A cyclist from Largs is taking his love of the pursuit up a gear by opened a bike shop in the town.

Eddie Thomson, who has lived in the town for 26 years, went mobile with his part-time EAT Cycling business during the pandemic, but has now moved into a premises in Nelson Street.

The shop will initially be focussed on bike services and repairs, but Eddie intends to expand the business over time.

He said: “I took up cycling ten years ago and have raced by bike across the UK as a member of different clubs.

“Last year I started EAT Cycling as an official club, and as part of that I would help repair and service bikes for other people.

“I realised that there might be a business in that, so I bought myself a van, got my qualifications and started the mobile bike repair company around Ayrshire.

“When I saw the shop in Nelson Street I decided to just take the leap of faith and go for it and will hopefully transition it into a full-time job.”

Eddie has big plans for the shop,and hopes having a presence in the town can bring him closer to other keen cyclists.

He said: “I am going to be doing servicing and repairs to start with, but the goal will be to do much more than that over time.

“I want to sell bikes and equipment sooner rather than later.

“I also want to use it as a base for coaching, as well as doing training programmes with keen cyclists in the area.

“The mobile business was going well but I knew how important it was to be seen, and I’m hoping this new shop can do that.”

Eddie hopes the new shop can be a focal point for cyclists in the area.

He told the News: “We have a great cycling scene here, with lots of clubs and plenty of people in Largs alone riding their bikes.

“We have all sorts from people who race their bikes, do time trials, casual riders, and those with electric bikes.

“Lockdown created a real explosion in the number of people wanting to get out and active, with cycling an obvious choice because it is so enjoyable.

“Hopefully the shop can be a bit of a hub for cycling locally, which can grow over time and really be a pillar of the community.”