team

The freshest member of our expanding team. Hailing from South Africa, Nina first came to Switzerland in 2022 and fell in love with the cycling, the nature, the lifestyle and a man. A man who, of course, shares the same passion for everything cycling related. We met Nina through Isa, related to aforementioned man (it’s a bit of a family affair at CSZ now) and we were immediately charmed by her energy, humour and, necessary for the job, cycling knowledge.

Living in the countryside meant Nina’s first foray into biking in ‘Der Schweiz’ was of the mountain variety, though countless crashes and open wounds on knees, elbows and even the chin (apparently) logically brought about a stronger interest in road biking, allowing Nina to further challenge herself physically and mentally, spending a lot of her spare time climbing up her local mountain roads.

We’re thrilled!

Previously working in psychiatric research, Mischa is a neuroscientist by training, but exploration has always been at the heart of his nature. About two and a half years ago he stumbled into cycling, and it quickly became his favorite way to discover new places and take on long climbs. Since then he’s thrown himself into the sport- following the season closely and acribically tuning in to each race analysis by Lanterne Rouge. In the shop, his patience and genuine enjoyment of helping people make him easy to be around.

On group rides, he might not be the fastest, but he’ll always turn up with a smile and usually in the latest arrival of clothes from the store. His curiosity for both science and sport keeps him learning something new every day. And whether it’s bike gear, training tips, or just good conversation, Mischa is always eager to share what he’s discovered.

Yidan brings both athletic drive and warmth to the cycling community. Growing up in Zürich, she first excelled in boxing, competing on the Swiss national team and winning two Swiss championship titles before discovering cycling three years ago. What began as a new challenge quickly turned into a passion, especially for the thrill of speed on flat courses. Alongside road cycling, she also enjoys the technical side of mountain biking and riding trails, embracing the variety and skills each discipline brings.

Her academic path reflects the same balance of performance and ambition. With a bachelor’s degree in sport science already completed and a master’s in finance underway, Yidan combines a deep understanding of the body with sharp analytical skills. What she values most, though, is the community—meeting new people, sharing a good chat, and connecting through the joy of cycling. Whether on the road, in the mountains, or at the shop, Yidan brings energy, positivity, and a love for the sport to every setting.

Philip started as a part timer in the summer and through his hard work, cycling knowledge, organisation and ability to lead our (very fast) group rides throughout the summer, he’s become a pivotal part of the team. He has an extremely broad reach across the riding community in Zürich and is liked by everyone he meets.

Philip rides a lot. Unfortunately for the rest of us, this makes him the strongest member of the team on two wheels. He has extreme endurance - proven on our Ascension Day 265km/ 5800m ‘social’ ride with Sam and Andrew - a formidable punch and can climb with along with the best of them.

When we started hearing about Isa within the community here, it normally centred on one topic: that she’s very, very fast. Not only fast, but with endurance to match. She began attending our fast paced rides in 2022 and quickly became friends with the members of our expansive community, hanging out for beer and pizza at the end of the rides and, in addition to the already well formed idea of her competence on two wheels, made a reputation for being a very nice individual (She won the PNS Plus One Race in 2022, too). Skip to the beginning of 2023 and we’re looking for a new employee, ‘why not ask Isa?’. We did, she said yes and, as simple as that, this cyclist with a cult status within Zürich is now part of our team. Isa has a wealth of knowledge relating to how to sustain, both physically and mentally, on the bike. She knows how to prepare, how to fuel and what to wear/ take with you/ consider before you head out on a long, ambitious tour.

Jelena brings together creativity, determination, and a genuine love for cycling. As an architecture student with a strong passion for furniture and design, she has a sharp eye for detail and a natural curiosity for how things are built - qualities that spill over into her approach to sport. She began her cycling journey on a gravel bike three years ago and quickly discovered a deep enthusiasm for road cycling. Always drawn to new challenges, she soon took up triathlon, adding swimming and running to her training routine.

