A boutique bike shop is bringing hard-to-find bikes, frames, parts and accessories to Islington.

For some, a bike is simply a way to get from A to B. For others, it becomes a passion project – something to customise, and make completely their own. 

If you fall firmly into the bike-obsessed camp, chances are you're already familiar with Islington's Stay Gold Cycles. If not, read on – you might just find yourself taking a newfound interest in bikes.

Opening its Maitland Road doors on 12 July, the boutique bike shop brings a hard-to-find range of bikes, frames, parts and accessories, along with plenty of expert mechanical know-how – and to say the Newcastle’s cycling community has been excited to see is a massive understatement. 

Built around a love of riding and decades of industry experience, owners Erin and Rob wanted to create a space where people could get honest advice, quality workmanship, and a bike that genuinely suits them.

“If we don’t ride and rate it, we won’t stock it,” owner Rob says.

With more than 20 years of industry and mechanical experience behind them, Stay Gold Cycles caters to everyone from everyday commuters and weekend riders.

Walking into Stay Gold Cycles, you’re met with wall-to-wall bikes, accessories, unique builds and colourful components. Continue down the corridor and you’ll find brands such as Kona, Curve Cycling, Bassi, Hudski and Fairdale – all personally ridden and rated by the team. 

For Rob, choosing brands comes down to finding companies that offer something different while still being accessible.

“Kona are an amazing brand because they balance fringe and mainstream,” he says.

“They offer something for everyone. They have great entry-level bikes through to high-performance bikes and some very niche offerings.”

That same philosophy extends throughout the store – showcasing a range of premium products without making cycling feel exclusive.

Bringing global bike brands closer to home 

One of the biggest drawcards of Stay Gold Cycles is bringing harder-to-find brands closer to Newcastle riders. Curve Cycling is one such brand, an Australian company known internationally for its adventure and gravel bikes, alongside brands from Australia, Canada, and beyond.

“Before this, people were travelling to Sydney to buy them,” Rob says.

The team is also planning demo days, giving riders the chance to try different bikes and experience the brands in person before committing.

Outside of the bigger brand names, Stay Gold Cycles also has a focus on smaller independent companies who are creating interesting products – from beautifully designed components to practical accessories designed for everyday riding.

While the shop offers complete bike builds, one of the things that sets Stay Gold Cycles apart is the custom build process.

Rather than simply choosing a bike from a catalogue, customers can work with the team to create something that reflects their own style and how they ride.

The process allows riders to consider everything from frames and components to colours, grips, pedals and accessories – helping them visualise how the finished bike will come together before the build begins.

“It’s about giving people the ability to see it before you start,” Erin says.

“People can come in and say, ‘I love that frame, but what if we did it in purple? What if we changed these parts?’”

The result is a bike that feels personal, whether it’s a carefully planned adventure setup or a colourful commuter designed for everyday rides.

Creating a community around cycling

Despite the premium builds and curated products, Stay Gold Cycles’ biggest focus is making cycling welcoming for everyone.

“We don’t want to alienate anyone, we want it to be a really cool community shop.”

That means catering for everyone, from someone purchasing their first bike through to experienced riders planning an adventure or building a high-end custom ride.

There are bikes starting from around $650, alongside builds worth thousands, but the focus remains the same: helping people find the right bike for their lifestyle.

The response from the Newcastle cycling community has already been overwhelming, with the launch event seeing dozens of riders take off from the Islington shop and cruise into the city with The Ship Inn being their launch party destination.

“The amount of interesting builds and people who are just so into their bikes was pretty mind-blowing,” Erin says.

Alongside sales and custom builds, the workshop is at the heart of Stay Gold Cycles, and the team welcomes bikes of all kinds, whether it’s a simple service, repairs, upgrades, or helping breathe new life into an older ride.

For Rob, keeping bikes running is an important part of cycling culture.

“We’ve had a lot of people come in asking if their older bike is worth fixing. Quite often a reasonably small investment into an older bike can yield great results that outweigh buying a very basic brand new bike for the same cost. The boom in 90’s 26” restomods is testament to this. Our focus is getting you onto something reliable, enjoyable and built to last.”.’”

The team’s approach is focused on sustainability, low maintenance, and helping riders spend more time riding and less time worrying about their bike.

For Erin and Rob the goal is simple: build bikes people love, keep them running, and help more people get out riding.

Editor’s note: This article was produced independently by the HUNTERhunter editorial team and is not paid or sponsored content.