In gear for a new challenge

In gear for a new challenge - Coventry Telegraph

ONE of the UK's oldest bicycle manufacturers has started a new venture which could boost an iconic bike brand.

Stratford-based Pashley Cycles has joined forces with Alex Moulton Bicycles to create The Moulton Bicycle Company.

It will manufacture, market and distribute the Moulton and Pashley TSR ranges of bikes.

Pashley Cycles and Alex Moulton Bicycles have collaborated for the past 12 years, with Pashley manufacturing the Pashley-Moulton TSR range.

Together, the two companies employ more than 50 people.

Pashley Cycles, set up in 1926, is England's longest-established cycle manufacturer, producing more than 150 models of handmade specialist bikes.

Moulton Bicycles, based in Bradford-upon-Avon, was set up by Dr Alex Moulton in 1958, leading the world in design and manufacture of full suspension small-wheeled, high-performance bikes.

More than half of the company's output is exported, with the brand particularly sought after in Japan and the Far East.

Adrian Williams, managing director of Pashley Cycles, said: "The Moulton Bicycle Company has a substantial order book and a waiting list of some 15 months for particular models.

"So, the task will be to increase production output and at the same time open up new markets which should not be difficult as these superbly engineered cycles are much admired worldwide."

Dr Moulton, who becomes president of the new company, said: "This new initiative will allow us to increase our market penetration and reduce our supply times.

"This will enable us to develop new marketing programmes, strengthen the enviable reputation of the Moulton brand and ensure our bicycles remain at the forefront of the small wheel bicycle revolution."

Paul Bennett, corporate partner at Black Country law firm George Green, who advised on the new venture, said: "Pashley and Moulton are two legendary brands in UK manufacturing.

"What is more, they are two of the very few remaining true bicycle manufacturers left in the country, as they genuinely hand-make the cycles here, rather than just being an assembly or import-distribution-only operation.

"Their focus on quality, design and engineering shows that, done properly, there is still a worldwide market for British hand-made goods."

Bath Chronicle: Jobs Boost In Pipeline For Bradford On Avon


New jobs could soon be coming to Bradford on Avon after a deal was signed between two of the UK's most established bicycle manufacturers. Alex Moulton Bicycles, which was launched in...

New jobs could soon be coming to Bradford on Avon after a deal was signed between two of the UK's most established bicycle manufacturers.

Alex Moulton Bicycles, which was launched in the town 50 years ago, has joined forces with Stratford on Avon bike builder Pashley Cycles to form The Moulton Bicycle Company.

The new firm will produce and market the ranges of both its founding partners with a combined staff of more than 50 people.

Moulton and Pashley have collaborated for the past 12 years with Pashley building and marketing the Pashley-Moulton TSR range.

Dr Alex Moulton, who founded the Bradford-based business in 1958, said the new venture would establish a solid base for the future growth of the Moulton bicycle business.

"This new initiative will allow us to increase our market penetration and reduce our supply times," he said.

"This will enable us to develop new marketing programmes, strengthen the enviable reputation of the Moulton brand and ensure our bicycles remain at the forefront of the small-wheel bicycle revolution."

More than half of Moulton's output is exported to Japan and the Far East from its base at Holt Road in Bradford.

Manufacturing will remain in the town, and the company hopes to generate more jobs. However, no figure has been put on the number of posts that could be created.

Pashley Cycles managing director Adrian Williams said the new company had already developed a substantial order book with a waiting list of 15 months for its most popular models.

Mr Williams said: "The task will be to increase production output and at the same time open up new markets which should not be difficult as these superbly engineered cycles are much-admired worldwide."

Moulton and Pashley to merge under Alex Moulton name

Alex Moulton Bicycles and Pashley are expected to announce that they are to combine their capital, administration and brands into a single company for the production of Moulton Bicycles. The combined company will use the Alex Moulton name. This probably means that there will no longer be a distinction between "Pashley Moulton" and "Alex Moulton".

Production of the bicycles will initially remain unchanged, so the TSR will continue to be made in Stratford-upon-Avon, while the Esprit, New Series and Double Pylon models will continue to be made at Bradford-on-Avon.

A single website will feature the combined range.

Many questions remain, such as:

  • does this mean that one can order any Alex Moulton bicycle throughany Pashley dealer.
  • will there be any staff redundancies?
  • will there be a clean split between the company producing the traditional Pashley range, and the new combined Pashley Moulton/Alex Moulton entity?
  • will the premises in Stratford continue to be shared?
  • where will new design and development work be done?

Let's hope the official announcement comes soon and we get lots of answers!

EcoVelo » Pashley-Moulton TSR8 Impressions

EcoVelo » Blog Archive » Pashley-Moulton TSR8 Impressions
The TSR is a unique design that is beautifully executed. I see it as a replacement for a traditional club racer, but with the added bonus of breaking down for storage or transport inside a small vehicle. With the addition of racks it could be used as a commuter, but because it doesn’t break down small enough to take on a city bus and the wheels are too small to fit most transit bus racks, it’s limited to point-to-point commutes. It’s such a beautiful, delicate bike, I can’t imagine locking it up outside or dragging it through a bustling train station anyway.