Orange mountain bikes have come to be well known and respected amongst mountain bikers the world over. From a small base in Halifax in the English county of Yorkshire, the company has grown massively to the extent that it has sponsored two world champions: Steve Peat and Greg Minnaar.

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 has lived all his life in Yorkshire and became interested in mountain biking after leaving school. 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.

At this stage, still before Orange mountain bikes came into existence, lester Noble starting designing his own mountain bikes. In the beginning he imported bikes from Taiwan to sell in the UK under the name of Tushingham bikes.Later when he met his now business partner, Steve Wade who is another biking enthusiast they decided to set up a business together.Steve Wade’s engineering background and existing sheet metal business was ideal for bringing in the materials and expertise needed to start the 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.

What really helped Orange mountain bikes make its name was the sponsorship of high profile riders. 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.
It’s true to say that from simple and humble roots, Orange mountain bikes have come on a lot.They are a firm favourite with mountain bikers in England and abroad and are sold in twenty six countries worldwide.

Orange mountain bikes is a British mountain bike company which has come to be known around the world. From a small base in Halifax in the English county of Yorkshire, the company has grown massively to the extent that it has sponsored two world champions: Steve Peat and Greg Minnaar.

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 has lived all his life in Yorkshire and became interested in mountain biking after leaving school. 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.

Then Lester Noble started to design his own mountain bikes, although Orange mountain bikes still hadn’t been born, In the beginning he imported bikes from Taiwan to sell in the UK under the name of Tushingham bikes.Later when he met his now business partner, Steve Wade who is another biking enthusiast they decided to set up a 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.
At the start the two men assembled bikes from parts bough abroad but later moved on to manufacturing their own. And so Orange mountain bikes was born, with a name taken from a shortened version of ‘All Round Range.’ 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.The Patriot bike was made for the Animal/Orange team to ride on the British downhill courses, so the company benefitted from a lot of exposure. The production of the Patriot bike also led to the creation of the 222 downhill bike which engaged the interest of foreign bikers.
It’s true to say that from simple and humble roots, Orange mountain bikes have come on a lot.They are a firm favourite with mountain bikers in England and abroad and are sold in twenty six countries worldwide.