25.05.2012 | Reading time - 25 min(s)

Revolution - A Short History

Written by Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative

Posted in: Bike Co-op, Commuting, Family/Leisure, Mountain Biking, Road Cycling

Revolution is the exclusive brand name of Edinburgh Bike Co-op, the UK’s original workers’ co-operative bicycle retailer.

The name was inspired by the slogan we adopted in 1999 The Revolution Will Not Be Motorised.

It’s a slogan we still stand by. It’s our proclamation that, for most people in most circumstances, the bicycle is the smartest way to get around.

True to our co-operative ethos, our Revolutionary ambition is to make quality bicycle equipment more affordable.

Whether you’re looking for a road bike, or a track pump to keep its tyres hard; a hybrid bike, or a set of lights for safe commuting after dark; a mountain bike, or a rucsac that’s light enough for all-day trail riding: if it’s called Revolution we will make every effort to ensure that it is built to the best specification for the money.

Two factors inspire the creation of every Revolution bicycle or piece of kit. We keep abreast with the most interesting developments in cycling and we listen to our customers’ suggestions. The evolution of our Revolution Courier range is a perfect example of this process.

Revolution Courier Single[/caption] In the late '90s some of our mechanics got into cobbling together 'hack' bikes. A hack bike would typically start with a discarded mountain bike frame and wheels. Then it would be built into a street bike with narrower slick tyres and a simpler transmission - 8-speed or even single speed rather than 24 gears. The result was the perfect urban machine: one that married mountain bike-like strength with close-to-road-bike speed. The hack bike might be the mechanic's sole do-everything bike. Alternatively, it might complement the more bling road or mountain bike that he or she wouldn't dare to leave locked outside the pub.

We had a hunch that a fast, tough, low-maintenance bike wasn't just for bicycle mechanics and couriers. It might be the perfect bike for normal people too. We therefore set about creating a good, honest, stripped-down bike - not with discarded parts this time - but with a brand-new lifetime-guaranteed mountain bike frame, stout wheels, 26x1.5" tyres and an 8-speed Shimano Rapidfire transmission. The Courier was born. That was in 1999. The bike was an instant success. So much so that over the following decade, many of the bigger bike companies brought out similar (but significantly more expensive) hybrid bikes, the best example of which is probably the Cannondale Bad Boy.

Over the years, the Courier concept has evolved from a single model into a range of bicycles to reflect the varying requirements of our diverse customer group. Today, every Revolution Courier model rolls on faster 700c wheels. Then, depending on your needs and your budget, you can opt for singlespeed, 8-speed (like the original Courier) or triple-chainset multi-geared Couriers. Similarly, you can choose between rim and disc brake options. Whichever Revolution Courier appeals to you most, we are confident that it will be the best-equipped commuter / hybrid bike you will find in its price range.

Great Value and Environmentally Sound

We understand that everyone appreciates great value for money. This doesn't necessarily mean the cheapest prices (though ours often are).

We are a BSO-free zone. BSOs are ‘bicycle shaped objects’ frequently found in large supermarkets. You wonder, ‘how can they produce a bike that sells for only 50 pounds’. Then you pick the ‘bicycle’ up and realize that’s what it weighs. It won’t be professionally assembled so the gears will most likely misfire and the brakes barely work. The poor purchaser swiftly comes to the conclusion that cycling is too much like hard work and not for them. The sorry result is that this year’s £50 bargain becomes next year’s landfill.

At Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op we understand that our environmental responsibility begins with supplying safe, sound cycling equipment that you will enjoy using and that you can totally rely on, year after year.

We back up this commitment with a lifetime frame warranty on every Revolution bicycle and an industry-leading 2-year guarantee on all Revolution cycle accessories and clothing.

Furthermore, in tune with our commitment to reduce waste, we are working with all of our suppliers to reduce the packaging of Revolution accessories to the bare minimum.

Tried and Tested

It’s easy for us to say that our bikes and bike bits are wonderful. If you’re looking for a second opinion, the national cycling press seems to love our Revolution range too. Click here to read reams of Revolution rave reviews.

See the Complete Revolution Range

Revolution Bikes Revolution Accessories Revolution Clothing

Revolution Timeline

- 1977
  Our 3 founder members open a bicycle repair shop in West Crosscauseway, Edinburgh, called Recycles Co-operative.
- 1979
  Move to shop in Alvanley Terrace, Bruntsfield - our Edinburgh shop to this day. Introduce bike hire and cycle sales.

1985

Recycles is renamed Edinburgh Bicycle Co-operative. Launch own-brand Edinburgh Bicycles.

1986
Produce first Edinburgh Bicycle catalogue in-house to showcase our bikes: a tradition we continue to this day.
1996
Always one step ahead, launched one of Europe's first cycle shop websites - www.edinburghbicycle.com
1999
Adopt The Revolution Will Not Be Motorised slogan. Launch Courier street bike and Cadence women's MTB.
2000
Continental road bike voted Budget Bike of the Year by Cycling Plus magazine.
2002
Acquire a new branch in Aberdeen - another bold revolutionary step for the Co-op. Courier street bike voted Budget Bike of the Year by Cycling Plus.
2003
Acquiring Newcastle shop in Byker encourages us to regenerate our own brand. Launch Revolution global bicycle, accessory and clothing range to supersede local Edinburgh range.
2004
Revolution Blade Sunglasses and Air Trackpumps receive rave reviews.
2006
Revolution Cargo Trailer recommended by Singletrack. Their advice: 'Go get one today.'
2008
Introduce Revolution Track - best buy in singlespeed/fixies.
2009
Revolution Compact folding bike reviewed by road.cc. Verdict: 'Great value folder for the short hops - why pay more?'
2010
Continue to spread the Revolution with the opening of a new shop in Sheffield.
2011
Launch completely revamped Revolution clothing range.
2012
Develop the bike range with more deluxe Courier, Cross and Heritage models.
2014
Launch completely redesigned Revolution bicycle range. Give the Revolution logo a makeover.

Tagged: hybrid bikes, mountain bikes, road bikes, bicycle accesories, bicycle clothing, bicycles, Revolution, value for money

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Revolution - A Short History

Great Value and Environmentally Sound

Tried and Tested

See the Complete Revolution Range

Revolution Timeline

1977

1979

1985

1986

1996

1999

2000

2002

2003

2004

2006

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2014