Old friends link up in new Thame cycle shop venture (Contributed)

A NEW cycle shop opens in Thame on Saturday, July 25, a joint venture between two businessmen who worked together in the shop next door 15 years ago.

Tim Parsons and David Green are launching ?2Wheels? – a cycle repair, sales, servicing, accessories and clothing shop at 99b High Street, Thame. It will launch with a ?special guest opening? at 11am on Saturday 25th July. They?ll also host a display by Scott, a major name in the industry, and there?ll be champagne and nibbles to welcome the first shoppers.

Tim owns the car parts and accessories shop, Autoparts, next door and David and he worked there together for six years.

Tim says: ?We?ve often talked about opening a shop together. When the premises next to mine came onto the market it was too good a chance to miss. We used to do cycle accessories at Autoparts and with cycling becoming more and more popular, now seemed a great time to start a cycle sales, repair, accessories and clothing shop. While we?ve been getting ready for the launch we?ve had people in on a daily basis so it is looking positive already.?

David, who had a spell as an estate agent before returning to retail, says: ?With the price of fuel going up, people thinking about climate change and getting more health and exercise conscious, cycling seems to be a sector that?s steered clear of the worst of the credit crunch. We?ll combine cycle sales with repairs, have an exciting range of clothing and accessories for cyclists and we?ll be aiming to make visiting the shop an experience, starting with our opening.?

2Wheels is opening in one of four retail premises in Thame owned by Jennings, who run business parks at Chalgrove and Garsington. Paul Mabbutt of Jennings says: ?When the previous tenant moved out, we had a number of enquiries for this shop. All the others were from people who had existing premises in Thame and were looking to move. The most attractive option for us was to play a part in bringing a new business into the town, so we?re delighted to be working with Tim and David and wish them all the best with their new venture.?

Iain Nicholson