A Huddersfield retailer is bidding to get more people biking.

With the imminent arrival of the Tour de France to Yorkshire, Bike-Shed.com has launched new initiatives to encourage more people to cycle.

Bike-Shed.com, which occupies the top floor of the Direct Golf outlet at Leeds Road, has joined the government-backed Cycling to Work scheme encouraging companies to sign up to a scheme which allows their employees to buy a bike through their salaries for the daily commute and to use in their free time.

Under the scheme, employers can pay for bicycles and bicycle equipment for their employees and the employees pay back through a salary sacrifice arrangement.

Joe Vanyuscsak, manager of the Bike-Shed.com store, said interest in cycling was at a high with the excitement surrounding next month’s Le Tour, which passes through Huddersfield.

The store, which stocks more than 100 bikes ranging from 12-inch wheel children’s bikes with stabilisers to £3,500 downhill bikes as well as cycling accessories, helmets, safety wear and goggles, is planning to get involved in Le Tour and has also formed links with local cycling club Holme Valley Wheelers.

Direct Golf founder and chairman John Andrew opened the company’s first Bike-Shed.com store last month.

The 4,000sq ft store, which is open seven days a week, operates above the Direct Golf store at Leeds Road, which continues to trade.

The Huddersfield Bike-Shed outlet is expected to be a pilot for more stores as another 15 of Direct Golf’s 20 stores nationally could accommodate a similarly sized Bike-Shed.com outlet.

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