THEY came, they cycled, and they went home with no problems.

No one can be happier with the successful completion of this weekend’s two major cycling events in the New Forest than this paper.

Fears that a clash of cyclists and locals would lead to friction and more pressure to close down the national park to major cycling events appear to have been unfounded.

The events passed off without incident and prove, hopefully, that if well managed and undertaken in the correct spirit, such events can run smoothly and enhance – not finish – the allure of the Forest.

This is important. Cycling is the new buzz word for both fitness and leisure activities and the British have rekindled their love affair with the pedal bike in recent years.

For the New Forest and Hampshire as a whole to give the impression that cyclists are not welcome is to push away not just a source of income and jobs but project an unfriendly, keep-out message.

This weekend has proved the New Forest is open for business as far as cycling is concerned.