WHETHER you enjoy a gentle cycle with the wind flowing through your hair or prefer a more exhilarating ride in the hills, the world of cycling is changing.

The electric bike is expected to be pedalling its way into more British homes as its popularity grows.

And The Bike Place at Kielder Cycle Centre is at the forefront of the fastest-growing sector in British cycling.

As such it is offering a free electric bike demo day at Kielder on Sunday, April 3 from 10am to 4pm.

All are welcome to have a go at one of the country’s leading e-bike test centres where representatives from Raleigh and Haibike will be on hand, along with a selection of bikes to try.

Ian Bell, owner of The Bike Place which has stores at Bellingham and Kielder, says the e-bike is having something of a moment.

He said: “Electric bikes have been around for about 10 years. The first attempts weren’t very good; they were unreliable and had poor battery systems.

“Dealers had little confidence in stocking them as they were seen as an experiment.

“However they have been growing in popularity in the last two to three years. There has been a massive growth in electric mountain bikes and hybrid bikes.”

Big brands include Bosch and Yamaha. Each bike has four different power levels and 10 to 20 gears.

Ian said: “Riding an electric bike makes all the difference in the world; they are game changers.

“When the time comes that I can’t get up to the mountains as easily, I will definitely get one.

“To me, riding at a lower level would be boring but an electric bike means you can still go on the more challenging routes up in the mountains and you can stay out for longer. You’re still getting a workout.”

There is often a common perception, particularly among the hardcore cyclists, that using an electric bike is cheating or that they are for older people who struggle to cycle.

But Ian says this is no longer the case and the bikes are attracting younger buyers who enjoy the ease.

Electric bikes are hugely popular throughout Europe; nearly 50 per cent of bikes sold on the Continent are electric.

Last year, over 500,000 e-bikes were sold in the rest of Europe, compared to 50,000 sold in the UK.

Ian added: “We are two to three years behind the rest of Europe so there is a massive growth expected. I went cycling in the Alps last year and they were everywhere.

“It’s about changing people’s mindset and making the bikes more accessible to more people.

“Everyone who has a go on one can’t believe the difference.”

The only downside is the weight but as they develop over time it is expected the bikes will be lighter.

Prices start at £1,000 but a carbon-framed bike new for 2016 costs £13,000.

They are available for hire purchase set up by the manufacturers. The Bike Place is planning on setting up its own interest free finance over 12 months.

The battery’s life span has 500 charge cycles. One charge cycle is classed as charging from completely empty to full.

They can go for around 120 miles on the eco setting before needing to be charged.

The Bike Place at the Kielder Cycle Centre is a test centre for electric bikes.

“We have traffic free trails at Kielder, making it the ideal place to try,” Ian said.

For more information go to www.thebikeplace.co.uk or call (01434) 250457.