MEET THE KIWIVELO TEAM

Vanessa began cycling at 14 through secondary school cycling. She went on to represent New Zealand at World Championship level as both a junior and senior athlete, while also winning multiple national titles as an Under-19 rider.

She represented New Zealand at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester and raced internationally for five years with one of the world’s leading professional women’s cycling teams at the time.

Beyond racing, Vanessa brings strong academic and professional credentials to Kiwivelo. She is a qualified sport scientist and nutritionist, holding a Bachelor of Science with a double major in Sport and Exercise Science and Human Nutrition. Combined with her racing background, these qualifications give her a deep understanding of performance, training, nutrition and athlete wellbeing.

Now a busy working mother, Vanessa enjoys mountain biking with her family, gravel riding and exploring by e-bike. Her experience allows her to understand the needs of riders at every stage, from competitive athletes to families and recreational cyclists.

Dan brings a broad, multidisciplinary background to Kiwivelo, with hands-on experience across road racing, mountain biking and triathlon. This well-rounded perspective allows him to understand the different demands each discipline places on both the rider and their equipment, making him a trusted source of advice for cyclists at every level.

At Kiwivelo, Dan works closely with customers on bike selection, setup and professional bike fitting. He takes the time to understand each rider’s goals, experience and individual needs, helping ensure their bike feels comfortable, performs as it should and supports the way they want to ride. His practical, rider-first approach means his advice is always grounded in real-world experience rather than generic recommendations.

Outside the shop, Dan enjoys golf and training in the gym. He also provides ongoing coaching and technical support for his wife’s professional triathlon career, keeping him closely connected to the highest levels of endurance sport and continually informing the advice he provides in-store.

Originally from the Waikato, Darren brings more than a decade of hands-on experience to the Kiwivelo workshop. He has built a reputation for reliability, consistency and getting the details right every time. Since joining the team in 2022, he has become a cornerstone of the workshop and is trusted with everything from routine servicing to complex repairs, performance builds and difficult problem-solving jobs.

Darren has worked on an enormous range of bikes and component setups, giving him a deep practical understanding of what works in the real world. Whether he is servicing a daily commuter, preparing a race bike or restoring a high-mileage workhorse, he approaches every job with the same care and attention to detail.

Outside the workshop, Darren rides as hard as he works. You will often find him at the pointy end of Wednesday bunch rides, setting the pace and quietly doing the damage at the front. If your bike has been through Darren’s hands, you can be confident it is ready for whatever you throw at it.