BQ Meets: Pedal Inn Bicycle Garage

In the heart of Brisbane’s bayside, Pedal Inn Bicycle Garage is more than just a shop – it’s also a gravel rider’s dream basecamp, a bikepacker’s planning station, and a warm, unpretentious hub for anyone chasing adventure on two wheels – for kids young and old. Founded in 2019 by Nick and Michelle Sando, the store grew from a shared frustration: a lack of bike shops that truly understood everyday cyclists and those chasing off-the-beaten-track experiences.

“We were sitting around a fire one night, pondering our future,” Michelle says. “Nick wasn’t happy in his job and missed being on the tools. A friend planted the idea of opening a bike shop. We both love riding, it just made sense.” That night, the idea for Pedal Inn Bicycle Garage was born, a dream to create something different — approachable, expert-led, and community-focused.

When the shop opened, their goal was simple: offer honest servicing and advice to fill a clear gap in the local area. But it didn’t stay small for long. Demand surged during the pandemic, with customers craving reliable repairs, hard-to-find components, and real advice. Michelle soon left her job to work in the business full-time – and she’s never looked back.

“It’s fun and it’s rewarding,” she says. “We talk bikes all day and help people discover adventure – what’s not to love?”

That sense of discovery is central to what makes Pedal Inn unique. While they serve a broad mix of cyclists, they’ve become a magnet for riders looking to escape; explore long routes, and build bikes as unique as their ambitions – and personalities.

“Off-road is where we really shine,” says Nick. “We live and breathe it. Our own bikes are constantly evolving, and we test everything. We know what works because we ride it ourselves.”

Their experience spans multi-day off-grid bikepacking adventures, credit-card touring, mixed terrain epics and backyard overnighters. It’s no surprise riders travel from the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, and beyond to get advice – and gear – they can’t find elsewhere.

“People come in with questions like, ‘Can I use this bike for an overnighter?’ or ‘How do I carry gear on a carbon frame?’ and we can talk through all of it — racks vs bags, tyre clearance, gearing, all the fiddly bits that make or break a trip,” says Michelle. “That’s where we really help.”

They also help customers build from the frame up — an increasingly popular option for people wanting a truly personal setup. This has covered bikes for urban adventures, dream builds for mountain bikers, and of course bespoke builds for off-road adevntures.

“We often end up solving problems that aren’t addressed in stock builds,” says Nick. “Someone might want wide tyres, flared bars, and a dynamo hub — but also be under a certain budget. We make it work.” These types of bikes are not found in stock builds, but Pedal Inn are frequently working with riders to create what they want and need.

Pedal Inn doesn’t just stock popular brands, they curate gear with intention, favouring products that perform when the bitumen runs out. Whether it’s a custom steel tourer, a lightweight gravel race bike, or a hybrid build that can handle school drop-off and dirt trails, they approach each customer with deep listening and tailored guidance.

“We’ve built bikes for local Rail Trails, Hunt 1000, Tour Aotearoa and even European winery tours” Nick adds. “You don’t have to be an ultra-endurance rider either — we love helping people get started with just one bag and a sense of curiosity.”

Through their online store, they’ve become a go-to for hard-to-find parts like alternative handlebars, clever mounting solutions, and gear that thrives in dusty, bumpy conditions. It’s all backed by first-hand experience — something that sets them apart in an industry increasingly driven by algorithms and warehouse logistics.

“We’re not just selling a bike or a bag — we’re selling confidence,” Michelle says. “People know they can ask us anything, from tyre pressures to where to camp.”

Pedal Inn’s alignment with Bicycle Queensland’s mission made becoming a BQ Link retail member an easy decision.

“Bicycle Queensland’s advocacy work supports what we care about — safer infrastructure for riding, better access for all kinds of riding, not just commuting,” Michelle says. “Gravel and bikepacking are growing fast, and we need to protect and support the places people want to ride.”

As a BQ Link partner, they enjoy extra exposure and community connection, but the real value comes from shared purpose.

“We want more people on bikes — not just for sport, but for life,” Nick says. “If we can help someone plan their first overnighter or fall in love with dirt roads, that’s a win. And being part of BQ means we’re part of something bigger.”

Six years on, Pedal Inn continues to grow — not by chasing trends, but by doubling down on what they do best: helping people discover the joy of riding, one custom build or trailhead conversation at a time.