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We spoke to Hope's Alan Weatherill to find out a bit more about this ambitious project.
Vital: We’ve seen some bike projects from you in the past, but this one seems more real? Is the company looking at this one a bit more seriously than previous projects?
AW: We’ve had the interest in producing a bike for many years. It’s been one of Ian and Simon’s dreams. It’s frustrating when you show a non-bike person around the factory their first question is “Do you make bikes?” So now we can say “yes.”
Vital: After all the design iterations, what made you finally settle on a 160-mm, Horst-link bike?
AW: We like the braking characteristics that comes from the Horst-link and if done well it’s hard to beat in simple performance. Also the rear swing arm design fits in with our manufacturing processes.
Vital: Tell us about the first prototypes of the new bike – where there any surprises? Was it straightforward to ramp up your carbon manufacturing skills from seatposts and handlebars to a full frame?
AW: Other than the rigid kids bike we made many years ago, we’ve never actually produced any of our previous designs. Once this frame was drawn up and the design agreed upon, we went ahead and machined a mold. Most companies would probably make several aluminium “mules” before committing to the first mold, but it was easier for us to just machine one. We’ve been working on the frame alongside our other carbon projects and had input from several UK carbon specialists.
Vital: What has been the feedback from the riders?
AW: All excellent. Everyone’s amazed at how the bike climbs without bobbing and yet is so active on the descents. We’ve managed to get the geometry spot-on with this first prototype.
Vital: You went for the “no-standards” approach. Do you feel that you solved real problems with this approach, or was it more of a “because-we-can” situation? Anything quantifiable, like the advantages of the dishless wheel build or the space around the BB?
AW: We’ve seen so many standards introduced that aren’t an advancement in performance, but are instead to help with manufacturing or assembly. The industry seems to be moving more and more to proprietary systems. With this in mind, and since we were making the frame as well as the components we decided to produce a frame that worked in conjunction with the components, rather than a compromise.
Vital: What are the key geo numbers you went for? HA, SA, reach, chainstay length, wheelbase?
AW: We’re not going into figures at the moment as the design is still a little fluid, just call it “contemporary.”
Vital: What's the deal with the BB?
AW: The BB is based on the pressfit solution we already make. It’s a sleeve that slides into the frame and screws together to hold in place. It also keeps the bearings inside the frame to give maximum support, but still fits a standard 73mm crank.
Vital: Is there any significance to the HB211 name?
AW: HB211 is a reference back to our heritage at Rolls Royce and our town, Barnoldswick. The RB211 Jet engine was the engine that turned Rolls Royce into a global leader in the aero-engine industry. The RB stood for “Rolls Barnoldswick” as the engine was developed here, so we’ve followed suit with the “Hope Barnoldswick - HB” moniker.
Vital: What would need to happen for the bike to become commercially available? Any desire to make it so?AW: I can see it eventually reaching production, but the exact product and distribution model has yet to be decided."
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