AMBASSADORS
MARGUERITE BLACK - CLINICAL CHILD COUNSELLING, RED CROSS
Marguerite loved cycling too, but with her loss of balance and weaker muscles, she had to surrender to two wheels of a different configuration.
Now Marguerite can exercise her legs and also keep up with Curtis on more adventurous rides. Marguerite has also noted an unexpected benefit to her electric recumbent; “Wheelchairs have such a negative connotation, and people never quite know how to react to its occupants, but on my recumbent, people are more open to me, never question my abilities, and assume I am just out cycling on my funky three wheeler.”
CURTIS ELLIOTT - MULTI MEDIA DIRECTOR WOOLWORTHS
Curtis grew up in the friendly city of Port Elizabeth, where he was able to witness the upcoming 80’s fads of Rubik’s cubes, competitive skateboarding, street BMX, and the dawn of windsurfing.A software developer by trade, and a creative at heart, Curtis has proven he has a natural talent for telling heartwarming stories through his use of video, photography and imagery.
Curtis’s fiancé, Marguerite, suffers from a degenerative neuro-muscular disorder that has her confined to a wheelchair. Curtis however, had the practical knowledge to get her cycling again, and together with Chilled Squirrel they retrofitted a three wheeler recumbent to electric for her.
NICHOLAS ASHBY - DIRECTOR, CAPE TREKKING
Nick is a fully qualified and registered hiking guide. He fulfills his passion by taking people on hikes in the Cape area with his company - Cape Trekking. Nick worked as an actor for ten years, having studied drama at the University of Cape Town. When Nick and his wife planned to take a year off from acting so as to travel, it turned into seven. During that time they became English teachers in Egypt, Russia and Taiwan, parents in the USA, and studied Mandarin. They hiked and trekked wherever they went. The highlight was always the Himalayas. Since coming back to South Africa in 2005 Nick published a novel, taught more, as well as keep guiding on his old favourite, Table Mountain, and other hiking trails around the Cape. Nick has partnered with Explore Sideways to take people on extraordinary hiking and electric bike Wine tours in the Cape and surrounds.
LEONIE MERVIS - DIRECTOR BICYCLE SOUTH
For Leonie, environmentalist and founder of cycling advocacy organization Bicycle South her e-bike represents the ultimate freedom of mobility. What started off as a way to flatten Cape Town’s hills on her commute, has opened up a whole new landscape of possibilities - enabling her to travel further and faster - taking her far beyond the city limits on bike camping trips and off-road adventures. Her Jack-of-all-trades e-bike is a gravel-grinding SOMA Wolverine, kitted out with a 350W Chilled Squirrel hub motor and expandable battery solution (delivering 50- 100km a charge) – powerful enough for loaded touring and yet light enough for everyday commuting. A versatile combination designed to see her though adventures great and small.
GOOGLE JOHANNESBURG INVEST IN CHILLED SQUIRREL E-BIKES FOR RUNNING ERRANDS
As part of the green movement, contribution to zero-emission forms of transport and in support of a growing trend in cities to commute by bicycle, Google Johannesburg invested in 2 electric bikes from Chilled Squirrel. Google's member of staff at its JHB Offices are able to use the hybrid e-bikes to zip around town to run errands.
We are super proud to have had Bluevensky , a local Capetonian artist hand paint directly onto the walls at our store.
She assisted us to add colour and bring life to our store with her amazing artwork talents.
Check out her latest work on Instagram @Bluevensky and Feel Free to contact her for your own project.