RIDERS wanting a winter service at Gavin's Bike Hospital, Oxford, in the New Year will have to book early.

The proprietor is shutting up his business for a month or so to go on a true "busman's holiday".

Gavin Wheeler, aged 42, will be borrowing a friend's Electra Glide and plans a trip of a lifetime touring New Zealand, a land with wild, unspoiled countryside that is packed full of natural wonders.

His last great two-wheeled trip was six years ago. Then, together with friends, he went trail riding in the snowy wastes of Iceland.

In fact Gavin's introduction to the motorcycle industry was by sheer chance. While working in engineering in Sheffield, he journeyed down to Oxford to get some special parts for his Moto Guzzi.

He popped into Oxford Motorcycle Engineers, the dealership in Hythe Bridge Street, got chatting, and was offered a mechanic's job on the spot. He stayed for 13 years.

During his time there he worked on bikes of all makes and still found time to go motorcycle circuit racing.

For more than seven years he could be found on all the major UK tracks, campaigning everything from a Formula One Kawasaki, to TZ250s, to production bikes.

Nowadays, with his own independent motorcycle servicing business, he prefers Enduro events, as well as relaxing trail and green laning.

In mid-February to mid-March his ultimate "green lane" tour will be of New Zealand.

At the moment his business is on the Minns Estate, just off Botley Road, but looming redevelopment of the site means he is looking for a new base in the city. If you have any premises that may suit, phone Gavin on Oxford 202700.

Story date: Wednesday 01 December

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.