Celebrating Poundbury Magazine Issue 5: Celebrating 25 years of Poundbury | Page 58

Dorset cycle advert 185x130mm_Layout 1 22/11/2016 10:57 Page 1 DORSET WAS BUILT TO BE EXPLORED ON AN EBIKE WHY NOT HIRE ONE THIS WEEKEND The Best German Built ECO NEWS Peter Claxton (centre) and his team at Cyclelife Electric eBikes in the UK POUNDBURY DORcHESTER - DORSET - 181 BRIDPORT ROAD - POUNDBURY - DT1 3BN TEL: [phone] • MOBILE: [phone] (OUT Of HOURS) dorsetcyclelife.com ....where the fun begins PEDAL POWER BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED GARDENS Garden Planning and Design Solutions 60 Coburg Road, Dorchester, DT1 2HR T: 01305 260295 M: 07971 801328 E: [email protected] W: www.sundiallandscapes.co.uk 58 WWW.CELEBRATINGPOUNDBURY.CO.UK Poundbury: We offer a personal, friendly and professional Garden Design Service, to meet the needs of our Clients, from start to finish and beyond. • On site consultation • Outline Drawings • Detailed hand drawn designs • Project monitoring & support • Cost and budget appraisals • Full or partial designs There’s a quiet revolution going on in the cycling industry and Poundbury business Dorset Cyclelife is at the front of the pack. B ased on Bridport Road, owner Peter Claxton has been bringing the very latest electric bike technology to the South West since 2014. Meeting Peter, it soon becomes clear that he and his staff are evangelical about the virtues of electric bikes. For the uninitiated, electric bikes work by providing electrical assistance from a small motor and battery that are incorporated into the bike. An early adopter of the technology, Peter acquired electric bike manufacturer Spencer Ivy in 2013. “I am a lifelong ex-racing and commuting cyclist who always felt a little unsure about e-bikes. As soon as I saw the Spencer Ivy bike, I liked it so much I bought the company,” said Peter. The prominent Dorset businessman also discovered that they had a famous royal fan of the bikes, which made him decide to open a shop in Poundbury. “We noticed that it was the brand that HRH The Prince of Wales had used to cycle around Highgrove on his 65th birthday. It was one of the factors we picked Poundbury in August 2014, as The Prince knows about electric bikes and shares our passion for eco- friendly transport,” added Peter, 51. The Poundbury store quickly proved to be a success and as the first to stock Raleigh e-bikes it became their biggest customer in the south of England. The surrounding area was also the perfect test location for putting the bikes through their paces. “Poundbury is the perfect demographic for us and customers can park easily outside. We also definitely needed an area where you can test the bike. About 50 per cent of bikes go to Weymouth, with many to Bridport and Dorchester.” According to Peter there are many pre- conceptions that still exist rega rding e-bikes. “While they have a 60-70 mile range, it’s not a mobility scooter! You can ride it with the motor turned off or you can increase pedal assistance. “You get all the health benefits and mental stimulation. It makes it perfect for rehabilitation from injury or if you’ve not ridden a bike in decades. You actually do more exercise as you ride it further. It’s not bum breaking and it makes you want to ride the bike regularly.” Visitors to Dorset Cyclelife are encouraged to take one of the bikes for a free test ride, which Peter says usually results in the “electric bike smile”. “There isn’t anyone who doesn’t smile like a child when riding. It’s personally given me back 20 years. It’s also a genuine thrill you get seeing your mum and dad on a bike, I’ve not seen that since 1967.” Electric bikes are now becoming much more mainstream and are commonplace in Europe. Peter and Dorset Cyclelife are proud to be at the forefront of this green revolution and eager to spread the word that riding an electric bike isn’t cheating! “It’s like moving from black and white to colour television,” says Peter. Pop in to test for yourself! For more information please see www.dorsetcyclelife.com WWW.CELEBRATINGPOUNDBURY.CO.UK 59