In other divisions Halfords also maintained growth, with its motoring retail section rising 0.6 per cent.
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Halfords Group has maintained its full year guidance after group revenues rose by 4.8% in the 20 weeks to 19 August.
The company said in a trading update today that it enjoyed its biggest ever summer week of sales in late July for retail and repaired a bike puncture once every minute that its stores were open.
Like-for-like revenue grew 1.2%, split between a 1.1% gain in like-for-like revenues for retail and a 1.8% increase at autocentres.
The success of Britain’s cycling heroes at the Rio Olympics helped retailer Halfords get bike sales back on track over the summer.
With one eye on the Olympic Games in Rio, Halfords teamed up with the gold medal-winning rider to launch a women’s bike range this summer, building on its partnership with Sir Bradley Wiggins earlier in the year.
Auto maintenance growth was driven by bulbs, blades and batteries and new motorcycle ranges.
Despite travel solutions and auto maintenance growing 1.6 and 4.9 per cent respectively, a 3.8 per cent drop in vehicle enhancement brought the average down due to a continuing fall in sat nav sales.
Total cycling sales rose by 11%, due to Cycle Republic store openings and the addition of premium bike retailer Tredz, which the company bought in May.
Sales growth in travel solutions was largely driven by child safety seats and roof boxes.
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The vehicle parts-to-bicycles chain said sales were also boosted by good weather, a promotional push and a “stellar” line-up of ranges launched by past and present Olympians Trott, Sir Bradley, Chris Boardman and Victoria Pendleton.
