Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland (DMBinS), with funding support from Scottish Enterprise, have just launched a trial project to help Scottish B&B's and hotels get a grant for a shed or to enable them to provide secure bike storage. 

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We think you'd all agree, whether mountain biking, gravel riding or road cycling, secure bike storage is a 'must have' when booking holiday accommodation. 

The new initiative launched this week will help to make all those cyclists feel even more welcome and help their holidays run as smoothly as possible by providing funding of up to £500 for either a 5 bike storage/maintenance package or as a contribution towards a custom package at the accommodation owners discretion. This can be a part of 50% of the overall project costs, including installations charges, to improve the mountain bike visitor experience. 

Cycle tourism is a large part of the Scottish economy with figures quoted at over £90 million GVA per annum attributed to mountain bike tourism alone and schemes like this will undoubtedly help to increase that figure.

DMBinS is also working with holiday and accommodation providers to educate them or consider factors that come hand in hand with cyclists such as dirty people and muddy kit, bike wash facilities, clothes drying, communal tools, local knowledge of cycling routes, knowledge of local facilities and understanding of public transport. 

Graeme McLean, Project Manager, Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland said: “We are eager to support accommodation providers across the country be better prepared to cater for the growing number of mountain bikers wishing to holiday in Scotland. We are launching this scheme today to help accommodation businesses provide secure bike storage, which we know is a key ingredient in providing a better visitor journey for mountain bikers. Accommodation providers need to expand their offering to visiting mountain bikers so would encourage them to get involved, watch our short film and complete the application form."

For more information head over to - www.dmbins.com, we are looking forward to booking our next trip!

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