Tour de France memories: The Business

Sandra Corcoran of Pennine Cycle with husband Paul, right, and Gary Verity.

We’ve seen a real increase in business since the Tour de France, and as much as anything, we’re getting more people in the shop.

What we have noticed is the amount of people inspired to buy road bikes.

Mountain bikes and hybrid bikes have always been popular, but now we’re seeing more people buying road bikes.

We’ve certainly seen an increase in footfall in the shop, not just among men, but women as well. And it’s mainly women who are buying road bikes.

We’ve also seen an increase in the membership of our club that we run from here, the VeloClub Bradford. That’s probably about 25 per cent up.

People are getting involved in cycling as much for the health aspect as anything competitive.

It’s just such a great sport to improve your lifestyle. We’re seeing a lot of adults who are getting back into cycling, who are now making more time for cycling.

They’ve seen the Tour de France and it’s inspired them to come back, or get into, the sport.

People have been on such a high and it’s still there now.

They are still talking about the Tour de France because it was such an unbelievable occasion – and we even got the weather. It was almost like that wartime spirit because it brought everybody together.

And already people are talking about the Tour de Yorkshire in May.

The Tour de France had such a lasting effect on everyone.