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Martin Maltby, one of the committee members on the Doncaster Wheelers cycling club and organiser of the annual Doncaster Cycle Festival, says he has seen a rise in sales at the Don Valley Cycles bike shop he runs on Carr House Road.

And he believes cyclists are taking their bikes out more as they use their permitted daily exercise

Cycle Supreme on Bennetthorpe has also reported a rise in bike sales since lockdown.

Martin Maltby, Don Valley Cycles owner, pictured. Picture: Marie Caley NDFP-13-09-18-DonValleyCycles-5

Bike shops are among the businesses still allowed to open under Government rules

Mr Maltby said: “I think people are off work so they have time on their hands, and the weather’s been fantastic. Roads are quiet with no traffic, and the Government says you can go out and exercise to stop people going stir crazy.

“Sales have probably increased, but it is hard to compare what they would have been like in normal circumstances.

“People are being encouraged to exercise for their health, and if people have bikes they’re using them. I think people are looking forward to their daily exercise at the present time.

Martin Maltby, of Don Valley Cycles, pictured with a Giant Contend 2. Picture: Marie Caley NDFP DonValleyCycles MC 4

“We have been keeping busy in the workshop servicing bikes, complying with social distancing guidelines, which we are finding a lot of front line workers are using for transport at present to get to work

“The shop is open, but not for browsing. But we are getting to the stage where supplies are running low for some bikes at the lower end of the market, for the bikes that are under £500.

“We’ve got very little stock at the moment, Bikes under £500 are beginning to sell out, things like entry level mountain bikes. It’s more the higher price bikes that are left now.

“All these people who have bought bikes during lockdown will hopefully stick with cycling when things return to normal.”

He said the current circumstances are combining with improving cycle routes in Doncaster generally, with more cycle lanes under construction.

Work is currently going on to put in place cycle lanes on Bennetthorpe, connecting Doncaster town centre with the Racecourse roundabout.

Doncaster cycling boom as lockdown takes cars off roads