A mountain biking club geared at ladies is proving a big hit in Craven.

The Bicycle Shop in Skipton decided to set up the club after discovering that not all women cyclists wanted the same from a club as men.

After enlisting the help of experienced cyclist Alison Wood, the club quickly took off.

Bicycle Shop mechanic Stuart Rider said the idea was for a less competitive club where women cyclists could meet and go out on their own.

“There was nowhere for women cyclists to meet and go out with other women and the men’s club was not quite what they wanted to do,” he said.

The shop has presented Alison with a mountain bike and offers club members a 10 per cent discount. There are now around 40 members of the Skipton Mountain Biking Women’s Group, with cyclists going out during the week and at weekends and even on night rides.

“I’m relatively fit, but when I go out with the men I can find it hard going,” said Alison.

“Some of the ladies don’t want to go too fast, but we don’t leave anyone behind and we’re not competitive. When we go out we stop at cafés and enjoy the views.”

The club, which has geared down for the winter but will continue to meet on a regular basis, has weekends away and organises family days where children can come along.

Meanwhile, the Bicycle Shop has found the national Cycle to Work scheme is proving a hit with Craven employers. Employers who encourage their workers to dump their cars and cycle to work can be eligible for large discounts.