About Nic and Bikes – Racing and Riding History
I started racing when I was 20 and went straight into downhill, finishing up with a best result of 3rd Pro Elite woman in NZ and plans to head overseas onto the North American circuit. A serious back injury racing downhill put a stop to that, so I moved to road racing for the next decade culminating with racing at world cup level on the road and short stints on the track and XC racing. Since then my focus has been trail riding and the odd cameo at local enduro races.
Now, I am all about the ‘smiles per hour’ – playing as much as I can on the downhills and having fun. My previous day job of 23 years in the cycling industry means I am up to date with all the latest advances, bike and gear changes. This means I provide great advice on pretty much everything ‘bike’.
My goal is to give you the skills you need to enjoy your riding more, ensuring you are equipped with the best techniques to build confidence, feel in control and have the ‘wow’ and ‘yuss’ factor in your riding!
I am THE HIGHEST qualified mountain bike coach IN WELLINGTON, with almost a decade of coaching under my belt, am current in Pre-Hospital Emergency Care 1st Aid, AND A Worksafe Adventure Activities Accredited coaching business.
I work with riders of all skill levels, from beginners to experts. I love helping beginner riders gain confidence on grade 2/3 trails, while also assisting more experienced riders in mastering the technical challenges of cornering, jumping, drops, and maintaining trail speed.
Personal Life
I have lived in Wellington since moving here for University in 1997. I live with my wife Chris and big fluffy old huntaway Tug, in Rongotai. Our last few adventures have included mountain biking over the Paparoa, Old Ghost Road, and cycle touring from Taumarunui to Masterton on gravel bikes, and recently all around Taiwan. We are currently planning our next trip which could be the Silk Road, Chile/Patagonia, South East Asia or Europe! My current favourite trails are 491 in Wainuiomata, Topa topa in Miramar and Unhinged near St Arnaud.
My Qualifications and Certifications
- I am NZQA level 5, and GSMBC Level 1 intermediate qualified mountain bike coach – soon to sit my L2. This is cool.
- In 2023/2024 I donted 1% of my revenue to invest in carbon removing technologies by being part of Stripe Climate. In 2025 I am contributing to Trees that Count. This is also pretty cool.
- I hold a current outdoor Pre Hospital Emergency Care 1st aid qualification. This is a big deal.
- Nic Johnson MTB Coach is an Adventure Activities Accredited mountain bike coach in Wellington for adults. This is an even bigger deal and a legal requirement to accept payment for guiding and coaching on mountain bike trails in New Zealand.
Don’t settle for anything less than a qualified and certified, safety audited operation to look after you and your riding. Being an Adventure activities accredited operation means all my safety procedures, internal and external processes have been audited as being safe for you!
Your safety, enjoyment and being supported to learn in a environment that is absolutely the best practice in the outdoor industry is the minimum standard. Learn from a Pro! Doing Fun Safely!
Check out my courses, private lessons, and online coaching pages to find something that might suit you.
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