Hope Technology is a unique manufacturing company based in the UK. Founders, Ian Weatherill and Simon Sharp met whilst working together at Rolls Royce Aerospace. It was at this time that they honed their skills and experience which enabled them to leave and start up their own tool making business called IPCO.
The duo were also avid trials (motorbike) riders and mountain bikers in their spare time. However, the cantilever brakes on their mountain bikes didn’t meet the standard of their motorbike’s brakes. With help from employee Owen Hardisty, they engineered their first cable operated disc brake for mountain bikes.
Fast forward 35 years and Hope are absolute world leaders in manufacturing. Not ‘just’ components in aluminium either, the 2020 GB Team Olympic Track cycling (carbon) bike (HB T) was produced by Hope.
So how did Hope progress from back street engineering company to world leading manufacturers? Here’s a timeline…
Hope Technology Timeline
1985 – Ian Weatherill & Simon Sharp leave Rolls Royce and start IPCO.
1990 – IPCO moves from their small factory in Nelson to an extensively bigger factory in Colne named the ‘Hope Mill’.
1991 – After a period of manufacturing brakes and hubs for themselves and friends, Hope Technology formed and put on sale the mechanical disc brake which started them off.
1991 – Hope create their first 6 bolt specific hubs resembling those of motorbikes.
1992 – Hope hit the big time across the pond at the Interbike in the USA. All 14 of their brakes were displayed on bikes in the show room.
1992 – Sales start to come in from the USA. Hope setup an overseas office to service US sales.
1992 – Investment is made in a CNC machine.
1994/1995 – Hydraulic brakes become a thing. Hope introduce their first hydraulic, twin disc brake at Eurobike.
1996 – Many pro riders begin to use Hope hydraulic brakes regardless of sponsorship obligations.
1996 – Hope hit gold with their first Grundig Downhill World Cup win by Rob Warner.
1997/1998 – DH4 downhill brake gains coverage at Interbike, Las Vegas.
1997/1998 – Hope move premises again to Barnoldswick which had an area of 39000 square feet.
1999 – Hope release the XC4, the World’s lightest disc brake system.
2001 – Hope manufacture a 6 bolt sport hub which allows for fast, easy fitting of disk brakes.
2002 – Headsets and bar ends are added to the range of products.
2003 – The Mono6ti brake is born. Using technology still used today, the one piece brake offered unrivalled lever sensitivity.
2005 – Hope begin to manufacture bicycle stems.
2006 – The Vision HID light is released. Hope capture another part of the market which is unrivalled. The publics need for a powerful light meant that Hope benefitted well from such a simple product.
2007 – Vented braking, wheel sets and LED’s join the formidable Hope product range.
2008 – Another move of premises! Still in Barnoldswick, just larger with an overall area of 56000 square feet.
2011 – Hope replace the Pro 2 hubs with the Pro 2 Evo hub.
2012 – You guessed it, yet another move of premises. Fortunately, Hope are still located at Hope Mill in Barnoldswick. A bigger premises again with 89,000 square feet of room.
2012 – Bradley Wiggins post TDF victory Press Conference held at Hope Technology Headquarters
2012 – Hope employee and rider Paul Oldham wins the National Cyclocross Championships
2012 – ‘Road Bike Party’ Youtube Video featuring Martyn Ashton and Hope Carbon fibre road bike wheels.
2013 – David Cameron visits Hope as a part of the “Get Britain Cycling” campaign.
2014 – A new downhill brake, the Tech 3 V4. One of their most advanced brakes yet.
2014 – Hope collaborate with Guy Martin on his Speed Series including the Fastest bike – 112mph behind a truck.
2016 – Hope began carbon Seat post manufacturing
2018 – Hope began carbon handlebar manufacturing
2019 – Lotus and Hope Technology work together on the HB T Track bike for British Cycling 2020 Olympic bike & produce sub 700 gram disc wheels.
2019 – Hope Founder Ian Weatherill made an MBE in the Queens Honours list.
2019 – Hope launch the Carbon All-rounder MTB frameset HB 130
2020 – Hope launch the Enduro frameset the HB 916
