Mountain Biking the Clwyd in Wales
Rounding out our UK road trip, we hit up some pristine trails in northern Wales.
Hope Factory Visit in Barnoldswick, England
Visiting Hope’s factory was a dream come true. Finally, a chance to see where the precise components come from.
Since I started mountain biking, the brand Hope has always peaked my interest because they are known for high quality manufacturing. That’s why I was so excited to get a chance to personally check out their factory in Barnoldswick, England.
bc meets Hope.
Crankarms still in the production process.
The hubs at one stage in production.
The raw goods!
Stems in the making.
Brake levers as far as the eye can see.
One part of the brake rotor production process.
First impressions
As soon as we parked, the sleek Hope logo caught my eye. Robin, our guide for the day, came out to greet us, using his perfect German. In the lobby we were surrounded by some of the most beautiful Hope parts every made and Robin began to tell us about the company’s history. Hope started out making MTB and motor bike parts, and eventually stuck to MTB components. It was especially interesting to see some of the original bicycles ridden by Hope athletes that were also in the lobby.
An old lathe still doing its duty.
Brake rotors so hot!
The last few steps of production.
Quality control of Hope brakes.
Robin telling us how it's done.
Where the magic happens
After leaving the lobby, we were taken to one of the workshops where the fist HB160 carbon MTB’s were on display. Moving on, through doors with crankarms as handles, we had a look at their office where everything from Marketing to Accounting is located.
They showed us where their lights are produced and where the employees take a nice break during the day. After, we were brought into the most exciting part of the tour. The room filled with all of the CNC machines and laser engravers that have made Hope famous. It was great to see the raw metal next to every machine, knowing that each piece is turned into one of Hope’s precise components. It was easy to tell that everyone working here truly loved their job.
When we were done drooling over the machining, we were allowed a quick look into Hope’s carbon production where handlebars and frame are developed and put to the test. Afterwards, we hit up the anodizing section of the factory. Here, is where all of Hope’s signature colours come alive.
Hope cranks open doors.
The finished brake rotors.
Time to pack it up.
The hubs after getting dipped.
As a final treat, we were shown the quality control part of the manufacturing process. It was easy to tell that each product is extensively tested and brought to its limits to make sure everything is a durable as possible.
What's a ride without a beer?
Checking out the top performance.
One sick pool table.
The day ended with sandwiches and chips in the break room. We had an unbelievable time and a big shout out to Hope for their hospitality and amazing products!
UK Road Trip
Mountain Biking at Whinlatter Trail Centre in t...
Biking at Whinlatter in the English Lake District was such a blast, we are heading back as soon as we can!
Mountain Biking in the Scottish Highlands
Riding in the Highlands is something every biker should do at least once. Beautiful scenery and awesome trails make for great shredding.
Visiting Endura: bc road trippin‘ in Scotland!
The bc crew set off on a short road trip through the UK. An obligatory stop was at Endura’s skunk works in Scotland.
