Mountain bike trail centre operator Quench Cycles has wheeled out another winner in the shape of an eye-catching Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport Dualiner.
The stylish new van arrived via Surrey and Sussex dealer Rossetts Commercials, which has just signed a sponsorship deal with its customer.
Although fast-growing Quench Cycles is about to open a new venue in Portsmouth, and has other projects in the pipeline, its main centres are at Bedgebury, in Goudhurst, Kent, and Alice Holt Forest near Farnham, Surrey.
Both are hugely popular - Bedgebury is the third most visited attraction in Kent, attracting up to 30,000 cyclists a year, while another 10,000 ride at Alice Holt.
Key to Quench's success is the fact that its centres offer trails which have been constructed to appeal to riders of all standards, from hardcore, competitive mountain bikers to families wanting simply to enjoy a day out in the fresh air - for those not bringing their own bikes, the company also offers a comprehensive hire service.
Designed to appeal to the heart as well as the head, the Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport rides on 17" six-spoke alloys and features smart, chrome sidebars. A Long-bodied 116CDI model, Quench's new van is powered by a 2.1-litre 163hp engine which offers punchy performance and impressive economy and transmits its power to the road via an optional five-speed automatic transmission.
Quench proprietor David Cole explained: "Having relied previously on a 4x4 car, we wanted a more contemporary vehicle that also offered a more practical load space configuration.
"The Vito Sport fits the bill perfectly. Its looks and lines sit very comfortably with our own brand image, and indeed with that of mountain biking as a sport.
"And the fact that it's a Dualiner model with a second row of seats means it will carry five cyclists in comfort, with their bikes securely racked in the back and room left over for riding kit too."
Quench is using its new van to transport groups of customers on guided mountain biking trips - "It's already been as far as Yorkshire, Wales and the far South-West," said David. "It's supremely comfortable and really eats up the miles, so our parties have arrived feeling completely refreshed and ready to saddle up and head for the hills."
Quench also supports a couple of professional athletes - World Cup Downhill Mountain Bike rider Olie Burton and national event-winning triathlete Tom Sturdy - and will use the van to attend events in which they compete.
The company's links with Rossetts Commercials were established last year, when the dealer ran a couple of competitions for customers - the prizes were a junior mountain bike experience with coaching for teenagers at Alice Holt, and a night ride for adults at Bedgebury.
Added David: "The team at Rossetts are really enthusiastic about our new relationship, which is great from our point of view. And I've already started recommending them to cyclists who've liked the look of our new Vito and wanted to find out more."