The Fantastic Four
It’s no secret that the Tweed Valley has a love affair with all things cycling – including four wonderfully unique bike shops that cater for visiting riders and locals alike
Set foot inside any one of the bike shops dotted around Innerleithen and the Glentress trailhead and guaranteed you’ll leave with more than you came for. And we’re not just talking about the shiny swag.
Each of our retailers shares a technical appreciation of bikes and associated gear, unrivalled knowledge of the area’s expansive trail network and, ultimately, a deep-rooted love of two-wheeled adventures. So, whether you’re a new rider looking to be steered in the right direction or a seasoned cyclist making a quick pit stop for a spare, our fantastic four will have you covered.
A former mill town on the banks of the River Tweed, many would argue that Innerleithen has reinvented itself as an activity destination in recent years. Given that the town still hosts the oldest organised sports meeting in Scotland and has been a regular stop-off on one of Scotland’s Great Trails, we would argue that it’s long been a mecca for the active.
But the one sport that has evolved more latterly here is biking. Whether downhill, enduro, cross-country, gravel or road, Innerleithen wholeheartedly welcomes every cycling discipline – servicing them fully across the town’s three bike stores.
Ride Innerleithen
“The mountain biking scene in the Tweed Valley is thriving – from serious enduro enthusiasts to total beginners inspired by the UCI Cycling World Champs in 2023, the hype for cycling here is stronger than ever,” explains Dan Wilson, Manager at Ride Innerleithen.
Housed at the rear of the Traquair Arms Hotel, Dan and team are mountain and gravel bike specialists (stocking a range of rides from Pivot, Kinesis and Frog) but have also been known to dabble in road cycling too. They work hard to ensure that their rounded biking knowledge is reflected in their store experience: “We want everyone to feel welcome so we make a conscious effort to not purely cater to the enduro or downhill community, but also to folk who are just starting out, looking to be kitted up and ready to ride – whatever that might look like.”
Servicing and repairs are central to Ride’s business, with a seemingly endless queue of bikes waiting for a touch of TLC at the hands of Dan, Pete and team. Warm and welcoming, it’s an easy place to drop in and while away time before or after a post-ride pint!
Tweed Valley Bikes
A few pedal strokes along Innerleithen High Street sits Tweed Valley Bikes, a store with an enviable track record of mountain bike coaching and guiding at its core.
Part of the Tweed Valley Guides and award-winning Dirt School group, there’s little that the team here don’t know about the trails on their doorstep – and the bikes and kit needed to get the most out of them. Along with the rest of the crew, Managing Director, Janey Kennedy, is passionate about ensuring that this local trail network is well managed and maintained for the growing number of riders passing through the valley. The business recently showed their support by joint funding the new Lower Wolves trail at Caberston Forest through the Tweed Valley Trails Association, alongside Ride and Tempest Brewery.
The shop is home to Santa Cruz Bicycles among others – along with a “carefully curated range of riding apparel” from brands tried and tested in tough, Scottish (and specifically, Tweed Valley) riding conditions! Look out for their super technical 7Mesh range – clothing of choice for the TVB staff when they’re out riding in the hills.
“We have riders from all over the UK and Ireland coming to visit to collect their new bikes and tie it into a weekend riding in the valley,” says Janey. “I love this as it means more and more people get to experience the area and the amazing trails we have here.”
The Bike Shop
In a prominent position on the High Street, facing the famed enduro trails at Caberston Forest, sits Innerleithen’s resident Specialized dealer – and one of the town’s most stylish retail spaces. The Bike Shop opened against the backdrop of the pandemic in 2021, and has serviced visiting riders – especially those here to test their mettle on the technical trails at 7Stanes Innerleithen and ‘the Golfie’ – in the developing years since.
The bright, spacious shop floor carries a range of on-trend goodies and gear, including riding pants and jerseys, goggles, beanies and cycling helmets, along with maintenance and beauty essentials for everyone’s beloved cycles. The Bike Shop is a store full of colour and character, and is the sister company to Adrenaline Uplift, which provides a bespoke shuttle service to the downhill and enduro trails nestled in the trees at Traquair Forest.
Alpine Bikes
Location is everything for our fourth and final bike specialist. A spectacular, tree-lined backdrop, easy access to a vast network of green through to black cycling trails and coffee and cakes on tap next door keep the customers (and team) at Alpine Bikes happy all year round. And according to Retail Manager, Ben Brough, things are poised to get even better at one of Scotland’s favourite trail centres.
“We’re especially excited about the launch of the new Glentress skills area. Alongside the taster trails, Glentress will have a range of short loops right at the base of the hill, giving both beginners and seasoned riders a chance to sharpen their skills before heading out onto the wider trail network.”
Based in the heart of the action, Alpine Bikes are on hand with a broad range of hardtail, full-suspension and e-bikes for hire (look out for their new range of full-sus hire bikes for kids coming soon!), along with bike maintenance and riding essentials for adults and young ones ready to explore the forest.
“There’s something in the Tweed Valley for every age and experience level,” notes Ben. “Whatever bike you bring, you’ll find trails or roads that make for an unforgettable day out.”
Further information
For much, much more on cycle routes, guiding, coaching and everything two-wheeled related in the valley, visit our dedicated Biking pages.
Photo credits: Gareth Easton; Tweed Valley Bikes