THREE DECADES OF HOPE
They may not be the loudest brand on the stage, but British component and bike builders Hope Technologies are without doubt one of the strongest and most unique performers in the mountain bike world.
After years of focus on parts, they've now ventured into the complete bike market.
Hope has been around for 30 years now, emerging from a strong Lancashire engineering background. Founded by Ian Weatherill and the sadly departed Simon Sharp, Hope was built on solid, no frills but innovative and quality engineering. From a family garage to the eponymous Hope Mill factory, they forged their way into the new MTB marketplace.
I called in for butties & brews (sandwiches and tea if you're not from these parts) at their former mill in Barnoldswick, Lancashire. The town is surrounded with rolling fells, all trimmed by lush green forest and sweetly embroidered with great trails. It’s this very terrain that’s shaped every twist and turn in the fabric of Hope’s products over the years. What’s life like at Hope and what are these new bikes all about? Let’s find out…
ST: Steve Thomas
IW: Ian Weatherill – Founder
AW: Alan Weatherill – Younger brother and head of marketing
“We pretty
