Bikes De Ver is an independent family owned bicycle store that has been operating in Fairfield since 1996.
The store is operated by father (Peter) and son (Thomas) that between them possess expertise spanning over 60 years in the industry. This allows us to be one of the unique stores that can repair anything from cotter pins cranks to the latest Di2 hydraulic bicycles.
Thomas & Peter before a training ride,
circa 2009.
From humble beginnings.
Peter was raised in West Heidelberg and at the age of 13 was introduced to racing
at the Preston Cycling Club. As his interest grew in the sport he began working
on bicycles at the Bates factory in Coburg
at the age of 15, his first job was lacing
the wheels ready for truing. His goal was
to save up enough money so that Ron,
owner of Bates would build him a track bike to race at the Preston velodrome.
Peter on his first (Hillman) track bicycle, circa 1963.
Fast forward 11 years, after four years of racing on the European scene, living between London & Ghent, Peter had a serious crash at the 4 Jours de Dunkerque and called
it a day on his dream of becoming a professional cyclist. After the incident
Peter moved back to London and began working with Chas Roberts, owner
and legendary frame builder of Roberts Cycles. Shortly after, Peter soon realised
he possessed all the abilities to open a bicycle store himself and in 1976 De Ver
was founded. The name is a play on Peter’s surname of Verleysdonk, De (The) Ver
(First three letters of the surname).
Peter outside of his first shop on Streatham High Rd, circa 1978.
During his time in London Peter etched out a niche frame building workshop in which he would produce custom bicycles to a very high level emphasising his attention to detail. Peter was one of the first frame builders to put the front brake of the bicycle behind the front fork so that it was hidden from the wind thus reducing drag.
The store was sold to Maurice Burton in 1987
and is still operating today in South London. After a few years away from the bicycle industry, living in sun-drenched Queensland lost its appeal which made Peter move back
to his roots in Melbourne.
Peter’s special time trial bike featured in Cycling Weekly magazine, circa 1980.
A Fairfield Affair.
In 1995, Fairfield bicycle store was opened on Station street, marking the start of our long presence in the area of over 25 years. In 2006, we moved the store to a bigger premises on Heidelberg Rd and changed the name to Bikes De Ver. This was done
as we began to import bicycles under our own brand and link it back to the bicycles Peter produced at his first store in South London.
Fairfield Bicycle Store on Station St,
circa 2001.