused on custom bike builds, I brought my retail intuition and client-first approach to a community that demands both technical expertise and personal connection. Whether spec’ing a frame or dialling in a component build, I treat every bike as I once treated every suit, viewing it as something deeply, unmistakably personal.
Dan, why did you shift your focus to high-end consulting and frame builders?
Dan: After my son was born in 2018, I scaled back to become his primary carer full-time until 2022, while still running my private workshop by appointment only for high-end clients. From 2022, I started focusing on high-level consulting and contract work for some of the best custom builders in the business. I have been working with Bastion Cycles across assembly, wheel building, quality control, design, and international dealer support, as well as doing assembly and wheelbuilding for Baum Cycles, Prova Cycles, and WonderCross Cycling.
What does life look like for you both today, and what brought you to Good Cycles?
Ando: For me, it is about bringing that precise, client-first tailoring experience straight to the showroom floor, helping riders find a setup that fits their lives perfectly. I love being able to bring deep road cycling knowledge to everyday riders and commuters, helping them get the absolute best out of their gear. Outside of work, you will usually find me on the tarmac myself, as I participate in crit racing throughout the year.
Dan: Today, I am still maintaining my long-term private client base and building for Prova Cycles, alongside my role here at Good Cycles. I still ride around 15,000km a year on gravel and my daily commute. Joining Good Cycles, I am hoping to bring that lifetime of workshop experience, dedication, and passion directly to the team and the community.
Final question for the gear nerds out there: what does your personal collection look like, and what inspires you outside of cycling?
Dan: I reside in the Inner West, entirely focused on family and my son outside of work. I am an avid collector of bikes and memorabilia, lucky enough to own frames by Vanilla Cycles, Pegoretti, Eddy Merckx, Colnago, Time, Gellie Cycles, and Open Cycle. Beyond bikes, I am a collector of art and music, a devourer of podcasts, inspired by mid-century architecture, and powered by batch brew coffee.
Ando: Outside of the shop floor, my focus is still rooted in that intersection of style, functionality, and culture. Right now, my main ride is a Specialized SL7, which I love getting out on for weekend rides. When I am off the clock, it is all about finding that balance, staying inspired by design, and spending quality time with my family.
Drop by the Good Cycles CBD bike shop to check out our latest bikes and gear, or just roll into the workshop to say hello to Dan and Ando today.