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WACC emerged from a series of Wellington womens' bike repair courses run by Sylvie, Steph and Phoebe in 2017. The demand was massive and we had to turn people away.
'Amazing supportive environment...I feel confident to muck around with my bike and try to fix it when things go wrong!' The positive, 'we want more' feedback showed there was a strong desire for more comprehensive, affordable bike repair courses in Te Whanganui-a-tara and that is exactly what WACC provides.
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THE WACC TEAM
STEPHANIE CAIRNS
Co-director
Steph didn't discover cycling until she was in her early twenties but once she did it shortly became an obsession. She spent several years hanging around the Mechanical Tempest, Wellington's original DIY community bike workshop picking up skills. She then discovered the possibilities of cycle-touring and fell in love with the freedom of self-propelled travel. In 2016, she spent six months travelling around Mexico by bike with her partner. When she's not helping people to fix their bikes, she makes music, puppets and custom-made cycle-wear.
Co-director
Steph didn't discover cycling until she was in her early twenties but once she did it shortly became an obsession. She spent several years hanging around the Mechanical Tempest, Wellington's original DIY community bike workshop picking up skills. She then discovered the possibilities of cycle-touring and fell in love with the freedom of self-propelled travel. In 2016, she spent six months travelling around Mexico by bike with her partner. When she's not helping people to fix their bikes, she makes music, puppets and custom-made cycle-wear.
PHOEBE BALLE
Co-director
Phoebe vividly remembers her first bike; a blue tricycle with white wheels that she whizzed around on as a toddler. Twenty-something years on, that sense of independence afforded by two wheels (or three as the case may be) has stuck with her, and taken her on some great adventures. At 18, Phoebe spontaneously spent two weeks cycling the Camino in Spain where, despite zero bike-repair knowledge, she managed to change the inevitable flat tyre. After that, she was hooked on bike repairs and got her foot in the door by volunteering in Auckland bike shops while studying. Five years on, she now works as a bike mechanic, e-bike tour guide and cycle safety instructor. Aside from bikes, Phoebe spends time building her fluency in te reo Māori and learning swing dancing.
Co-director
Phoebe vividly remembers her first bike; a blue tricycle with white wheels that she whizzed around on as a toddler. Twenty-something years on, that sense of independence afforded by two wheels (or three as the case may be) has stuck with her, and taken her on some great adventures. At 18, Phoebe spontaneously spent two weeks cycling the Camino in Spain where, despite zero bike-repair knowledge, she managed to change the inevitable flat tyre. After that, she was hooked on bike repairs and got her foot in the door by volunteering in Auckland bike shops while studying. Five years on, she now works as a bike mechanic, e-bike tour guide and cycle safety instructor. Aside from bikes, Phoebe spends time building her fluency in te reo Māori and learning swing dancing.
AUDREY BANACH-SALAS
Course instructor
Audrey did a WACC block course in 2018. At the end of the last night she told us that she wanted to be a bike mechanic. At the start of 2019 she joined the WACC team as an instructor.
Course instructor
Audrey did a WACC block course in 2018. At the end of the last night she told us that she wanted to be a bike mechanic. At the start of 2019 she joined the WACC team as an instructor.
Casey Mitchell
Social media & marketing manager
Casey is the quintessential millennial with eight social media accounts. She is an English Literature graduate with a strong belief in the power of social media to change the world. Casey is leading the charge on WACC's marketing strategy to extend our online reach. She is Bri'ish and currently living in Aotearoa New Zealand after a year in Australia. Casey is developing her cycling skills with the help of the WACC team.
Social media & marketing manager
Casey is the quintessential millennial with eight social media accounts. She is an English Literature graduate with a strong belief in the power of social media to change the world. Casey is leading the charge on WACC's marketing strategy to extend our online reach. She is Bri'ish and currently living in Aotearoa New Zealand after a year in Australia. Casey is developing her cycling skills with the help of the WACC team.