Sparque E-bikes

“We believe that life is better by bike!”

At the heart of Sparque's story are two bike-loving friends: Thijs van der Heijden, a Dutch financial economist turned passionate cycling advocate, and Sandy Harman, bike shop customer turned bike shop co-owner.

Sparque is a local e-bike store and workshop in West Melbourne (relocated from North Melbourne recently), but over the years its reputation for championing sustainable commuter transport has expanded Australia-wide.

Thijs, originally from the Netherlands, found his current calling in the bike lanes of Melbourne. “In the Netherlands, riding a bike is a way of life because infrastructure and political choices have made it the easiest way to get around. I also raced competitively for close to ten years.”

But it wasn't until he moved to Melbourne in 2011 that he truly appreciated the freedom and autonomy that cycling offered.

“When my partner and I moved to Melbourne, the first thing we did was drop off our suitcases at the hotel. The second thing we did was buy ourselves a pair of bikes!”
“But I quickly realised that cycling in Melbourne was a whole different experience. It wasn’t necessarily easy or convenient. So for years I was involved in bicycle advocacy to try and improve cycling conditions in the City of Melbourne, and trained as a bike skills instructor to help get people on a bike.
“Then in 2016, out of academic curiosity, a university colleague and I applied to the Australian Tax Office for a private ruling to determine if e-bikes could be salary-sacrificed. When my application was successful, I decided that this was a sign that I should pursue my passion and create a business providing corporate workers with e-bikes.”

Sandy's journey to Sparque is equally compelling. As a customer impressed by the quality of Sparque’s stock of Riese & Müller e-bikes and the general ethos of the business, Sandy saw an opportunity not just to invest financially, but to contribute to a cause close to his heart.

Today Sparque is the pre-eminent supplier of e-bike salary packaging options in Australia. "We work with a lot of public sector clients - local councils, state governments, the federal government and public health organisations," Thijs explains. “Our focus is on building strong relationships, inviting people into a movement and sharing a vision for a greener, more sustainable future.”

While further expansion is on the cards for Sparque, Thijs and Sandy emphasise that their work isn’t just about the ride - it’s about changing lives.

“We want to make cycling, and e-bikes, accessible for everyone - whether you need a cargo bike for the family or a sleek city commuter. There’s a real feeling of joy we get when someone who has been driving for years makes that switch to go and ride a bike.”

Words by Joyce Watts & Photography by Anna Encio