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The first Pegasus cycling enterprise
in Australia was Pegasus Cycles, a shop developed in Doncaster, Melbourne and run by Peter
Howell from 1976 to 1985.
The Pegasus Crew
was subsequently drawn together by Peter in 1989 to provide
support for the Great Victorian Bike Ride that year. After supporting more than 50 major cycling events
throughout Australia and New Zealand
over 18 years, Peter sold that part of his cycling endeavours in early 2007. In 2009 Bicycle Victoria
replaced The Pegasus Crew in the support for their events and The Pegasus Crew no longer exists.
In 2000, coming across a vacant shop on The Esplanade, Brighton the concept of a rather unique
bicycle shop was born. Peter led a cooperative involving four other Crew members to establish
The Pegasus Crew shop on Melbourne's premier cycling route. The shop was unique in it's operating
hours (only open 2 evening hours during weekdays), it's primary focus being service and repairs, and
in that it specialised in the sale of Tandems. It was recognised that success in tandem sales would only
come with a unique approach which encouraged and facilitated significant test rides. This allowed
prospective customers to determine if tandem riding was appropriate for them. This approach was supported by
making tandems available for daily hire during the events suppported by The Pegasus Crew.
The shop name was subsequently changed to
Beach Road Cycles and in July 2005 was sold to William Hamilton (one
of the early Crew members and originators of the shop). William now runs the shop as a more
traditional bicycle shop although he still specializes in the sale of tandems.
Having sold the shop, and recognizing that there was a lack of quality tandems in Australia at a
reasonable price, Peter starting talking to a number of Tiawanese manufacturers to see if it was possible to
effect the design and importation of tandems on a small scale and still be able to get them to the retail
market at a competetive price with reasonable wholesale and retail margins.
The end result of this process was landing the Pegasus Duet and the Pegasus Tango early in 2006. During the
intervening period Peter took up an opportunity to import the Fuji Absolute 4.2 Tandem. The
tandems have been distributed traditionally via a very limited number of bicycle shops (considerable difficulty was
experienced in finding retailers who would stock tandems and sell them appropriately). In addition, where no retailer is available Tandems
are sold directly with assembly and after sales service being provided by past Pegasus Crew mechanics
available in many areas around the country. Unlike traditional marketing, direct advertising is
not used rather Peter relies on exposing and making the tandems available for hire during events such
as The Great Victorian Bike Ride.
2010 will see the introduction of two more Pegasus tandems - an entry level alloy framed tandem selling
for under $1000 and a sophisticated 30 speed touring flat bar road bike style tandem with hydraulic
disc brakes.
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