Seal of approval for flooded firm as it bounces back from the disaster

Blazing Saddles was crowned the Best Bike Shop in this year’s Singletrack Readers Awards.

The national mountainbiking magazine, which is based in Todmorden, praised the business for the way it had bounced back after the floods.

Following the unprecedented Boxing Day deluge, the shop had to move from its West End premises in Hebden Bridge to the Craggs Country Business Park. Its workshop remains in Hebden Bridge. Despite the turbulent time, Blazing Saddles has bounced back to continue to serve customers.

It’s this dedication which led customers to nominate the shop for the accolade - which makes the award all the more special.

Heather Ainscough, of Blazing Saddles, said: “We have really strived to provide our service to the customers since Boxing Day and this award means that we have done that.”

Singletrack added: “They were flooded in the Boxing Day floods, their workshop received structural damage, their stock was washed away and they’ve bounced back.

“The flooded shop reopened quickly offering workshop services, they’ve made creative use of the space available to hold pop-up shops, charity auctions and art exhibitions, and they’ve opened a new showroom – taking on new staff and creating jobs in the process. Not only have they shown resilience in the face of adversity, but they’ve done so with a smile on their faces.”

The shop will remain in Cragg Vale at the moment, but plans have been submitted to rebuild the back of the Hebden Bridge store, to ensure that it is flood resilient for the future.