A small English company, Orange mountain bikes have come a long way and are now internationally known and respected.Based in Halifax, in Yorkshire, the company started with humble beginnings but has no developed so much that in recent years it has sponsored two world champions: Greg Minnaar and Steve Peat.
Supporting British companies has taken on increased importance since the economic crisis and Orange mountain bikes is a very British brand.One of the company’s founders, Lester Noble grew up in Yorkshire and developed an interest in mountain biking in his young adulthood. In the early days he rode Muddy Fox bikes but fell out of love with the brand when he started to feel they were becoming preoccupied with urban fashion rather than serious off road biking.
It was at this pre- Orange mountain bikes point that Lester Noble first began designing mountain bikes.He originally sourced bikes from the Far East to sell in the UK under the brand name Tushingham bikes. Later, when he came to meet his now business partner, Steve Wade, they decided to go into business together. With him, Steve Wade brought his engineering background and his existing sheet metal company, both of which proved ideal for starting a bike business.
Originally they worked together assembling bike parts bought in from Taiwan but later began manufacturing. Orange mountain bikes, whose name is taken from ‘All Round Range’ came into existence. Nowadays all Orange mountain bikes are made in Yorkshire, with the exception of the cheaper, entry level range.
Sponsoring high profile bikers really gave Orange mountain bikes a head start in making its name. When the Animal/Orange team used the Patriot bike on British downhill courses.It also prompted the creation of the 222 downhill bike which brought about a storm of publicity overseas.
Orange mountain bikes have evolved and progressed so much from their humble beginnings.They are a firm favourite with mountain bikers in England and abroad and are sold in twenty six countries worldwide.
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June 6, 2010
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