WHEELS keep on turning for Alex and Rebecca Western, who were undaunted when the cycle shop Alex managed at Clifton Moor, York, for seven years, was closed down by its owners.

The couple simply took on the lease themselves at what had been called The Bike Depot Factory Outlet in Centurion Park, renamed it The Bike Outlet (York) Ltd and carried on with the momentum of goodwill they had gathered over the years.

The shop has meant everything to Alex, 24, who has managed it since he left Scarborough College, at the age of 17.

He said: "Bikes are my world. At the age of 14 I used to work one day a week at a bike shop in Scarborough and I'm a keen mountain biker today. When I was made redundant I was devastated. It was a big shock.

"But then I literally got on my bike and decided that there was no reason why I could not continue and improve the shop's success in my own name."

Rebecca, now joint manager of the new venture, said: "We were in profit when the old business closed, due to the retirement of the owner, Barry Young, of Lincoln.

"Clearly Alex was doing something right, because we are a little out of the way, tucked behind the Peugeot MSS dealership, but word-of-mouth and good customer service has always ensured that people find us. Long may that now continue."

Alex said that the previous shop's policy was to "stack 'em high and sell 'em cheap."

He said: "This, along with our bike repair service, will continue, but I have now added some of the more specialised bike ranges."

He said that his venture had a big advantage over similar city centre shops because there was "room for customers to actually try out our cycles before buying."

Updated: 09:50 Tuesday, October 28, 2003