Meet our...
BIKE PROVIDERS Liam Benson talks to the suppliers behind our fleet of hire bikes, and discovers how hiring a bike in the National Park could just hook you into cycling and that pedalling the hills can be a breeze!
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ehind every one of our four bike hire centres are a team of dedicated cycle partners. Full of expertise, they help our centre staff with selecting the very best, carefully chosen array of bikes suitable for all sizes, abilities and terrains. Pippa Wibberley, managing director of Raleigh and Gary Conway, senior product and marketing manager at Tandem Group Cycles, talk us through their love of the Peak District National Park, the joys of riding an electric bike and the importance of being outdoors.
What’s your favourite place to cycle to in the National Park? Pippa: My husband and I like to camp at Hurdlow where we can then quickly hop on to the High Peak Trail at Parsley Hay. A former railway line that first opened in 1831 (one of the oldest in the world!), it’s now a traffic-free trail with plenty to see, especially during the summer, including cowslips, orchids and wild herbs.
Gary: After a hectic week at work, the Peak District National Park offers the perfect escape. There’s a variety of trails for all levels of ability on and off the bike, most of which are signposted so you can just get out and enjoy the ride rather than worrying about planning routes or getting lost!
Gary: The Manifold Trail takes some beating. It’s great for all the family to use as it’s really easy going. There’s no major twists and turns to get lost and generally a very relaxing ride... it’s also really nice to stop half-way with a packed lunch and coffee before getting back on the bike.
What do you enjoy most about the Peak District National Park? Pippa: It has to be the combination of unspoilt beauty and accessibility. I grew up in Derbyshire, so within moments, you can be out of the city and into the most amazing natural landscapes. 24
www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
Pippa
Gary
PHOTOS: TOM MARSHALL
Phil Woodward and Claire Jepson (Raleigh); Don Symonds, Nick Edwards, Jonathon Parrish and Peter Mather (PDNPA); Gary Conway (Tandem Group Cycles).
