BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
Bickerton, the iconic British folding bicycle brand, is being relaunched, 40 years after its initial introduction. Founded in 1971 by Harry Bickerton, the Bickerton Portable Bicycle pioneered many of the technologies which can be found on today’s folding bikes. Harry’s son, Mark Bickerton, president of the Bicycle Association of Great Britain, is re-launching Bickerton Portables with a contemporary range of bikes, inspired by many of the original concepts.
Bickerton said: “Combining the Bickerton heritage of ingenuity with up-to-date technologies, our design team has made some stunning bikes."
2×2 Worldwide has been appointed as exclusive distributor in Great Britain and Ireland.
Kevin Whitfield, MD at 2×2 Worldwide said: “Adding Bickerton Portables to our already strong brand portfolio allows us to extend our long held passion for folding bikes. The opportunity to re-launch Bickerton Portables in the UK and Ireland is the stuff of history. We will be offering Bickerton bikes to the bike trade and other retailers, with the first stock due in March."
Bickerton said: "We are enormously excited to partner with 2×2 Worldwide who have a powerful distribution network and share our enthusiasm for folding bicycles. Together, we are putting Bickerton Portables well and truly back on the map.”
Harry Bickerton registered the patent for his bicycle in 1971. An ex-Rolls Royce engineer, he wanted to design a bicycle that was “small enough to go into the boot of a Mini, light enough to hang on a hat stand.”
The original Bickerton designs pioneered many of the technologies which became essential design features for almost all modern folding bicycles: the first aluminium folding bike, the first mono-tube folder, the offset bottom bracket, an extended seat post as well as interlocking hinge abutments. Over a period of 20 years, about 600,000 Bickerton bicycles were produced in the UK, USA and Australia. Many of those bikes are still in use to this day.
In 2011 Mark Bickerton re-launched Bickerton Portables in Europe, with a new range of bikes, inspired by many of his father’s original concepts. With distribution partners currently in America, Europe and the Far East, "bringing Bickerton back to the home market completes the circle," said Bickerton.
Bickerton Portables will be on display to the trade at The Bike Place at Silverstone in January and to the public at the London Bike Show in February.
