Cycling retailers enjoy sales boost after Wiggins win

Evans Cycles recorded a 35% uplift in road bike sales and a surge of visitors to its website this week while Halfords has also seen road bike sales soar over the last month.

An Evans spokesman said the increase in shopper numbers had left the cycling retailer “optimistic” about the summer ahead with the Olympics set to provide a further boost to sales.

Etailer Chain Reaction Cycles said the British win in the epic road race was likely to bring more people into the sport and create a “greater demand for bikes”.

Over the last month Halfords’ sales of its Boardman road bikes increase by 12% and sales of the Carrera Tour De France road bike advanced 18%.

Halfords commercial director Paul McClenaghan, said: “No doubt many of these consumers have been inspired by the success of Wiggins and all other racers.”

Chain Reaction Cycles marketing manager Damien Duggan said: “Undoubtedly, Bradley Wiggins winning the Tour de France really reinforces the development of cycling as a sport in the UK. With the addition of having a home Games in 2012 I think this can only further engage and influence people to get out on their bikes.”

He added: “From a retail perspective, clearly the more people being brought into the sport: the greater demand for bikes and associated products. We hope that more and more people get into the sport of cycling, something that has been our passion for over 27 years.”

Wiggle chief executive Humphrey Cobbold said: “We hope there it’s an inspiration for shoppers long term and it’s more likely to benefit the sports end of the market if Cavendish, Hoy and Pendleton do well following Bradlley’s win.

“But I’m not naïve, everyone is not just going to go out and buy bikes but I hope it will provide an uplift.”

Cobbold is cautious over the Olympics’ short-term affect on the market. He said: “Realistically,

sporting events generally disturb people’s behaviour which in turn delays and disrupts sales.”