This could be your chance to get into the lifestyle that you’ve always dreamed of: living in North Wales, living from bikes and (cheesy as it sounds) living for bikes.

Forestry Commission Wales is looking for a new partner to run the “cycle retail, hire and maintenance building” at Coed y Brenin – the original trail centre and the location that paved the way for British mountain biking as we now know it.

Here’s the word from Forestry:

MOUNTAIN BIKE PARTNER SOUGHT AT ICONIC TRAIL CENTRE

Forestry Commission Wales is looking for someone with the drive and energy to keep Coed-y-Brenin Forest Park at the forefront of the mountain bike scene in Britain.

FC Wales, which runs the iconic destination on behalf of the Welsh Government, is inviting tenders for a business partner to help develop the cycling opportunities at Britain’s first custom built trail centre.

The successful bidder will manage the new cycle retail, hire and maintenance building housed within the new £1.2 million extension at the visitor centre, seven miles outside Dolgellau, which is due for completion in June.

The 160m2 area will have a panoramic frontage looking south towards Cadair Idris and include an impressive 100m2 shop, as well as a workshop and storage area for a fleet of bicycles for hire.

Dave Liddy, FC Wales Visitor Management Advisor, said, “This is a fantastic commercial opportunity for a business to work with us at this iconic destination.

“We’re looking for much more than someone hiring out bikes here. We want someone able to help us build on the enviable reputation of Coed-y-Brenin Forest Park and increase the positive influence it has on the local economy.

“We’re seeking a win-win scenario where Coed-y-Brenin Forest Park’s status is enhanced and other local stakeholders also benefit.”

It is expected that the successful bidder will help to increase the number of visitors to the site and broaden the range of people enjoying the benefits of cycling at Coed-y-Brenin, which was visited by more than 150,000 people last year.

Among the services the new partner will be expected to offer are: 

• Retail, bikes, accessories and “trail consumables” such as inner tubes, drinks and energy bars
• Bike hire
• Mountain bike tuition, taster sessions and guiding services, where novices and experts are advised where and how to make the most of the trails
• A variety of mountain bike events
• Marketing the facilities, both locally and nationally
• Outreach activities, building links with businesses, cycle groups and schools
• Provide site-related information to visitors.

An invitation to tender for the opportunity was placed on the Forestry Commission Wales website on Monday, 25 February and can be found at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-7nrkwg

The Coed-y-Brenin Forest Park development forms part of the Gwynedd Council-led Eryri Centre of Excellence partnership, which is part funded by the by the EU’s Convergence European Regional Development Fund through Visit Wales and the Welsh Government.

Additional funding towards the project comes from Forestry Commission Wales, Gwynedd Council, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and Tourism Partnership Mid Wales.

From 1 April 2013, Natural Resources Wales will take over the functions currently carried out by FC Wales, the Countryside Council for Wales and Environment Agency Wales.

Cader Idris – you’ll be able to see this everyday: