Bickerton (bicycle)

The Bickerton, also called the Bickerton Portable, is a portable aluminium folding bicycle designed by Harry Bickerton and manufactured in the UK between 1971 and 1989. After the end of production in 1989, the factory did not close its doors until 1991. The Bickerton was a portable bicycle launched when folding bicycles tended to be 20-inch (51 cm) step-through frames with a simple hinge, such as the folding variant of the Raleigh Twenty. The bicycle was made entirely of aluminium profiles, without any welds. In its weight (under 10 kg) and folded package size it broke new ground[1] [2] and it is cited by Andrew Ritchie as one of his inspirations in creating the highly successful Brompton bicycle.

Bickerton Portable
Bickerton Portable folded

The bike was heavily promoted on TV with the slogan "Go bag a Bickerton", a reference to the dual-purpose bag, which could be used to hold the bike or as a pannier.

The brand has been relaunched for the 40th anniversary at Munich Bike show in Germany. The new bikes, manufactured by Tern in Taiwan, although some are built in Vietnam, combine the old brand with a new design. Mark Bickerton, son of Harry, who ran the factory making the first generation Bickerton bikes, is involved with product development, marketing and sales.

See also
  • List of bicycle manufacturing companies

References
  1. "Bicycle origami". LearningSpace. Open University. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  2. Laurence, Ben (7 August 2005). "The bicycle that turned into folding money". The Observer. Archived from the original on 13 January 2008. Retrieved 31 August 2016.


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