Johnny Guy has kitted out a bike with an ice cream cooler and is offering up his product to walkers on Manawatu's Bridle Track.

Johnny 'Icecream' Guy has, in his so-called retirement, discovered a market niche he has embraced - frozen sweet treats on wheels.

One of Palmerston North's latest licensed street vendors, Guy launched Pedal-it Refreshments in time to make the most of summer months and has made it his mission to satisfy both locals and visitors alike who need to quench the most desperate of thirsts on the hottest of days.

"I get a real buzz out of it. It's exciting for me and exciting for them," 65-year-old Guy said.

David Unwin/Fairfax NZ. Johnny Guy recently retired, and decided people walking along the river walkway need ice cream while out this summer. So he has kitted out a bike with an ice cream cooler and is dolling out his product to walkers.

"They all say what a great idea it is."

Modern in-design but visually vintage, Guy's three-speed reverse-tricycle sports a square-front design made to cradle his chilly bin icecream and iceblock store. He purchased the trike new for $2600 from a Levin shop.

"There's been a bit of investment in it, but it is becoming worth it...it's good to have a little bit of income," Guy said.

Eighty dollars in five minutes sort of worth it - just yesterday Guy happened to encounter an Indian tour group just after they had enjoyed hot curries for dinner.

"The melon flavour went down pretty well," Guy said.

He sells both iceblocks and icecream sandwiches and vocally promotes himself with pride to passers by.

"It's wonderful how much interest there's been in it," Guy said.

As for his dapper chic pink and white-themed chilly-bin matching icecream vendor uniform - "that was my wife!"

Guy said it has been his dream for some time now to get Pedal-It Refreshments rolling and to be self-employed, after years in the meat and service industries. His wife, Christine Guy, has also become involved in the business.

"I'm out here for four to five hours a day. Sometimes I go home to reload ... whenever I need the gents I just ring up the wife, we don't live very far away, and I get her to come down and watch the bike for me while I go."

He began on an actual vintage bicycle, a 1938 butcher's bike, which had a basket up front. He found it in an antiques shop in Woodville.

"I couldn't quite get it right. I've still got it [the butchers bike], I've got another use for that."

Due to a long-term hip injury which initially encouraged his unwanted retirement, and a near-crash on the vintage wheels, Guy had to rethink his approach for his own safety and for ease of product portability.

"If you like, it's me pedalling my wares!"

Guy can be found on the Manawatu River's Bridle track, the Fitzherbert Bridge area and at district events.

"It's about keeping active. So it's golf in the morning, then I pedal around all afternoon...my goal is to live to 100."