Ridgeback (brand)
British bicycle brand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ridgeback is a British bicycle brand manufacturing road, urban, utility, youth and mountain models. Their bikes are distributed by Sportline UK which is owned by H Young Holdings. Sportline UK also owns the Genesis and Saracen cycle brands.
| |
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Bicycles |
| Founded | 1983 |
| Headquarters | , England, UK |
| Key people | Errol Drew (founder) |
| Products | Bicycles |
| Website | www |
History
Ridgeback's founder Errol Drew created the first UK mountain bike in 1983.[1] Drew first spotted a mountain bike at the 1982 New York Bike Show, where he declared it "the future of cycling".[1]
Ridgeback's next major development was the creation of the flat handlebar road bike.[1]
In 2001, Ridgeback introduced the Genesis Day One model. In 2006 Genesis marque became a separate brand.[2]
In 2008, Ridgeback was one of the first to introduce disc brakes to its flat handlebar road range. And in 2015 Ridgeback launched Rapide – a range of performance road bikes.[vague][1]
In 2014, Ridgeback was the 5th most stolen bike in the UK.[3] In 2020, Ridgeback Velocity was the 4th most stolen bike in the UK.[4][5]
In 2023 Ridgeback celebrated 40 years - https://singletrackworld.com/2023/03/retro-ridgeback-gallery-and-video-walkthrough/[6]
In 2026 Ridgeback launched a completely redesigned, all-new kids' bike platform for 2026. Developed using sizing data from the Department of Health and the Royal College of Paediatrics, the new line features updated child-specific geometry, fresh colourways, new accessories, and a lifetime frame and fork warranty to help young riders transition to larger bikes with more confidence.[7]