Hoops Petersfield: Meet Gary
Hoops Petersfield: Meet Gary
Hoops wouldn’t be what it is today without our fantastic team across our three stores, so in our ‘Meet’ series we’re going to introduce you to the people that make our cogs turn. If you haven’t seen our other ‘Meet The Team’ blog posts, check them out here.
Venturing over to our Petersfield store, we’re starting things out with our trusty mechanic extraordinaire and general cycling legend, Gary Hayter!
How did you get into cycling?
I bought my very first mountain bike all the way back in 1995 when I was living in Swaziland, a place that's about as rural as it gets, so perfect for cycling! I was hooked from the get-go, and being able to ride pretty much from my door never got old.
In the early 2000s I started working in game lodges, which meant my bike had to gather a bit of dust for a while. Working in tourism kept me pretty busy for a few years, and unfortunately I had very little time for cycling.
Fast forward to when I returned to Swaziland – the first thing I did was buy a new bike and start riding again. At that time, there was only one local race per year. So, in 2011, a few friends and I decided that we could do a better job of it…so...we did! Admittedly we were clueless at the time – our first event was, well, let's say it was a learning experience. But six years down the road, our race became the national championship for marathon XC!
What kept you cycling?
While I wasn't exactly setting any speed records in races, I was falling more and more in love with cycling. I started racing in South Africa, and let me be clear, I was way back in the pack, but I couldn't get enough of it.
Organising events gave me a good excuse to keep riding as I had to be out there all the time to keep on top of how the terrain was holding up, and checking which areas would be suitable to route the race through. Providing people with a fantastic day of riding was deeply satisfying, and really fed into my love for the sport. Luckily, over in Swaziland, organising events was a breeze – with minimal bureaucracy, we just had to send a few letters and give a heads-up that we’d be coming through!
How did you get into the bike trade?
The local bike shops in Swaziland left something to be desired, and I found myself tinkering with bikes and doing my own repairs. The more I tinkered, the more people asked me to sort their bikes out and seemingly every repair job required buying a new tool. After a while, I decided that if I keep having to buy tools, they need to start paying some rent! So, I took a Cytech course and decided to turn my hobby into a profession.
When did you join Hoops?
In 2021, I made the move to the UK. Already equipped with a Cytech qualification, I naturally picked up the tools here. It wasn't without its difficulties initially, as everyone in the trade here knows each other and I had arrived knowing nobody! However, my background in conservation and tourism, along with my dedication to cycling and event organising, helped me find my footing in the bike trade here. Now I’m here at Hoops, I haven’t looked back!
What would you do if you weren’t in the cycling trade?
If I weren't in the bike trade, I'd probably be back in the world of conservation. Forestry management and eco-tourism are passions of mine, and I think it’d be fun to get involved in that here in the UK.
Best day out on the bike?
My best day on the bike? There are a few contenders, almost too many to choose from! There were various stage races I participated in in South Africa that I’ll never forget. In terms of single days of riding, Berg And Bush, a 300km endurance ride, stands out. That was a pretty serious ride, both in terms of the physical exertion and the unbelievable beauty of the Drakensberg mountain range. There's something very special about that ride!
Another unforgettable experience was organising a charity ride to raise money for snake antivenom. In Swaziland, there's a foundation that provides antivenom free of charge to those bitten by venomous snakes. In the year I did the ride, 456 people were bitten by snakes and needed hospital treatment. Naturally, I decided that we’d ride 500 meters for each person, which added up to a gruelling 228km in a single stage, all off-road.
We completed that ride in 16 hours and managed to raise 50,000 rand (around £3000 at the time) to purchase antivenom. It was an exhausting and challenging day out, but incredibly rewarding.
Any exciting cycling events/adventures coming up?
In general, I’d like to just get out there and do more, but I'm always looking for new riding opportunities. I’d love to explore more marathon racing here in the UK. Unfortunately, this type of event is relatively small here due to logistical challenges, but it's a great community – I just haven’t broken into it yet!
Current bike?
At the moment, I'm riding my Stumpjumper FSR – I like to call it the Swiss Army knife of bikes. Now that I'm in the South Downs, this bike has proven to be an excellent match for my riding style. The undulating terrain, a mix of forest trails, singletrack, and gravel roads offers plenty of diversity, and the Stumpjumper takes it all in its stride.
