Tuesday March 21st 2023
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Sofia Villegas
A new cycling business is gearing up to open by the end of this week.
Pentland Cycle Hire will open this Friday inviting everyone to explore one of the crown jewels of the capital.
Owner Jordan Reid said, “I decided to start the business during a walk around the Pentlands with my partner. She mentioned it would be a good idea to hire bikes. It got me thinking and after seeing how busy the Pentlands can be, especially at the weekends, I started to look into ways I could do market research to explore the venture further.”
His lack of cycling experience did not discourage him in his initiative but instead served as motivation to take market research into his own wheels.
“I’ve never had an interest in cycling until recently. I thought the best way to decide if the Pentlands would be a good location for bike hire was to try it out myself. I enjoyed cycling it so much I’ve gone up almost every weekend since!”, he commented.
Scotland is known for abundant nature points, but the entrepreneur says: “There’s nothing quite like the Pentlands and you can never get enough of the stunning views!”
Family day activities can often become very expensive, and with the cost of living crisis raging on, it is something many cannot afford. It is due to this that Jordan decided to offer the ‘kids go free’ scheme, so outdoor quality time together does not ‘break the bank’.
“I do recognise that the cost of attractions across Scotland can be expensive and especially for families. The ‘Kids go free’ scheme makes Pentland Cycle Hire more accessible and an affordable day out.” he said.
He hopes the cycle hire business will also address the current lack of local activities that families can enjoy together. “I often say to my friends that there isn’t much to do locally that doesn’t involve going out drinking and it’s got to the stage that is all we do almost every time we’re together.”
Eco-friendly, part of the local authority’s’ economic development and a healthy daytime attraction, Pentland cycle hire seems to be an all-round benefit to the community. “It is also going to be an excellent attraction for tourists which is why I have decided to list the business on Visit Scotland and Midlothian View.” Jordan added.
An avid supporter of health, and specifically mental health, Jordan hopes his business will also have a ‘wide positive impact’ in the local community.
Future business avenues are yet to be discovered but Jordan hopes to build local connections, so his cycling services can be enjoyed by everyone.
“I would like to see the business providing services to schools for day trips and holiday clubs. I plan to run small bike tours and I would also like to partner up with a charitable organisation linked to mental health,” Jordan continued. “I hope to see the business grow, I aim to employ two staff members this year and hopefully as the business grows, I can create more employment opportunities in future.
The cycle hire will be open Friday to Sunday from 9 am until 5 pm, at the car park near the Flotterstone Inn entrance of the Pentland Hills. Services offered include mountain, e-bike and junior bike hire.
For more details see www.pentlandcyclehire.com
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