Almost every month, The Oxford Times carries a report about another traditional Oxford business closing down. But you may be cheered to hear that at least one old-established industry is going from strength to strength.

Cycling after a period in the doldrums during the 1970s has burgeoned with the growth of mountain biking and shows no sign of going out of fashion.

Over the past few decades, the city's cycle shops have undergone a renaissance, with new ones opening and old-established stores taking on a fresh lease of life.

Andy Holme, 36, co-owner of Warlands Cycles, in Botley Road, says business is as good as ever, as the shop celebrates its 100th birthday.

He said: "The only reason we know about the anniversary is that when we took over, we found a receipt from the 1950s which said established in 1906'. We are still trying to find out where the original shop was."

The first definite location was what later became the Opium Den restaurant in George Street.

Mr Holme said: "It was built by Warlands in the 1930s, but the depression caused a drop in trade and they went bankrupt while building it.

"However, they recovered the business and moved to Botley Road."

There was also another Warlands bicycle shop in Blackburn, which the original family sold only recently.

Mr Holme said: "One of the granddaughters came to St Catherine's College and used to pop in with her dad to say hello."

Mr Holme and his business partner Steve Stuart bought the business in 1999. Mr Holme had worked there for 12 years, starting as a Saturday lad while studying for a qualification in social care.

Possible sale He realised that he could not earn a decent living caring for disabled teenagers at the same time as he discovered that he had a talent for cycle mechanics.

Oxford's cycle retail industry being a small world, the possible sale of Warlands was being watched closely by Mr Stuart, a botany graduate, who had trained as a librarian but was working in Walton Street Cycles to pay the mortgage'.

He said: "Both Andy and I have found our niche I like the mixture of the practical and being able to help people to sort out their problems."

When the pair teamed up to take over the business from Peter and Diana Elder in 1999, the first thing they did was to stop the repair and MoT certification of mopeds a throwback to the days of Mods and Rockers, when Warlands had a separate business selling Lambrettas and Vespas.

When prompted, Andy can rattle off the names and history of all Oxford's many cycle shops.

He explained: "We don't really class ourselves as competitors. We all go out every so often and play snooker, or go for a ride and have a pub meal.

"If we need a part they will let us have it. It's quite cosy really."

They also seem to know most of their customers, by sight if not by name. On the day I called they were chatting to a cycle parts salesman, as well as a Royal Mail postman who uses the shop to store bags of post while delivering to the area.

Mr Stuart said: "It's part of being in the community, to help people. That's why West Oxford is one of the nicer parts of Oxford it is still a community.

"People see Botley Road as a horrible traffic jam, but for those of us who are lucky enough to live in this area, it is neighbourly, and we have pleasant surroundings, with green to the north and the south. It's really one of the most rural parts of the city, and perhaps a bit of adversity brings out the best in people."

Bottleneck As a trader and a cyclist, he would like to see something done about the bottleneck of the railway bridge, a bicycle danger spot which he feels deters people from cycling on Botley Road.

He is also a member of Cyclox, which campaigns for a better deal for cyclists in Oxford.

One of Warlands' newest ventures is tandem experience' days, for people who want to see if they can agree how to steer a bicycle made for two. Mr Holme said: "All kinds of people ride tandems. There are the hard-core cycle tourists, of course, but we have also sold a tandem to a couple who had never ridden a bicycle before."

Mr Stuart added: "I always say that it is a metaphor for marriage or a relationship. In fact, you have fewer arguments than you do on separate bikes.

"You can't accuse your partner of not waiting for you, or going on too far ahead."

Warlands has joined forces with tandem expert Pete Bird and seven other tandem builders across the UK to offer one-day try-outs for people considering buying or for those who just want a day's ride.

Many customers are parents who want a quick, traffic-jam free way of getting their children to school.

The tandems are also available for organised tours, holidays, corporate training events and, of course, weddings.

Call 01865 241336