Mel and Steve Tavendale are embracing a change of pace since taking ownership of Hub and Sprocket Cycles.

The couple have bought the business off Rob Connolly who, with wife Kate and their children, has returned to live in the United Kingdom.

Mel, probably best known to the Waitaki public as the former deputy mayor, said she and Steve had been looking for something they could do together.

Since choosing not to run for re-election last year, she had been working at the Waitaki District Council, but was ready for a change.

“We had been looking at different business opportunities, and came across this one. We had known Rob well, being a neighbour, so it was a bit of an easy hand-over really,” she said.

Steve said Hub and Sprocket was “perfect size, perfect time”.

“The more we looked, the more Rob made it look like a good idea, really. He’s a good salesman.”

Steve is an A-grade diesel mechanic, and has enjoyed learning the ins and outs of bikes from Rob, who he said has been “unreal”.

“So much fun, no stress, nothing’s a problem . . . He taught us both heaps in just a couple of weeks.

“Rob’s one of those guys that’s really good at judging where you’re at, so he doesn’t fill your head with all the garbage you don’t need to know, and just gives you all the bits for where you’re at.

Mel said it was a big call for Rob and Kate to move back to the UK, to be closer to family.

“I think there were quite a few tears.”

He set up the business about eight years ago, in a slightly different format called Vertical Ventures, which included providing rental bikes and support for larger groups of people riding the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail.

Eventually the cycle tours were separated from the retail and servicing side of the business, and sold off in October last year, when Hub and Sprocket was born.

Steve said it felt like he had trusted them with something precious.

“It really feels like he’s sold us his adventure - his dream.”

Rob is still in regular contact, and has been “brilliant” helping them ease into the business.

Steve and Mel have been running Hub and Sprocket for about two weeks, and are enjoying the change of gears when it comes to their way of life.

“It’s that good lifestyle with the family, where you, you know, have the kids in here while you’re working." Mel said.

The couple’s two children Josie (almost 12), and Declan (10), enjoyed being in the shop and were happy to be put to work. Josie used her chalk art expertise to write the signs, and Declan was chief bike duster.

“Usually you go to your day jobs and they can’t come, and they can’t see what you do - now they can be a part of it,” Steve said.

Mel still enjoyed interacting with the public, and now the interactions tended to be more relaxed than when she was involved with the council, due to the nature of the business.

“People come in here because it’s their hobby, and they’re happy,” she said. “They come in for a yarn, and it’s pretty positive.”

She is keen to learn the basics of bike maintenance, such as how to fix a puncture, but is happy to leave most of the mechanics to Steve.

“So it’s retail, service, and we’ve got eight hire bikes as well, just for people who want to go for a ride from Oamaru,” Steve said.

Rob had built up a loyal customer base which Mel and Steve hope to retain, and they ask people to bear with them, as they ease into things.

“We probably just want to reassure them all that nothing’s going to change, essentially. We just want to get up to speed as quickly as possible and continue to build from where Rob left off,” Steve said.

Hub and Sprocket is open Tuesday to Saturday, but may be closed occasionally for a school pick-up.

“It’s a family business. It has been, and will remain a family business,” he said.