The high rollers (From Gazette & Herald)

The high rollers

A CYCLE hire centre is riding high as it prepares to open its new premises.

Purple Mountain has opened a mountain bike centre and caf at the visitor centre in Dalby Forest.

Owners Vicky Griffin and Chris Flintoff were delighted to earn the tender for the new venture, which is being run alongside the new 45km trail programme currently under construction.

Purple Mountain Bike Centre offers high quality bikes for people wanting to try out the new forest tracks, for all ages and abilities. There is also be the chance to buy bikes, as the centre will have demonstration models so people can try before they buy.

The bike centre has created four new jobs - two full-time and two part-time.

Vicky said: "We were based in Rosedale before. The Forestry Commission put the bike centre and caf out to tender, and we got it.

"The Forestry Commission seems to like the idea of running the caf and bike store together."

Vicky said they hope to maintain connections made when they worked with various youth groups.

They have worked with Lady Lumley's School in a project that was partly funded by the National Park Sustainable Development Fund.

"We did bike hire and group rides before, but now we're moving lock, stock and barrel here.

"We'll be selling clothing, accessories and parts, and there'll be instruction courses - we'll have five instructors.''

The bikes available will include full suspension and downhill specifications, as well as a fun range of dirt jumping bikes. The main stockists will be Kona, Cove and Santa Cruz, with an exclusive clothing range from Sombrio.

There will also be an on-site mechanic to help those with bike problems.

Throughout the year, there will be lots of guided rides scheduled, as well as skill instruction and bike maintenance courses for those who want to polish their techniques.

For the real daredevils, there will also be some guided night rides."Things like this encourage people to be more active," said Vicky.

The caf will be run as a separate enterprise to the bike business, and it is hoped to be seen as the place to go after a day of tough riding.

Vicky explained: "The caf is a totally new venture, and will provide good food which has been locally sourced.

"It'll be a good place to finish off after riding out - to enjoy a nice cup of coffee and something to eat."

Updated: 14:01 Wednesday, April 05, 2006