The Heart Of Queenstown’s MTB Scene: Vertigo Bikes
Downtime - The Mountain Bike Podcast
Downtime MTB
4.9 • 628 Ratings
🗓️ 31 March 2026
⏱️ 59 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Queenstown is one of the world’s most iconic mountain biking destinations, but few people know the story behind its evolution. Today, we’re joined by Pang and Tim from Vertigo Bikes, the shop that’s at the very centre of Queenstown’s MTB scene. From shaping local trails, to influencing the evolution of the area and supporting local racing and racers, there’s a lot to thank them for. In this episode, we dive deep into the history, the culture, and the legacy of Vertigo Bikes, and what it means for mountain biking in Queenstown over the coming years. So sit back, hit play and check out this episode with Pang and Tim.
You can also watch this episode on YouTube here.
Follow Vertigo bikes on Instagram @vertigo_bikes_queenstown and at their website here. You can watch all the Huck Wizard videos here and support the local bike club by heading to their website here, downloading the QMTBC app and purchasing a membership for the time you’re there. If you’d like to donate to help their amazing work, you can do that here.
Podcast Stuff
Sponsoring Partner
This episode is sponsored by PNW Components. I’ve been riding their Loam Carbon Handlebar and have been impressed with the ride quality, maintaining a positive steering feel, while reducing the vibration you feel through the bar. Tested to the highest standards, shaped to give you all day comfort with modern bike geo and with a lifetime warranty. It’s no surprise that it’s fast become PNW’s best selling product. Check them out at pnwcomponents.com.
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Photo – Vertigo Bikes
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | even though people aren't allowed to ride pirate trails. |
| 0:02.5 | Of course. |
| 0:03.3 | It's like, okay, we're going to name this one, but don't do it again. Went back to the UK, and I just thought, I don't want to be here. I want to come back to New Zealand, so I sold everything I had, came back here with a backpack and a bike, and I'm now 20 years into my six-month holiday. I love it. I don't know if we want to go there, Chris, because that's a |
| 0:22.5 | whole big can of worms. Hey everyone, I'm Chris Hall and this is the downtime podcast, the podcast for |
| 0:32.1 | the true fans of gravity mountain biking, taking you deeper into the sport than anywhere else. |
| 0:36.5 | This episode is sponsored by P&W components, but more about that later. As much as ever, the podcast needs your support. So if you enjoy listening, then I'd love it if you consider making a small regular donation over at patreon.com for slash downtime podcast. For the price of a coffee a month, you can really help make a difference and help keep me bringing you the shows that you love. You can also help out by sharing the episodes with your friends or online |
| 0:57.8 | or by something as simple as making sure you're following the podcast wherever you listen |
| 1:01.5 | or by subscribing to the Downtime Podcast YouTube channel. Following is as simple as hitting that |
| 1:06.7 | button in your podcast app or head into Downtime Podcast.com for slash follow. You can also give us a |
| 1:11.6 | follow on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok too where we're at Downtown Podcast. And for the real |
| 1:15.9 | inside line, you can join our newsletter at downtimepodcast.com for slash newsletter. All right, |
| 1:21.6 | Queensland is one of the world's most iconic mountain biking destinations, but few people know |
| 1:26.1 | the story behind its evolution. Today we're |
| 1:28.4 | joined by Pang and Tim from Vertigo Bikes, the shop that's at the very centre of Queensland's |
| 1:33.2 | mountain bike scene. From shaping local trails to influencing the evolution of the area and supporting |
| 1:38.1 | local racing and races, there's a lot to thank them for. In this episode, we dive deep into |
| 1:42.8 | the history, the culture and the legacy |
| 1:44.4 | of vertigo bikes and what it means for mountain biking in Queensland over the coming years. |
| 1:48.9 | So without further ado, here's Pang and Tim. |
| 1:55.6 | All right, Tim Chechi and Paul Angus, aka Pang. Welcome to the downtime podcast. It's been |
| 2:00.6 | a while getting this one together. |
| 2:01.6 | I'm stoked to finally sit down with you both. |
... |
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