A taste of Scottish cycling comes to Manchester
Manchester: a progressive city; a hotbed of cycling talent nurtured at the UK’s finest velodrome; a city with an ever-growing interest in sport and healthy living; the gateway to superb cycle routes in the Pennines and the Peak District.

Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative: more than a bike shop; an organisation with a mission to:

‘Promote cycling in the UK as a sport, leisure activity and a method of transport.’

A match made in heaven?
Boasting 30 years experience running an innovative bicycle business, Edinburgh Bicycle Co-operative is pleased to announce the opening of its fifth store this spring. The location of these palatial, purpose-built premises will be Rusholme, Manchester.

Why is the opening of a cycle shop newsworthy?
Edinburgh Bicycle Co-operative is no ordinary bike shop. For a start, it is a workers’ co-op: i.e. it is employee owned. Every time-served employee owns an equal share in the business. It is therefore clearly in every staff member’s interest to offer the best possible service whenever you shop with the Co-op. That’s probably why from humble beginnings (3 employees in 1977) Edinburgh Bicycle has enjoyed steady growth until today it employs 80+ staff to run its 4 existing shops (one in Edinburgh, one in Aberdeen, one in Newcastle and one in Leeds). With the opening of a new shop in Manchester, this workforce will grow further. The Co-op is already recruiting staff for its new Manchester store - see our job vacancies page for details.

About Edinburgh Bicycle Co-operative
As you might have guessed from its name Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op is based in Scotland - recently voted the world’s best mountain biking destination by IMBA (The International Mountain Bike Association). That’s significant because Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op’s buyers and sales staff can claim first hand experience of what works in real world conditions. Chances are, bikes and waterproofs tested in Scotland’s hills will work well in the Peaks and Pennines too.

Inclusive
Some specialist shops boast about being exclusive. Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative built its reputation on being inclusive. That’s why you will find great-value £200 commuter bikes nestling beside competition-ready 2-grand road bikes in their showrooms. That’s why the Co-op’s buyers take the same care creating their kids’ bike range as they lavish on their adult bike selection (a kid’s bike is not just for Christmas). That’s why half the Co-op’s own-brand Revolution bikes are women’s models. And that’s why the range of back-up stock – spares, accessories and clothing – can only be described as awesome.

Our reputation
Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op isn’t just about world-class choice however. The Co-op has built its reputation by continuing to support the customer long after he or she has made their purchase. For instance, the Co-op pioneered in-store classes in cycle maintenance, famed for their user friendliness. And talking of user friendly, Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op has hosted an award-winning website since 1996 (2 years before Google was launched). If you want to sample one of the longest-established secure shopping websites in the industry, visit www.edinburghbicycle.com

Giving something back
In line with its mission statement, the Co-op promotes cycling as a sport, leisure activity and method of transport in every city with an Edinburgh Bicycle store.

For instance, the Co-op sponsors Edinburgh’s annual New Year’s Day Triathlon; provides backup for organised rides such as the Edinburgh-St Andrews, and has supported Spokes, the Lothian Cycle Campaign, since its inception in 1977.

In Aberdeen the Co-op sponsors cycling teams and races, and partners the University’s Bike To Work Scheme.

In Newcastle and Leeds, the Co-op supports similar grass-routes events providing, for instance, free mechanical backup for the 1,000 riders who partake in the Great North Bike Ride, and hosting an annual bike breakfast for the staff at First Direct Bank’s head office in Leeds.

Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op now looks forward to the challenge of offering a similar level of service, supporting a whole new set of cyclists and cyclists-to-be from their new store in Rusholme, Manchester.

Invitation
Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op will be announcing exclusive offers to coincide with the opening of its Manchester branch in spring 2007. To claim your Manchester Opening Offer Voucher simply forward your name and address to manchester@edinburghbicycle.com.

Media contact details
For any further information, contact:
Kate Webster, Promotions Manager, Edinburgh Bicycle Co-operative.
Tel: 0131 319 2400 ext 121
Email: katewebster@edinburghbicycle.com