Velotastic is an online cycling shop born of a passion for restoring vintage bikes. Based on the ouskirts of Chesterfield, it is owned and run by Paul Gregory, an avid fan of road cycling for more than 20 years. 

"I've owned a racing bike since I was a kid in the 1970s," Paul explains, "but really got into cycling in the late eighties. I've been a lifelong fan of the Tour and remember watching it on World of Sport with Dickie Davies."

The concept for his business, like many of the best ideas, came when Paul was fettling in his garden shed.

"I was struggling to find parts while restoring a vintage bike," he recounts, "and I realised that there must be more people who had an interest in bikes from the pre-carbon era and the clothing to go with them."

The result was Velotastic, an online store that stocks a carefully selected range of bike parts and cycling gifts. The emphasis is very much on "classic" or retro styled parts and clothing with nods to the Eighties and Nineties: Cinelli toe straps and Selle Italia saddles, rather than the latest carbon cranksets or electronic shifters.

"We aim to offer something different to what your LBS stocks, but offer the same high level of personal service," says Paul.

Alongside bike parts and paraphernalia, Velotastic stocks a wide range of genuine vintage jerseys, as well as modern designs inspired by iconic team kit from the past. As Paul explains, "I'm a fan of the retro look and I've got a drawer full of vintage jerseys at home. We have a good European based supplier of vintage jerseys and hand-pick every one we put up for sale."

Paul's personal favourite is the 24-7 London Jersey - "I was a big fan of 7-Eleven" - while the site's current best-seller is the Yorkshire Jersey. A lightweight, retro design that pays tribute to the cycling heritage of God's own county, it is perhaps fitting that it should top the Velotastic sales charts given the amount of time their staff spend riding there.

Velotastic is based on the edge of the Peak District and, as their website proclaims, "it is where we do most of our riding. It's also where we test many of our products before we put them up for sale on our site.

"The area has some stunning rides and cracking climbs so if you are a grimpeur or climber the Peak District is for you. The terrain is best described as choppy. Climbs are not particularly long but they are steep and relentless - there is not much riding on the flat in the Peak."

Inspired by the terrain of their back yard, Paul and the Velotastic staff put their heads together and designed the Velotastic Peak District Riders Challenge. Rather than follow a set course, the challenge is to complete fourteen of the Peak District's most notable climbs while allowing riders to devise their own route to connect them all together.

"We've set up a challenge ride as a way of showcasing what the area has got and to give you a reason for you to come and visit the Peak District," explains Paul. "We have chosen some of our favourite climbs - some are well known, some are the area's best kept secrets."

While Paul is into cyclocross and mountain biking, all the climbs in the challenge are on tarmac and can be ridden on a racing bike. The challenge is to do them all in a day, travelling between them by bicycle.

"There is no prescribed route on purpose," says Paul. "Part of the fun of challenge is going back to basics and getting your map out. It all adds to the adventure."

The Velotastic Peak District Challenge can be started and finished where you want, doing them in any order and riding any legal route between them. With over 200km of riding and 3700 metres of climb depending on the route taken, it offers riders of any ability a good day in the saddle.

The challenge is not designed to be a competitive event, although participants are welcome to post their routes and times online. Despite his familiarity with the lumps and bumps of the Peaks, Paul doesn't anticipate topping the leaderboard. "I climb slower than a Stannah Stairlift," he laughs.

So what does the future hold for Velotastic, apart from a lot of uphill cycling?

"We're aiming to expand our range of spares and own brand products we can offer," Paul finishes; "I've got a notebook full of ideas..."

For more information visit: velotastic.co.uk/peak-district-challenge/

The climbs of the Velotastic Peak District Riders Challenge

Abney
7 km, 274m, 3.5% avg. One of the Peaks hidden gems a lovely climb with nice views over to the Eastern Edges.

Beeley
2.6 km, 182m, 7% avg. One of our regular climbs back over to Chesterfield.

Cat & Fiddle
2.3km, 127m, 5.5% avg. One of the Peak District's classic climbs. Very open with big sky views over large swathes of moorland.

Curbar
1.6 km, 181m, 11.3% avg. A sharp (31.6%) start that eases off to a steady climb.

Froggat
5.7 km, 251m, 3.9% avg. Sheffield's answer to the Poggio.

Holme Moss
South 4.3 km, 206 m, 4.7% avg. This climb has an alpine feel to it and looks longer than it is.

or North
4.7 km, 348m, 7.3 % avg. Included on the 2014 Grand Départ and used to be used on the Leeds Classic back in the 90s. This is one of the area's iconic climbs.

Mam Nick
2.1 km, 206m, 9.7% avg. The back way up the shivering mountain - Mam Tor.

Monsal
0.4 km, 63m, 14% avg. One of the Peak's famous hill climbs. Has the added bonus of a café at the top.

Riber
1.7 km, 148m, 8.6% avg. The figures hide a brutal climb that is so steep that on one section the path by the side of it conveniently has steps on it if you fancy a sit down.

Rowsley
1 km, 139m, 13.3% avg. A little belter of a climb. Used in one of the early nineties editions of the Tour of Britain.

Sir William
2.2 km, 218m, 10% avg. Avoided by a lot of local riders as it is a leg breaker on the bottom section.

Snake
6.1 km, 348m, 5.7% avg. Another climb that's got an alpine feel to it.

Strines (Ewden Bank)
1km, 130m, 13.1% avg. Known locally as 'Deliverance', a descent will feature in the Grand Départ of the Tour de France 2014.

Winnats
1.9 km, 227m, 11% avg. A dramatic climb up a narrow pass.

0 Comments