BUILDING BIKES AND CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS SINCE 1860

Pearson is officially recognised by Guinness as the world’s oldest bicycle brand. Today its shop Forge 1860 in Sheen, London, is run by the fifth generation of the Pearson family, who strive to maintain the hard-won reputation established by our predecessors.

From our origins as blacksmiths to our newly named store and state-of-the-art premises, our reputation has been earned by offering the highest quality products and service, and building long-lasting customer relationships.

The Pearson bicycle brand is still family-owned and continues to thrive as a separate business developing cutting-edge performance bikes, selling direct to customers online and building a dealer network across the UK and overseas, giving broader access to customers less local to our shop.

PEARSON BICYCLES

We believe cycling should be fun, a balm for body and soul. So, while we take cycling seriously, we don’t take ourselves too seriously. For all the precision and expertise that goes into creating our bikes, we give our products distinctive names, that in turn celebrate the quirks of our national character.

PEARSON OBJECTS IN MOTION

By drawing on diverse references to our culture and language, we seek to imbue Pearson products not just with quality and performance but with personality. Built individually for the individual thinking cyclist.

OUR HERITAGE

Lots of brands talk about heritage. We have the pedigree to back it up. Since Pearson first opened for business, the world has certainly changed; two global pandemics, two world wars, revolution in Russia, splitting the atom, female suffrage, the invention of penicillin, landing on the Moon, not to mention a worldwide web and your life run on a mobile device.

We have seen plenty of change, too; where once we repaired penny farthings, today we offer the very best in precision bike fitting and bike building. After over 165 years of customer care, discerning cyclists continue to put their trust in us.

We welcome you to our world of cycling. Guy and William Pearson.

 

THE PEARSON FAMILY TIMELINE

1860

Tom Pearson, a blacksmith, sets up a shop in Sutton, south-east England. Ideally situated for passing trade en route from London to the south coast, Tom’s metalworking skills soon prove invaluable for an increasingly popular mode of transport: bicycles.

1889

Tom is succeeded by his son, Harry, who makes the switch into full-time bike manufacture. Pictured here with the first-ever Pearson bike, the Endeavour.

1939

By the outbreak of world war two, the business is in the hands of Harry’s sons, Arthur and Len. Both are exempted from the draft in order to produce bikes for the Home Front.

1965

Now steered by Arthur’s son, Roger, the Pearson brand diversifies into ‘racers and randonneurs’. This era embraced a new type of racing, popular across the nation, giving rise to the Mills Pearson cyclo-cross pro race team.

1994

The latest generation of Pearsons, Roger’s sons Will and Guy join the business and continue to develop Pearson custom-built bikes. Team Pearson is born, racing across all disciplines, especially road and cyclo-cross.

 

...HOW IT'S GOING TODAY.

Over 165 years after Tom Pearson fired up the forge, Guy and Will continue the family tradition with Forge 1860 in Sheen, London. Flagship to Pearson performance bikes, specialising in road, off-road gravel, and expedition bikes. Our allied brands also include Enve, Lotus and Brompton. 

Ideally situated for the cycling mecca of Richmond Park, it also offers precision bike fitting, expert workshop service and repair, and an in-house coffee shop. We look forward to seeing you in store soon.

Visit us: Forge 1860. 232 Upper Richmond Road, London SW14 8AG. 

Email: performance@pearsoncycles.co.uk

Telephone: +442086422095

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