Barnard Castle Independents - Spifire Cylcles (From Living Northeast)

Barnard Castle Independents - Spifire Cylcles

2:06pm Monday 16th August 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

RICHARD Varcoe grew up in Barnard Castle, until he took flight and joined the Air Force.

Twenty-two years later, he is back down to earth and running Spitfire Cycles. Years of tinkering with bikes became a business.

“I had always had an interest in cycling and motorcycling. My stepfather was a very keen mountain biker. I helped him along the way on the maintenance side and eventually thought it might make a business,” says Richard.

His aim is to cater for all tastes. He stocks everything from highspec bikes which retail at around £2,500 to road racers, off-roaders, mountain bikes, town bikes and children’s bikes. The most popular ones are the hybrids – “you can put a set of knobbly tyres on if you want to go off-road” – and he has a range of accessories.

“There’s also a very strong BMX following in Barnard Castle,”

says Richard. “The Hub (a new facility for teenagers) has a racing track and a tricks park, so I’ve already had kids looking in wanting all the fancy grips and colours.”

Richard puts himself into the leisure cyclist category. “I do enjoy to ride, but not the sort of mileage that a lot of guys do round here,”

he says. “My favourite bike ride round here would be to Goldsborough Carr, through Lartington and Cotherstone, and up Baldersdale towards the reservoir. It’s a 12-mile round trip, thankfully downhill on the way back.”

Richard is enjoying being back in his home town after so many years away, and appreciates all the help he’s had setting up shop.

“The Vision have had a massive amount to do with this,” he says.

“The shop was derelict and there was some funding available for shop fronts, signage and electrical work.”

■ 26 The Bank. Tel: 01833-690640