The Peak District Cycle Tour is an exciting new project to bring the Eroica Britannia cycling route through the Peak District to a much wider cycling tourism market, by permanently signing a circular cycling route based on the 100 mile route followed by the Eroica Britannia riders.
The tour aims to attract both domestic and overseas staying visitors to the area, enabling all types of cyclist; leisure, families etc, to complete the tour in 2 - 4 days, at any time of year and on any type of bicycle.
Eroica Britannia cycle festival is based on the original L’Eroica cycle ride held every year in Gaiole, Tuscany, since 1997. It is a celebration of the “heroic” days of good old-fashioned cycling before the advent of modern influences. As well as the 3 rides that cyclist can take part in (on vintage bikes); 30, 50 and 100 miles, there is also a 3-day family festival held in Bakewell which as proved extremely popular; 2015 saw 50,000 attend the festival and 4,000 take part in the rides.
With active marketing and evidence that there is support for the route locally, this year round tour could bring a boost to the local economy, particularly accommodation providers, food and drink businesses, village shops and cycle hire centres.
Evidence is available on the success of other, similar schemes; eg an Economic Impact Report in 2012 on the 'Way of the Roses' linear cycleway; a signed route across the north of England found that the route carried 130k leisure cycle trips, with users spending money on local goods and services to the value of £3m to the local economy, annually.
We would therefore like to seek the views from businesses along and close to, the route to establish the level of support for the project.