Zyro lifted by the demand for pedal power

Zyro, based in Thirsk, saw demand for accessories rise as cyclists choose to upgrade their existing equipment rather than splash out on a new bike. The firm, run by Julie and Simon Ellison, boosted turnover by 26 per cent to 27.75m for the year ending August 31.

Now the married couple want to grow turnover to more than 50m by 2014 as it expands its warehouse to up to 150,000 sq ft and capitalises on Britons' increasing desire for green travel. High petrol prices, rising awareness of the need to cut carbon emissions and the Government-backed cycle to work scheme are all helping to get people out of cars and on to bicycles.

Mrs Ellison, managing director of Zyro, said: "As we all know we are in a downturn. Hopefully we will come out of it shortly but we spent the last 12 months planning how to come out of it strongly.

"People are not so much buying a new bike but buying new accessories to make themselves feel good."

Zyro carries 27 brands. It also designs Altura in Yorkshire, and Tortec, a cycling hardware brand of racks, mudguards and bottle cages.

It also sells many other products ranging from chains and mirrors to workstands, hydrations systems and cycling computers and is the sole distributor to all UK cycling retailers of major lighting brand Cateye & Lupine

It imports from elsewhere in Britain, as well as France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US.

The majority of its exports go to Ireland and then Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg.

Mrs Ellison, 38, who previously spent six years working at Yorkshire Bank's head office in Leeds, is in charge of more of the company work and describes her husband as the "product man".

"He was passionate about cycling and I became passionate about it. He has done it since he was 10."

Zyro was initially based in Harrogate but moved to Boroughbridge, in North Yorkshire, before coming to Thirsk four-and-a-half years ago.

Although it has been seen as a less commercially vibrant area, Mrs Ellison said it was a good location and that their staff travelled to work from anywhere between York and Hull.

Over the last year it has increased its number of staff to 110, a rise of 25 per cent, and also expanded its office and warehouse space from 30,000 sq ft to 53,000 sq ft.

Now it is in negotiations about taking a 150,000 sq ft warehouse space in North Yorkshire.

"Part of the growth strategy is to export more, such as the US, New Zealand and Australia," Mrs Ellison said.

"We want to increase turnover to 50m over three or four years. With the export side in growth and the increase in cycling that is very achieveable. We should be able to achieve that quite easily.

"We are starting to see an increase in cycling. The 2012 Olympics and the rising popularity of cycling is good for business."

The county for cyclists

Although Zyro distributes nationwide as well as in the Channel Islands and Ireland, it has been able to capitalise on Yorkshire's increasing reputation as a place to go cycling.

One of the best known centres is the 8,600-acre Dalby Forest in North Yorkshire, which attracted a record 400,000 visitors last year, helped in part by the 35 miles of new cycle routes.

Julie Ellison, managing director of Zyro, said: "We feel that the cycle industry in Yorkshire is quite buoyant at the present time, this has been helped by retailers being very proactive with the cycle to work scheme, the recent results in cycling championships and the impending Olympics."

The firm received another boost last week when it was named best UK cycle parts and accessories distributor for the second year running at the BikeBiz Awards at the London Cycle Show.