{{refimprove|date=December 2013}} {{Short description|British bicycle company}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}} {{Infobox company | name = Whyte Bikes | logo = | former_name = ATB Sales | type = [[Private company |Private]] | industry = [[Bicycle]] | founded = {{start date and age|1987}} (Brand established in 1999) | founder = Jon Whyte | hq_location_city = [[Hastings, East Sussex]] | hq_location_country = [[United Kingdom]] | products = Bicycle and Related Components | brands = | num_employees = | owner = Causeway Capital Partners | website = {{URL|https://whytebikes.com/}} }} '''Whyte''' is a British [[bicycle]] company established in 1987 as ATB Sales, the brand was established in 1999 by Jon Whyte. The bicycles are manufactured for Whyte in [[Taiwan]]. and then distributed to shops in the [[United Kingdom|UK]] and [[Europe]] and the rest of the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bikemagic.com/news/davids-blog/interview-whyte%E2%80%99s-ian-alexander-talks-geometry-29ers-and-the-future-of-mountain-bikes.html |title=Interview: Whyte's Ian Alexander talks geometry, 29ers and the future of mountain bikes |publisher=Bike Magic |access-date=2013-12-10}}</ref>
Whyte's first bike back in 1999 was a full suspension machine and had a girder fork with twin wishbones, with a main frame made of two halves welded down the middle, and used Fox shocks for both fork and swingarm. The prototype's appearance was likened to Preston the robot dog of Wallace and Gromit fame, which later gave the production bike its name, the PRST-1.
== History == The brand was established in 1999 by Jon Whyte, who had previously helped to develop aerodynamics and suspension systems for [[Benetton Formula]], most notably the [[1994 Formula One World Championship|1994 Formula One]] title winning [[Benetton B194|B194]].
He later joined ATB Sales Ltd as chief designer and helped to develop the [[Bicycle suspension|full suspension system]] for [[Marin Bikes|Marin]], ATB's then UK distributor. This helped [[Paul Lasenby]] to win the national championship in 1996, the first for a full-suspension bike. The suspension system later became the ''Whyte Integrated Fork System''.
By 2002, the company sold its 1000th bike. Whyte would leave after 11 years to set up his consultancy business in 2006; ATB retained the name rights to the Whyte brand.<ref>{{Cite web |last=BikeBiz |date=2006-09-19 |title=Jon Whyte sets up consultancy business |url=https://bikebiz.com/jon-whyte-sets-up-consultancy-business/ |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=BikeBiz |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=BikeBiz |date=2002-02-19 |title=ATB Sales sells 1000th Whyte bike |url=https://bikebiz.com/atb-sales-sells-1000th-whyte-bike/ |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=BikeBiz |language=en-GB}}</ref> In 2019, Whyte won a court case against British drinks company [[Rich Energy]], regarding the potential theft of their stag logo.
In November 2023, Whyte announced a rebranding along with the launch of a new range of electric bikes, including the E-Lyte lightweight mountain bike and a new line of hybrid bikes called the RHeO series.<ref>{{Cite web |last=dimesuper |title=4 highlights from Whyte's 2024 range {{!}} New electric mountain and hybrid bikes unveiled |url=https://www.bikeradar.com/news/2024-whyte-range |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=www.bikeradar.com |language=en}}</ref> in February 2024 Whyte announced their new [[CEO]] and chairman as Nikki Haywes, formally of [[Cannondale]] bikes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Blackham |first=Daniel |date=2024-02-07 |title=Whyte Bikes announces new CEO and chairman |url=https://bikebiz.com/whyte-bikes-announces-new-ceo-and-chairman/ |access-date=2024-02-10 |website=BikeBiz |language=en-GB}}</ref>
On October 20, 2025, Cairngorm Capital announced that it had completed the sale of the UK firm to growth investor Causeway Capital Partners.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cairngormcapital.com/cairngorm-capital-completes-sale-of-whyte-bikes-to-causeway-capital-partners/|title=Cairngorm Capital completes sale of Whyte Bikes to Causeway Capital Partners|work=Cairngorm Capital|access-date=2025-10-25|language=en}}</ref>
== Products == As of 2021 the range comprises Children/Youth, Commuter, Gravel, Road, XC, Trail, and Enduro ranges, with E-bike versions in several of these categories. The RD7 range is a road bike but with disc brakes and a more relaxed design. A common frame is used on all models: the wheel set, forks, group set and brakes are changed as the price increases. Whyte also have their own line in accessories.
==Further reading== * {{Cite web |last=BikeBiz |date=2000-11-01 |title=Whyte aims to get its folder under £1000 |url=https://bikebiz.com/whyte-aims-to-get-its-folder-under-1000/ |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=BikeBiz |language=en-GB}} * {{Cite web |last=BikeBiz |date=2004-09-24 |title=MTB designer Jon Whyte produces folding bike range |url=https://bikebiz.com/mtb-designer-jon-whyte-produces-folding-bike-range/ |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=BikeBiz |language=en-GB}} * {{Cite web |last=BikeBiz |date=2000-02-05 |title=The Whyte stuff |url=https://bikebiz.com/the-whyte-stuff/ |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=BikeBiz |language=en-GB}} * {{Cite web |last=BikeBiz |date=2000-05-17 |title=Preston for time |url=https://bikebiz.com/preston-for-time/ |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=BikeBiz |language=en-GB}} * {{Cite news |last=Trapp |first=Roger |date=16 November 1997 |title=Formula One know-how drives Jon's super-bike |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/formula-one-knowhow-drives-jon-s-superbike-1294291.html |work=[[The Independent]]}} * {{Cite web |last=Cunningham |first=Richard |date=2018-08-22 |title=Now THAT Was a Bike: Whyte PRST-1 |url=https://www.pinkbike.com/news/now-that-was-a-bike-whyte-prst-1.html |access-date=2024-03-02 |website=Pinkbike |language=en}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{official site|http://www.whytebikes.com}}
{{British bicycle manufacturers}} [[Category:Mountain bike manufacturers]] [[Category:Cycle manufacturers of the United Kingdom]] [[Category:2025 mergers and acquisitions]]