Her dedication is clear in the way she commutes from Winterthur to the store in almost every kind of weather, treating the ride not just as transport but as another chance to be on the bike. Whether tackling a new discipline, exploring design ideas, or helping out in the shop, Jelena thrives on learning, testing herself, and connecting with others along the way.

Having been a customer of ours for some years, Andre popped the question of whether we had any open positions in the early months of 2021, during the grip of a Covid lockdown. Looking back, we can’t believe our luck. André’s passion, knowledge, hard-working nature and ability to engage with anyone he meets (not least our Portuguese and Spanish speaking clients) continues to propel us in the right direction. He’s a quick wit and keeps the team morale sky high with his humour.

André is a strong roadie, a strong mountain biker and a strong gravel rider: the complete package. No one else in the team matches his effortless seated track stands and whether rides are long or short, hilly or flat, dry or wet, it can be a challenge to keep up with him.

Bicycles have always been part of Nicola’s life. He started riding as a kid and even tried his hand at competitive cycling before discovering that his real passion lay in the workshop. Over the years, he built up extensive experience working in top bike shops as well as on the World Tour, gaining the knowledge and skills that now define his work. For Nicola, being a bike mechanic isn’t just a job - it’s the dream he always chased.

What makes it even more rewarding is the balance between precision at the bench and freedom on the road. Nicola finds real joy in heading out with friends, exploring new routes, and sharing the adventure that cycling makes possible every day. His technical expertise, paired with his love for riding, ensures that whether he’s fixing a bike or riding one, he brings dedication and enthusiasm to everything he does.

Meet Chris, a true bike enthusiast and passionate cyclist. With a collection of 22 bikes, half of them in his living room, his apartment is basically a storage room. His cycling journey began at age five with his first BMX, his “first true love.” At 11, he built his first bike with his dad, a memory that still gives him goosebumps. By 16, he was riding a Cannondale Super V, the same frame Missy Giove rode to victory. His love for adventure is just as impressive as his knowledge. He has bikepacked through Patagonia, Argentina, Chile, Poland, Czechia, Hungary, and Slovakia.

His passion eventually became his career. Despite his quirky sense of humor, he’s serious about inspiring others. Chris is here to work hard, share stories, and fuel the cycling community.

In the early 00’s when Dani was selling bikes, dreaming of the day when he would own his own shop, Erwin was alongside him fixing them. Now a partner of Cycle Store Zurich, aside from being an exceptionally good mechanic, he is also a professional photographer and has helped shape the brand image of CSZ from the very beginning (take a look at our latest Pas Normal Studios event photos for a good example). With a busy schedule, mostly taking pictures, we don’t see him as much as we’d like to but when we do, it’s always a pleasure. He is just a really, really nice guy.

Erwin is an explorer. Touring some very remote parts of the world along with his camera, he’ll ride up to very high altitude in complete solitude, photographing baron, moon-like landscapes in the process.

Joshua brings a wealth of experience and passion to every bike fit. As a former bike racer, he understands firsthand the demands of the sport. After running his own bike fit studio in South Africa and spending two years in Sweden fitting cyclists from complete beginners to Olympic champions, Joshua has developed a sharp eye for detail and a deep understanding of what makes each rider unique.

He continues to invest in his professional development and combines his knowledge of racing, coaching, endurance strength & conditioning, and rehab to deliver bike fits that are both comprehensive and highly personalized. Whether you’re chasing performance gains or simply looking for the most comfortable position on your bike, Joshua’s years of experience make him the right person to help you achieve your goals.

The chief, the founder.

Having worked in a bicycle shop with his friends many moons ago, there was always a dream to open a shop of his own. In 2017, when Cycle Store Zurich’s doors opened and bikes began rolling in and out of them, Dani’s dream became a reality. His attention to detail, indefatigable nature and passion for world class customer service have put CSZ on the map as one of the finest bike shops in the business.

On the bike, Dani doesn’t like long rides, however much the other team members try to persuade him. Instead, short, fast, hilly rides are Dani’s specialty. If you can’t find him at the shop, hang around on the top of Buchenegg or Albispass, our local climbs and ones Dani rides on an almost daily basis.