Orange mountain bikes is a British mountain bike company which has come to be known around the world.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.

Since the credit crunch reared its ugly head, a lot of importance has been placed on supporting British brands, which Orange mountain bikes undisputedly is. Lester Noble, one of the founders of the company was raised in Yorkshire and found his interest in mountain bikes as a young adult.He was originally a huge fan of a brand known as Muddy Fox, but feel out of love with it when he believed it was starting to become too concerned with urban fashion rather than off road biking.

At this stage, still before Orange mountain bikes came into existence, lester Noble starting designing his own 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. For starting a bike business, the engineering background and sheet metal business that Steve Wade brought with him was ideal.
At the start the two men assembled bikes from parts bough abroad but later moved on to manufacturing their own. Orange mountain bikes, whose name is taken from ‘All Round Range’ came into existence. Today all Orange mountain bikes are manufactured and built in Yorkshire, apart from the cheaper 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. It was the production of the Patriot bike which led to the design of the 222 downhill bike which created much publicity and awareness abroad.
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.

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