A BIKE firm which started in Cross Hills more than a century ago has launched a new Yorkshire Lass shop aimed at women.

Family-owned All Terrain Cycles has opened a dedicated shop for female cyclists within its 9,000 sq ft cycle superstore at Salt’s Mill in Saltaire.

All Terrain Cycles is one of the UK’s largest independent cycle retailers and employs 24 staff in Yorkshire.

It was originally established in 1907 as Riley Brothers Cycles in Cross Hills 2007, opening a second ‘megastore’ showroom in Weatherby in 2014.

The business was acquired from the Riley family by Tony Booth in 1996.

The new outlet offers extended lines of ladies wear and accessories in response to the increasing number of women in the region who have taken up the sport in the wake of the Tour de France Grand Depart. and continuing enthusiasm for the Tour de Yorkshire.

Keen cyclist Natasha Booth, purchasing manager at All Terrain Cycles, said: “We’ve seen more and more female cyclists in our stores in the last few years, bringing a growing demand for a greater range of ladies clothing and accessories.

“We have therefore created a ladies specific store within Salt’s Mill which we’ve named after the popular ladies only cycle club which we have supported since it was founded two years ago.

“Yorkshire Lass Cycling Club now has more than 130 members and offers weekly rides from our Wetherby store.

“One of the All Terrain Cycles race team, Gemma Towell, is planning ride-outs from our Salt’s Mill store too and we hope that this, combined with our expanded range of ladies kit, will encourage even more women to take to two wheels.”

Yorkshire Lass Cycling Club hosted its second annual ladies-only sportive in August which attracted 600 cyclists and was once again sponsored by All Terrain Cycles.

The event raised over £16,000 for Women v Cancer which comprises Breast Cancer Care, Jo’s Cervical Cancer and Ovarian Cancer Action, and for Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Carlton Lodge Activity Centre Bursary Fund which hosted the event.

All Terrain’s stores stock more than 1,000 mountain, road and BMX bikes as well as clothing and accessories.

Both locations also feature workshops staffed by trained technicians able to carry out repairs and servicing, and to prep the bikes for the showroom and delivery.