Businesses being established and upgraded are good news.
What with the Otago Central Rail Trail, all the routes around Queenstown and Wanaka and the more exotic sounding North Otago Alps 2 Ocean cycleway, there must have been fears the track from Alexandra to Lawrence would fail to make much impact.
The positive reports from the chairman of the Clutha Gold Trail, Rob Pierce, acknowledge his information is anecdotal.
There are many more wheels to turn along the way before all will be convinced of long-term success.
Nevertheless, the signs are promising.
Recreational cycling has become increasingly popular among the middle-aged and middle and professional classes.
These are groups that often frequent the cafes and the accommodation houses and are likely to come from near and far.
While cyclists will visit from Dunedin for both the lesser and better known trails, the prominent Otago Central rail route draws the bulk of its visitors from beyond the province.
Hopefully, the newer trails by the Clutha River can benefit from increasing national and international recognition of the quality and range of rides across the region.
Hopefully, too, cyclists can spill from Queenstown Lakes to explore further afield.
Australians, particularly from the large East Coast cities of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are turning more to the South Island as a playground close to home but offering different landscapes and experiences - and not just for the skiing.
With the rapid increase in Australian flights to Queenstown, there is potential for other parts of Otago to benefit.
Even a small percentage of Queenstown visitors exploring a little wider will make a significant difference.
The idea of a cycling trail from Bannockburn to Clyde beside Lake Dunstan is exciting in this context.
Although bluffs towards the Cromwell end will challenge trail designers and builders, securing a link from Queenstown all the way to Lawrence, and maybe eventually to Dunedin, adds to the potential appeal.
Unfortunately, the Roxburgh Gorge trail has a missing link that could not be completed.
The cost (it can be $95) and the hassle for the 13km boat trip on Lake Roxburgh, albeit a lovely cruise, is a disincentive for many.
This leads to some cyclists either not doing this part of the journey or doing the trails in more of a piecemeal way.
Although an occasional extra cafe or accommodation house or other business is hardly big industry, they all add up and make a difference to small towns, including to their ambience.
The Millers Flats, the Lawrences and Roxburghs and, further north, the Duntroons or Kurows receive encouraging fillips.
It is good, too, for the morale of these places to know others find them well worth visiting.
The Central trail has also shown that other attractions - like arts and crafts outlets, dairies and specialist activities - benefit.
The ice rink at Naseby, for example, even though several kilometres from the trail, welcomes many bikers.
A useful comparison can be made with tramping tracks.
The Great Walks (Milford, the Routeburn and the Kepler) draw tens of thousands of visitors, are often fully booked and numbers rise every year.
The next level, the Greenstone/Caples or Rees/Dart are also popular, with overseas visitors and backpackers far outnumbering New Zealanders.
Although the cycle trails have the added complication of requiring specialist equipment, the bikes themselves (which can be hired), and although they lack the exotic allure of the high mountains, they provide scenery and experiences startlingly different from those overseas.
The variety of trails, including the exciting prospect of the ride from Lake Wakatipu through the mountains into Southland, means the South can build an image and a reputation as a mecca for recreational cyclists.
Large-scale numbers will not be drawn from the hard-core mountain bikers, a different market. Instead, the trails provide physical, outdoor and social experiences that are enjoyed by many.
