An innovative new venture, EBIKE CAFE @ Deheers opened its doors on Saturday 7th November 2020 in the prestigious Deheers Building along Weymouth’s Old Harbourside.
Owners Peter Claxton and Josephine Parker along with their manager Danni Moors are championing an active lifestyle, healthier eating and positive mental wellbeing in a COVIDsafe environment through their new look enterprise. It combines their current shop, Dorset CycleLife1, a well established and successful all electric bike shop, with a cafe offering a great selection of nutritious, healthy foods on the menu.
Co owner Josephine Parker explains: “The EBIKE CAFE @ Deheers is our new brand venture for all your ebike needs. Here you can enjoy wholesome takeaway food and drinks on the iconic Weymouth Harbourside. Once lockdown is over you can sit in our cafe area to take lunch or a quick bite. There is parking for those arriving by cycle or the opportunity to hire a bike to explore the surrounding area. You can even recharge your bike in the ebike charging points.
In addition, customers will find expert technicians in the dedicated service and workshop zone and a comprehensive sales area”.
On display there is a wide range of electric bikes from leading suppliers. In addition to Raleigh, Haibike and Tern brands, EBIKE CAFE @Deheers is the only stockist to hold the full range of turbo ebikes from the iconic Californian market leading brand “Specialized”.
Co owner Peter Claxton says: “Our aim is to give electric bike riders the very best technology by the leading brands. We stock a wide range of ebikes offering a diversity of riding options.
Whether your electric bike is for the daily commute, your shopping needs, trekking through the countryside or more extreme and specialist sports such as enduro, all mountain or downhill biking, we can source the perfect bike for you.”
The market has seen a major shift in personal transport needs this year, led predominantly by health and environment factors. A recent study carried out by CREDS (Centre for Research into Energy Demand Solutions) researchers at the University of Leeds has found that electrically-assisted bicycles (e-bikes), if used to replace short car travels, have the capability to cut car carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in England by up to 50% (about 30 million tonnes per year). Add to that the benefit of better health and a socially distanced method of travel, it is no wonder bike sales in the UK have doubled in the past 2 years.2
During lockdown one, Dorset CycleLife’s own web traffic increased by 350% and Peter sold so many ebikes they ran out of stock. This upward trend looks set to last and prompted a change to their business model.
Peter says: “We welcome this change to greener travel habits3, cleaner air and healthier communities. Our move to Weymouth gives us a better platform to engage with those considering a more carbon friendly transport option whilst providing a complete service for fellow ebike users”.
And what better place to start this new venture than along the historic Weymouth Old Harbourside in the prestigious and sensitively renovated historic Deheers building www.deheers.com.
Mickey Jones and his team at D J Property have recently completed the £2.5 million renovation of the Victorian Deheers building bringing a collection of luxury warehouse style apartments above the new retail area.
Micky Jones says: “we are delighted the EBIKE CAFE @ Deheers have taken the lease from us. There were many applications for this lease but Peter and Josephine’s vision for an environmentally friendly, family-run business, coupled with expert knowledge and the provision of a healthy eating cafe stood out. It will bring local employment and add an exciting new chapter to the rich heritage of entrepreneurs this historic building has engaged with since its beginnings in the 19th century”
Peter says: “we feel privileged to bring our business to Weymouth within the prestigious setting of the Deheers building. Our venture occupies over 140 square metres of space on the ground floor. A generous space to showcase our business and to welcome our customers, old and new. It is a centrally located, picturesque setting, easily accessed by cycle networks – it couldn’t be better!”.
EBIKE CAFE @ Deheers is open 7 days a week, from 10 am to 4 pm. They are located on the ground floor of Deheers, 9A Custom House Quay, Weymouth DT4 8BG.
Find out more at www.ebikecafe.co.uk
Notes:
- Dorset Cycle Life was an all electric bike shop in Poundbury, Dorchester. It opened its doors in 2013 and received overwhelming support and success. Moving to larger premises gives Peter and Josephine the opportunity to expand their concept further and promote a healthy environment and lifestyle. dorsetcyclelife.com
- https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/sep/08/electric-bike-and-scooter-sales-boom-pushes-halford-back-to-growth-covid-19
- According to a study carried out by the European Cyclist Federation, taking the complete life cycle of each transportation mode into account, our approximate carbon emissions when using each vehicle are:
- Bicycle: 21 g CO2/km traveled
- Electric bike: 22 g CO2/ km traveled
- Passenger car: 271 g CO2/ km traveled
- Bus: 101 CO2/ km traveled