A popular Ramsbottom shop is set to close its front after five years of serving keen cyclists in the community.

Ramsbottom Cycles will be closing its shop, has owner Carl Ashworth has no plans as of yet for what will be replacing it.

However, much to the relief of local pedallers no doubt, he will be sticking around at the site in Bolton Road West carrying out repairs.

Having been offered a job at a wholesaler in the cycle trade, Carl has opted to close the shop but has loved working there and serving the “brilliant customers”.

Carl said: “I have had no regrets and if I hadn’t been offered this job I would still be there.

“People have been brilliant, I have done well, the shop has always made money and there are downsides and upsides, same as any other business.

“Thanks to all my customers and I am still here to do all the repairs. A lot of the customers are keen cyclists, and I will have them come with me.

“The whole thing has been brilliant.”

He will be continuing to perform repairs in the upstairs section of the shop, which he says fills most of his time there anyway.

Working only through appointments will mean the service will not change much for customers, and he hopes he will be able to get the same amount of business in his repair shop.

Carl added: “Everything I do is by appointment for our existing customers, so it won’t change very much.

“It takes a lot of time having the shop front and people will come in and speak to you for half an hour when they only want an inner tube that costs £2.50.

“So, working behind closed doors upstairs I will have time to do the same amount of work.”

Home to one of the UK’s toughest cycling events, the Ramsbottom Rake Hill Climb is a key destination for keen pedallers.  

Taking place for almost 100 years, the gruelling challenge sees riders cover the 1km hill between Ramsbottom and Holcombe, at an average gradient of around 10 per cent - making it one of the most iconic and brutal ascents in Lancashire.