Performance cycling business Prologue is to open the bike equivalent of a “luxury car showroom” in Harrogate tomorrow.
The showroom will display some of the finest quality bikes on the market, ranging in price from £3,000 to £15,000.
The showroom is based in Wellington House, the former hotel on Cold Bath Road.
John and Rachael Reid opened Prologue in another unit in Wellington House in 2014 — the year the Tour de France came to the Harrogate district.
Since then Prologue’s distinctive yellow branding has become a feature of Cold Bath Road. It has a shop selling cycling gear and clothing, a workshop, a bike fitting area and a café open to everyone.
But it doesn’t sell many bikes simply because there isn’t space.
The new showroom, in the former White Stone Ski and Sports Store, will address that by stocking up to 40 bikes.
The white lines of a road have been painted in the middle of the showroom and bikes will be displayed there, as well as hung from the walls to create a high end feel.
Mr Reid said:
“It will provide that same level of experience you get in a luxury car showroom.
“If you’re buying a high quality bike you want to enjoy the experience of going through that process of looking at it and trying it and getting that personal service.”
Prologue is expanding on Cold Bath Road.
Harrogate’s cycling hub
Scottish-born Mr Reid, who previously worked in software sales, opened Prologue eight years ago when he was looking for a change of career and lifestyle.
A keen cyclist, he and his wife, who used to work in the same building on Cold Bath Road when it was home to Harrogate Interiors, funded the business themselves.
They now employ eight full-time staff and several part-time and the shop only closes three days a year.
The business has benefitted from a surge of interest in performance cycling and British success in the Tour de France but the couple have worked hard to create a social hub as well as a business.
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They quickly forged links with local clubs Harrogate Nova and Cappuccino Cycling Club, whose members often converge outside. They also host talks on subjects such as nutrition and training and have even hold film screenings.
A launch event for the new showroom at Prologue tomorrow will feature a bike belonging to Tom Pidcock, the Leeds cyclist who represented Team Ineos, the leading British cycling team, at this year’s Tour de France.
Killinghall residents demand cycle routes to Harrogate
Killinghall residents have demanded North Yorkshire County Council create cycling routes as traffic conditions worsen.
A surge in housing developments, busier roads and increase in air pollution has led to many families feeling their travel options are limited only to the car.
Environmental campaigner and member of Harrogate District Cycle Action, Malcolm Margolis, said:
“It seems so obvious that cycle paths should have been provided through developer funding. Many Killinghall and local residents are calling for safe links. For now they are forced to use the A61 which is far too dangerous especially for families with young children. There has been no shortage of funding opportunities with all the new estates that have been and are still being built.
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A local business agrees. Tanya Umpleby, owner of Cooking Fantastic and The Cud Life Campsite and Holiday Cottages said:
“We have a lot of families who stay and want to go out cycling, but won’t because of how busy the A61 road is and there’s only one tiny footpath.”
Harrogate District Cycle Action has been in discussion with Councillor Michael Harrison, who represents Killinghall and Hampsthwaite. In a recent letter the group asked for a cycling route from Killinghall to Harrogate via Otley Road, and another on the A61 Ripon Road.
Cllr Harrison responded, saying that he has pushed for cycle links and improved footpaths but was unsuccessful. He added that North Yorkshire County Council said a 1km cycle track would cost around £400,000.
Yesterday, North Yorkshire County Council submitted a £1 million funding application for sustainable travel. If the bid is won it will be spent on Harrogate improvements, but not Killinghall.
Mr Margolis, who sat on the steering committee of the 4.2 mile Nidderdale Greenway, denies Cllr Harrison’s response. He said:
“The Nidderdale Greenway which opened in May 2013 cost £500,000. North Yorkshire County Council are not interested and property developers are not interested. They are ignoring us.”