Ricoh boss peddles bike fitness

Six Ricoh staff bikes are about to arrive and be caged in a guest carpark off Victoria St West. Staff will be able to hire a bike online, pick up a safety helmet from reception, then pedal away. Photo / Thinkstock

"Get on yer bike," Ricoh New Zealand managing director Michael Pollok is telling staff. And he means it.

The business has left its premises at Grafton Gully's Stanley St for the ex-Mainzeal headquarters opposite Victoria Park, a building extensively extended and refurbished by landlord Brett Russell of Dominion Constructors for the October 1 shift.

Now, six Ricoh staff bikes are about to arrive and be caged in a guest carpark off Victoria St West.

Staff will be able to hire a bike online, pick up a safety helmet from reception, then pedal away.

Ricoh's New Zealand managing director Michael Pollok

"I'm a keen cyclist. I'm about to bike around Lake Taupo next weekend which will take me about six hours," said Pollok, who showed off his own white and black Pinarello with electronic gear shift, hanging just outside reception.

"Customers are welcome to ride bikes here too. Our bikes will be mainly for recreation. Instead of sitting around eating and drinking coffee in their lunch hour, we want them to get out, go around the Wynyard Quarter," Pollok said of his hopes for the 180 people working in the three-level building.

The new base is sprouting green walls, has an outdoor deck, recycled bamboo stairs and handrails, collects rooftop rainwater for recycling and provides extensive lockers and showers for the cycling staff.

Prime Minister John Key is to open the new building at a function for about 200 people tomorrow evening.