UK bike sales benefit from 'Wiggins effect'

Bradley Wiggins and fans, Tour de France 2012, stage 20

Bradley Wiggins' Tour de France win has spurred British buyers to come out in force and purchase new bikes and cycling accessories, according to credit company Visa.

Visa Europe reports that sales of bikes and accessories in the final week of the Tour rose by 6.3 per cent compared to the previous week, and rose 5.1 per cent compared to the same week last year. Although Visa does not mention it in its report, part of the uplift could also be attributed to a long-awaited change to fairer weather in the UK.

Visa are currently tracking the spending habits of its customers in Britain before, during and after the London 2012 Olympic Games. The company also reports that spending by international visitors in Britain has risen 5.1 per cent across the board, with ticket sales and theatre booking rising 53 per cent compared to 2011.

The London 2012 Olympic Games kick off with the opening ceremony on Friday, July 27. The first cycling event will be the men's road race starting and finishing on The Mall on Saturday, July 28.

Related links

Wiggins wins 2012 Tour de France as Cavendish takes final stage

London 2012: Olympic Games coverage index

Olympic road race route: Download detailed map

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Nigel Wynn
Former Associate Editor

Nigel Wynn worked as associate editor on CyclingWeekly.com, he worked almost single-handedly on the Cycling Weekly website in its early days. His passion for cycling, his writing and his creativity, as well as his hard work and dedication, were the original driving force behind the website’s success. Without him, CyclingWeekly.com would certainly not exist on the size and scale that it enjoys today. Nigel sadly passed away, following a brave battle with a cancer-related illness, in 2018. He was a highly valued colleague, and more importantly, n exceptional person to work with - his presence is sorely missed.