Pronto Bikes, newly opened on Bath Street in Frome, has its own bike shed, where you can park your wheels to browse the shop which offers everything from a simple bike part (which a resident bike mechanic can fit for you), through to the most sophisticated racing machines. But they want to be more than just a bike shop, and as soon as covid allows, have a cycle cafe and cycling events to build a community.

In the latest Nub News UP CLOSE we went to visit Pronto Bikes and heard how Managing Director Justin Hoy and Co Director Kate Medlicott have big plans to create a new cycling hub.

So tell us about Pronto

They told us : "We will be selling to all levels and all ages of bike riders from all abilities. But Pronto is so much more than just a bike shop, selling bikes, (although on the day Nub News visited they had just sold their first electric bike)."

Justin, who comes from Hampshire has been working for years for a wholesale bike company. He told us : " I wanted a change after driving around bike shops for 15 years. I was driving into London and the home counties every day, now I have a ten minute bike ride to work, which is a joy. Rather than the day starting with the A36, the A303, the M3 and then the M25 - that was my usual route - I can be in work in minutes."

Kate said : " We moved to Frome around a year ago, and Justin was furloughed, then we noticed on social media, lots of people looking for someone to repair bikes. So he started doing that and almost immediately was flat out with home repairs. "

Parts, accessories, spares, a set service charge and of course bikes, but Pronto also wants to get to the heart of the Frome community, from experienced cyclists through to those who are new to it, creating a cycling heaven in this long-empty shop.

Kate said : " We will be doing rides from the shop on Bath Street as soon as we are allowed. We will be having events and talks from people in the industry. We also have a fitness area which again, once coronavirus restrictions are fully lifted, we will be hosting exercise classes.

" Yoga and strength and conditioning classes, initially aimed towards cyclists but for anyone who wants to get fit ; it could be for you to improve your core strength even if you are just going for a quick tootle around town."

But the big bike picture does not stop there

There will also be a café up front of the bright light venue, with local cakes and coffee, that bike shed (no kissing allowed) and they have a broadcast licence ready to stream all the major cycling events, along with other sports, which again post-coronavirus could be a big draw.

Pronto has certainly tapped into a growing market, according to the Secretary for Transport levels of cycling in the UK have soared by as much as 200% since the first lockdown and bike sales up around 60% last year.

Kate tells us : " I think that people getting out cycling has increased everywhere, but we are particularly lucky in Frome there are so many great tracks and routes. Hence the low stock levels of bikes, it seems that everyone has been buying a bike."

Kate, who hails from Glastonbury told us that when she moved into the area she didn't know that many people, so posted a message asking if there were any ladies who wanted to come out cycling - and she was overwhelmed.

She told Nub News said: " Over the summer over 30 ladies signed up - so we were out cycling in small groups of six, on all different kinds of bikes, every Monday evening. Some of them had not even sat on a bike for ten years. Some had never cycled more than a mile and some evenings we would cycle for 12 miles. It was simply amazing."

According to Pronto, Frome is blessed with some great riding opportunities both road routes and off-road trails such as those around Longleat and a route which is pretty much all off road to King Alfred's tower (in Brewham). For the extra ambitious Pronto tells us you could even cycle across to Salisbury, almost all off road on gravel tracks.

But it is not just the cycling

Kate told Nub News : " Frome has been so supportive, we love that aspect about the town, everyone is so welcoming. We just want to help where we can and when we can. If we can't get a part for your bike instantly, we will source it for you and do what we can to help. We like to think we are a really friendly service.

And it doesn't stop there.

Pronto is on a cycling exploration of discovery.

The duo are talking to local groups linking up paths and cycleways, including the line over to Radstock and in a world first, again once covid allows, they are involved in an exciting bike project with Frome Medical Practice. Watch this space. You can contact Pronto Bikes via their social media page by clicking HERE : the Pronto Bike page