Their annual showcase Bike 99, in Birmingham, is receiving special attention from the Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott who is keen on people turning to two-wheeled transport.

Mike Todd of Raleigh: The Chinese have enormous capacity for bike manufacturing

But those within the industry say cycling is far from experiencing a renaissance and the UK's major manufacturer Raleigh is concerned about cheap Chinese imports damaging its business.

Prescott's pedal power

Mr Prescott is swapping his official car for a bike and helping to open a new cycle route in his Hull constituency.

Joining him will be the group, The Beautiful South, as well as local dignitaries. They will all officially launch the 123-mile long White Rose Cycle Route to Middlesbrough, via York.

The route will link into the National Cycle Network being developed by the civil engineering charity Sustrans.

Mr Prescott said: "This route is just the sort of innovative scheme that will help attract people back onto their bikes.

"Cycling is not only a Sunday sport, it's a cheap form of transport which is good for the environment and our health too."

The Budget allowed for a tax free cycling allowance of 12p per mile when using a bike on business travel.

Costly wheels

The country's most expensive pushbike, costing �7,000, will be unveiled at Bike 99.

Dubbed The Shockwave, it boasts gold-plated bolts and forks made from aircraft-grade aluminium.

How safe is it to cycle on British roads?

It is to be launched before thousands of cyclists who are expected to attend the three-day event at the NEC.

A spokesman for the bike's manufacturers, Staffordshire-based Mountain Cycle UK, said the carbon-fibre wheels alone cost �700.

Mountain Cycle UK's Andrew Newsome said anyone wanting a Shockwave would have to wait two weeks to allow time for their 31lb cycle to be hand-crafted.

Alarm bell

One of the UK's best known manufacturers, Raleigh, still retains a major stake in the UK market. Nevertheless, its managing director Mike Todd is warning low cost imports from China could pose a threat to the industry.

Those at Bike 99 will be praying for a fine summer, according to one bicycle industry expert.

Despite Mr Prescott's hopes, the use of the bicycle has not increased radically in the UK.

We are still behind some of our European colleagues when it comes to cycling.

Bicycle Trade and Industry publisher Peter Lumley said UK sales hinged largely on the weather. A good summer will mean more people looking to leave their cars behind.

"Everybody outside believes there's a cycle boom but people are not rushing into buy bikes", he said.

"What would help sales would be of more buses could carry bikes and if trains were better prepared to carry them."

According to Mr Lumley it should all be part of the much vaunted integrated transport system.