BIKES are the big thing this Christmas.

This is the message from two Ludlow businesses that the riding high on the back of a boom in cycling.

Pearce Cycles, a family business that has been selling cycles for more than 20 years and the rapidly expanding Islabikes based in Bromfield say that cycling has never been more popular.

This is reflected as more families turn to pedal power as a way of keeping fit and getting out and about together.

Oliver Pearce, aged six, is the third generation of his family to take up cycling.

Cycling as a family was the drive behind Dave and Lindsey Pearce setting up Pearce Cycles on Fishmore Road just outside of Ludlow in 1991. A strong foundation of family values and enthusiasm for the sport has been the backbone of the company.

Son Matt Pearce joined the family business earlier this year and is looking forward to building on Dave and Lindsey’s success and he has cycling mad son Oliver to help.

“Cycling is a sport that all ages can enjoy and enjoy together as a family; both my kids are cycling mad,” said Matt.

Islabikes was founded in 2006 by Isla Rountree a one ime top female ride decided to set up a business specifically aimed at children and young riders.

The business has gone from strength to strength and now employs 38 people at its headquarters on the same site as the Ludlow Food Centre.

Isla designs the bikes herself and they are manufactured in Vietnam, using light aluminium, before being shipped back to Ludlow for checking and assembly before being sent to customers all over the UK.

Marketing manager Tom Peyton said the range starts with a ‘balance bike’ for children as young as two and then extends through the age range.

“We have found that families increasingly want to ride together and so we have also added an adult bike to the range,” he said.

The company designs and sell bikes aimed at road cyclists and mountain riders but its most popular model is a hybrid multi-purpose bikes.

Both Pearce Cycles and Islabikes say that cycling has now become the ‘in thing’ and has seen an explosion of interest in the past few years.

“There has been a huge increase in the number of people cycling since 2012 when Great Britain did so well in the cycling events at the Olympics and Bradley Wiggins became the first British rider to win the Tour De France,” added Mr Payton.

“Cycling is such a good way to get out and about and to keep fit. Ludlow and south Shropshire is a great area for getting on a bike.”

On Saturday, December 6 Pearce Cycles will be holding a special open day including the opportunity to win a kids bike for Christmas worth £250.

Caption: Three generations of the cycling Pearch Family from Ludlow; Matt, Dave and Oliver