TartyBikes was founded in November 2004 by David Cleaver and Adam Read, both of whom held Bachelor's Degrees in Sports Engineering from Loughborough University. With almost 15 years of trials experience between them at this point, TartyBikes grew quickly and was able to move to larger premises 3 times in under 3 years.
In October 2007, Dave left TartyBikes to follow various exciting opportunities in the world of mountain bikes - we wish him all the best!
In order to maintain the highest levels of service and expertise (check here if you don't believe us!) the TartyBikes team now consists of six long-term bike addicts (plus Claire!), all of whom have spent many a year devoting their time towards various bike sports... but of course trials has always been number one.
Owner
Adam's the owner of TartyBikes and general jack of all trades, specialising in knowing crazy amounts of useful stuff about trials bikes. He can usually be found sitting at a PC working on the website and answering emails, or hovering around the workshop building wheels and bikes. Due to his detailed knowledge of bikes, Adam's often the man at the end of the technical line.
He currently rides a customised Koxx Hydroxx 26" and a Speed Race FANS 20", both specced with a pair of Hope Mono trial brakes, full of titanium goodies and very posh Try-All carbon handlebars... despite all the pimpness his riding hasn't improved for years, but he likes nothing more than heading off to some rocks for a few hours after work.
Workshop/Telephone/Email
After a short break in 2009 from work to concentrate on his riding, Stan's now back working at TartyBikes. Many of you will have seen pictures and videos of him on the world's internet forums - even these don't do his smooth and precise riding style justice. He helps out with all manner of tasks including answering the phone, taking orders, placing orders with suppliers, stock checking, workshop, website updating... you get the idea!
At the moment he has 3 trials bikes...an Echo Pure 2011 frame built up into a super-light prototype-part shod competition machine with the help of his other main sponsor Trialtech, a Speed Race FANS mod to play on, and a brakeless Inspired Fourplay 2011 in Green and Purple.
His bike experience also extends into XC and BMX which he uses for both cross-training and fun purposes, and also enjoys a bit of football on a weekend where his lankyness must be of assistance!
Dispatch
Gav joined us in August 2008. Rumoured to be over 30 years old (although you wouldn't think it from that baby face), his biking history is longer than anyone else here! He raced BMX for a few years from the age of 4, then took up flatland BMX around the age of 12, rode BMX, dirt, street and park until he was 17, then took up downhill and XC (anyone remember the first Proflex full sus bikes?), and since 1998 has been hooked on trials and BMX again.
He's usually found picking and packing customer orders, although is very handy in the workshop too and picks up any task quickly!
His current steed is a super pimp Echo Lite with a nice selection of Hope, Onza, Try-All and Maxxis goodies. When he's not trials riding he can be often spotted down his local skate park on his BMX...
K-124
Scottish Kenny has been working for us since August 2009 and takes care of all the K-124 UK duties, plus a few days a week helping here at the Tarty warehouse.
His experience in the bike industry extends back over 12 years and he has spent even longer than this as a rider of various disciplines. Despite a few recent injuries Kenny is still super keen to get out and ride, on any one of his 'fleet' of bikes: 24 Bicycles PornKing, Inspired Fourplay, Titanium-framed 'commuter' bike (ie. excuse to build up some of the pimp stuff he had lying around) and an Orange P7.
When not riding Kenny spends a lot of time with his 3 dogs, one of whom is a Jack Russell called Pashley, only a true trials rider would do that :-)
Dispatch/Website/Telephone/Email
Mark completed his degree in Digital Photography in 2009 then spent his summer travelling around the country (and Europe) taking photos for various BMX magazines such as Dig and Ride, then decided a move back towards trials would be very interesting! He tested and helped develop products for Onza from 2003-2006 but then rode a lot of BMX during university, but has always had a large presence on various internet forums offering advice and help. While at university he also worked for Evans in London to keep his hand in with the bike trade.
His main duties are order processing, product photography, website updating, telephone work, emails and general 'web presence'... Ok so that's rather a lot!
He's currently riding a 'committed' Inspired Fourplay 2011 which has no brakes or even brake mounts! It's colour changes every time we have a few days of rain and he has no plans to put brakes back on any time soon... He also uses his super stealth BMX to cruise around on, and has a road bike for nipping to the shops on too :-)
Orders/Admin
Claire is Adam's partner and helps out part-time as an extra order picker and packer when we get super busy, plus unpacking and checking off orders. Her knowledge of the warehouse is actually better than Adam's now and seems able to whip through a large pile of 1st Class orders in no time! She also helps out with paying for invoices and preparing monthly accounts.
Claire's not too keen on having her photo on the website - however we found a caricature, mwoahaha..!
Workshop
Drafted in in early 2011 to take over workshop duties, Cap is the newest member of the TartyBikes team. Although only working here for a short period of time, Cap's been well-known throughout the trials scene for years thanks to videos documenting his explosive riding style, as well as sponsorship from ZOO! and various other companies.
Since starting work at TartyBikes, Cap has pimped his ride so you can now find him riding his local spots in Cleveleys, Morecambe and Blackpool on a 2011 Echo Pure with a mix of parts from brands like Trialtech, Echo and Atomz.
As well as his trials build, Cap's also keen on cruising around on either his BMX or XC bikes.
So, now you can put a face to the names and voices you hear on the phone :)
Knowledge of trials bikes and components is something we pride ourselves on. Due to the huge amount of trials experience we have (over 45 years between us!), if you are stuck choosing a component, or are unsure if it will fit, then it's more than likely that we can help. The best way for us to assist you is by phone, such a vast amount of information is very difficult to communicate via e-mail. And who doesn't love a good old chat?!
As riders ourselves, we understand how it feels to be without a bike! We always aim to put ourselves in our customer's shoes - we feel this is the only way to offer a level of service all parties will be 100% satisfied with. It is not in our interest to have dissatisfied customers, so if there is anything we can help out with, just get in touch!
We make our refund and returns policy as fair as possible - nobody likes buying something to find it won't fit, or isn't suitable, and you can't send it back! More details of this are in the Terms & Conditions section of the website.
Similarly, another aspect of online/mail order shopping we are against is over-the-top postage prices. All postage prices are calculated by weight (UK) or volume (international), not how difficult or time-consuming it is to pack your order. We don't make any money out of you on shipping charges, we always charge you what it costs us (or less in some cases). Since we send a large amount of items overseas we have great prices with international couriers like UPS, FedEx and DPD, making it seem like we are just around the corner no matter what country you are in!
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TartyBikes is located in Bamber Bridge, a small town just south of Preston in Lancashire. We're around half a mile from Junction 29 of the M6 and pretty easy to find. Since we are a mail order warehouse we do not have any product on display, but we are able to accept visitors between 12 noon and 2pm given prior arrangement. Please be aware that for health and safety reasons we are not able to admit visitors without an appointment, and no-one other than staff can enter the warehouse. So, if you want to come down and say hello, then please give us a call and we can arrange this for you.
If you will be using a satellite navigation system to find us, please use postcode PR5 6FN and no house number. Your sat nav will also probably tell you the destination of this postcode is Hopwood Street, that's ok, the road system round here is a little confused! We are located at the end of this road in two adjoined units, 4 and 5.
We are open from 9am-5pm Monday-Friday, closed at weekends. We do not open on Bank Holidays. We need some time to ride you see!
Sales/Ordering: 01772 32 33 33
Technical/Returns/Warranty: 01772 32 33 55
International Customers: 0044 1772 32 33 33
US Customers may need to dial: 011 44 1772 32 33 33
