Newy Rides x Ghost Gum Bikes (Fairdale Weekender Archer 2022 build)

Nov 11, 20213 min read

Updated: Nov 24, 2021

If you're into bikes (even a little bit) you know that "new bike day" is pretty special. It's like getting a new toy - but this toy takes you on adventures, wherever they may be.

In our case, 'new bike day' meant a new bike for our business. Ben was looking for something that could "haul boatloads of wine, gin, tools and bits and bobs" - everything you might thing a tour guide may need during a Newy Rides tour.

It was important that the bike could double an urban commuter, cargo transporter and fun machine (for off-the-job adventures).

In steps Ghost Gum Bikes.

When we first moved to Newcastle, we discovered a great little bike shop, Ghost Gum Bikes, that is focuses on getting more people riding bikes, keeping their gear in tip top shape and promoting a strong local riding culture.

A nice little post on Ghost Gum's Facebook wall speaks to exactly what the shop is all about:

Way back around 1997, we first found out about an awesome new trend in cycling (or so we thought) Single Speed Mountain Biking, a friend of mine Dave, younger brother Andy put us onto it and informed me about the Surly 1x1 and the future was paved from there.

Since then a Single Speed has been in the fleet, serving a constant reminder that you don't need all the modern wizardry in modern bikes to have fun riding bikes.

Since then I found out about what I like to call the Godfathers of modern Mountain Biking, Charlie Kelly, Gary Fisher, Tom Ritchey, Joe Breeze ( the man who manufactured the first known MTB) and their friends from Marin County California, and realised we and many others to come were doing what a lot of young men do, just having fun in the scrub.

So I guess what I've found is as long as you're equipment serves the purpose, it's not always about the bike but it's about "whoever has the most fun wins".

The Bike - Fairdale Weekender Archer 2022

We settled with a Fairdale Weekender Archer 2022 which is part-commuter, part-gravel bike and an all round great ride.

Fairdale have an interesting story, hailing from BMX origins, they are a bike builder from Austin, Texas dedicated to providing high quality bikes for the everyman.

Starting with a bare frame, Ben masked up all the holes you don't want any paint and gave it a base coat using Black Friars paint by Spray.Bike. Once the paint is dry we put vinyl pieces all over the bike giving it the black confetti effects.

After a few coats of Goldhawk paint by Spray.Bike, we removed the masking to let the black confetti effect to shine through. Finishing with a coat of gloss (Spray.Bike) the bike was ready to be built.

Spray.Bike make purpose made bike paint. With a powder base you can expect a dribble-free finish and a great result with some practice. They have a huge range of colours, prepping and finishing products. Great gear and have a friendly, Melbourne-based distributor (and online store) that will help with any queries.