Success of electric bike shop creates a real buzz
A STRATFORD-UPON-AVON cycling business is convinced that electric bikes could be the answer to the town’s traffic problems after deciding to go all-electric.
Velotech Services, which has been selling and servicing traditional bikes from a shop on Western Road for eight years, took the plunge earlier this year to set up Warwickshire E Bikes, the county’s first all–electric bike store.
Though the five strong team at the company still service traditional bikes, the decision to stop selling such models to concentrate on electric bikes reflects where the company sees the future of the industry.
Jon Chandler, sales and project manager at Warwickshire E Bikes, said: “It was a massive risk to take but we wanted to do it before everybody else does, we’re the first all-electric bike company in Warwickshire.
“We were really struggling to sell many normal bikes, so we decided to offer something new in the area and it’s gone really well so far, we’re selling a lot more electric models now than we were selling traditional ones.
“We sell four brands of electric bikes, all of high quality and we aim to offer something for everyone and a great personal service where people can try the bikes first.
“The new generation of electric bikes is quite different from a lot of people’s perceptions of electric bikes, the range of some of them is up to 100km and we do mountain bikes as well as road models.
“I’m very interested in the environment and the traffic is just so bad in Stratford. Electric bikes enable people to get out in the fresh air and leave their car at home.
“I think traffic is only going to get worse in Stratford and more people using electric bikes instead of driving will only help ease congestion. If I drive my ten-year-old son to school and then I drive to work it is impossible for me to be in on time because of the traffic.
“There are some traditional cyclists who might think getting an electric bike is cheating, but I would say people should just see it as a fun activity which gets you out in the fresh air with the family. Electric bikes are the fastest growing sector in the cycling industry.”
