AFTER the splendid showcase for the beauty of the Dales that was last year's visit of the Tour de France, it's not surprising that cyclists have been flocking to follow in the pedal-strokes of their heroes.

In the months following the Grand Depart there appears to have been a significant increase in the number of bicycles on the Craven roads, with many reported to be visiting the area for the first time.

And as winter gives way to spring and summer, the likelihood is that we will see more people on bikes - whether Lycra-clad road warriors or families out for a potter about - on Dales roads.

That's great news for the local economy - and ultimately perhaps for the general health of a nation far too wedded to the concept of the couch potato.

But it's not necessarily all sweetness and light for the safety for cyclists, say local campaigners.

Many of the Dales roads are narrow and windy, there are often steep hills to negotiate, and there are often potholes on back roads - not usually a problem for cars to deal with but potentially lethal for a cyclist.

Add to the equation that too many motorists seem to travel far too fast when they've no idea what is around the next corner, and the potential for tragedy is all too apparent.

And there are already tales emerging of drivers in the Dales passing dangerously close to cyclists, while in one case there have been allegations that a motorist forced a group off the road by driving straight though them.

It's no surprise then that there are genuine fears that an influx of cyclists and drivers, relatively inexperienced in dealing with each other on unfamiliar roads, could increase the danger to both.

Leading local cycling safety campaigner Lizzie Reather is all too aware of the dangers for cyclists. She is based in Leeds and leads rides into the Dales.

She says: "We hear reports of cyclists having some bad experiences with drivers not giving them enough room and the like, but that can happen anywhere.

"It's true though that the Dales roads can be difficult in places - some are quite narrow and the layout does not help.

"Anecdotally, it seems some drivers do seem to get frustrated when they have to slow down and pass a group of cyclists, or even an individual one.

"But at the moment there does not seem to be be a particular problem in the Dales as compared to anywhere else, though we will have to see if that changes as the better weather arrives and the volume of traffic increases."

Lizzie, who runs the Cycling Safety Campaign for Leeds, said there was no reason why cyclists and motorists could not happily share the same roads, given a degree of mutual understanding and awareness of each other's road needs.

She explains: "The vast majority of drivers are careful and considerate towards cyclists, but it only takes one driver to get it wrong for injuries or even death to occur. It sometimes seems to be forgotten how vulnerable cyclists are.

"But we also need to get everything in perspective. Statistically, cycling is safer than driving a car, it's superb exercise and the Dales are so beautiful to ride in that it's something every cyclist should experience."

There are of course other problems for cyclists - like potholes. Again anecdotally, some riders say that there seem to be more potholes than ever before, especially on the country's roads minor roads - though there is no evidence to suggest that the Dales are worse than anywhere else.

Especially for a group riding together, one unseen hole - or one seen too late - bringing down a rider could mean catastrophe for several more.

Experienced group cyclists are usually able to warn each other of potential dangers, but a lone rider could easily come a cropper.

Local authorities have a statutory duty to keep our roads in good repair but can only fill potholes if they know about them.

Cyclists are encouraged to report holes on cycling charity CTC's website 'Fill That Hole'. Locations are passed on to local authorities, who will then repair them.

But, saysLizzie, all too often this is a relatively temporary fix: "There do seem to be more potholes around than there used to be, Presumably because local authorities are short of cash they have to prioritise which ones they repair to some extent, but potholes often seem to reappear.

"It seems that part of the problem is that the asphalt Britain uses is simply not as durable - in Germany, for example, they use asphalt which lasts much longer.

"The impact of HGVs on our roads is huge and cars do their fair share of damage too. In the longer run we need to get more people on bikes and there are signs in the wake of the Tour de France that this is happening, certainly in Yorkshire.

"We are lagging a long, long way behind most of western Europe in creating cycling infrastructure but that doesn't mean anyone should be put off cycling, especially in the Dales. Bike riders and motorists can share our roads quite happily with some mutual respect and mutual understanding."