Flite Wheels joins ‘1% for Trails’ programme to support Trail Fund NZ
Trail Fund NZ is thrilled to have Flite Wheels – the mountain bike branch of Wheelworks, Wellington’s hub for hand built wheels – join the ‘1% for Trails’ programme. As a 1% sponsor, Flite Wheels will donate 1% of all revenue from sales to Trail Fund NZ, who use the funds to support the development and maintenance of publicly accessible, environmentally sensitive and sustainable mountain bike trails around New Zealand.
“We’re proud to become an official Trail Fund NZ sponsor,” says Flite and Wheelworks founder and owner Tristan Thomas, who grew up riding on the North Shore in Vancouver, Canada. “Trails don’t build themselves, so the opportunity to support an organisation that helps fund the trails we love to ride is a great way to give back to the community that supports us.”
Since opening Wheelworks in 2006, Tristan’s established a reputation as a bit of a quality relic – in a world where it’s often considered normal to replace rather than repair, his commitment to “building something to last” is a rarity.
Located in Wellington, Tristan and his mountain-biking obsessed co-builder Gavin McCarthy handcraft bespoke wheels that “aren’t easy to make, but aren‘t easy to break” and offer a lifetime guarantee against broken spokes.
“Much like trail builders in New Zealand, I believe in building a quality product that improves the rider’s experience,” says Tristan. “But I’m not out there every weekend crafting new lines, so I’m glad that Trail Fund NZ has created an avenue for me to contribute nonetheless.”
It’s through the generous support of sponsors like Flite Wheels that Trail Fund NZ has provided grants to 30 volunteer-led trail projects across New Zealand.
“We are very pleased to welcome Tristan and Flite Wheels on board,” said Trail Fund NZ chairperson Ben Wilde.
“This type of long-term commitment to supporting mountain bike trails is exactly the sort of financial support we need to keep our sport moving forward and it’s particularly impressive to see smaller businesses contributing so generously to the trail building community.”