Million Plus

The Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland (MTBCOS) is supporting a multi-million pound economic boom as businesses create new and innovative products for the soaring number of cyclists taking to the great outdoors.

Set up in 2014, within 18 months it was having a hugely positive effect on the local and national economies by focusing on an activity that is worth more than £120 million to Scotland annually.

Dr Geraint Florida-James, a Reader in Sport & Exercise Sciences at Edinburgh Napier University, said: “The opportunities for knowledge transfer between business and academia in the mountain bike industry are huge. We are therefore excited that Scottish academics and in particular Edinburgh Napier University are taking a lead in an area that offers so many opportunities for innovation and research in real world scenarios.”

Fergus Ewing MSP, Minister for Business, Energy and Tourism, said:  “Scotland is blessed with some of the best mountain biking facilities in the world and the Scottish Government is committed to maintaining this international reputation. Mountain biking is not only an excellent way to stay fit and healthy but it is an exciting growth industry, as these new figures show.

“One of the jewels in Scotland’s mountain biking crown, Glentress attracts hundreds of thousands of mountain bikers to the Tweed Valley every year and I am pleased to be here today to see how the Mountain Bike Centre, industry and academia are collaborating to create new products and experiences which will allow this exciting sport to grow even further.”