Swift Security Products builds three metre tall bike to promote the Tour de France

Tour de France bike on display outside Swift Security Products

Swift Security Products on Queensway have built a 3 metre tall bike to celebrate the Tour de France passing through the borough.

The bike, which is on display outside of the companies premises, is painted yellow to represent the Tour de France logo.

Mark Baxendale from Swift Security Products said: “We drove down where the route is going and where the bikes will be travelling and saw that people were displaying bikes and had small ones decorated so we decided to get involved and build a big one for everyone to see.”

The bike is made out of steel tube and is described by Mark as being “quite tall”. Mark and two members of staff made the wheels of the bike before other members of the team decided to get involved.

He added: “There were three of us originally who made the wheels and then when people saw what we were doing, more people got involved and decided to help us out.”

Mark has seen a good reaction to the bike since putting it on display. “Some people think we are a bike shop,” joked Mark, “but people like it. A lot of people are stopping and having their picture taken with it. We have school children passing by so they like to stop and have a picture next to it.”

The Tour de France will pass through the borough next Sunday (6 July) and will see thousands of people flock to see it.

Mark added: “It would have bee nice if it was coming through a bit more but it is a good thing for the town and will hopefully generate some good publicity.”

The bike will be on display outside of Swift Security Products for a few weeks.