Ellsworth Handcrafted Bicycles

History

The company was founded by Tony Ellsworth. In 1991, Ellsworth built his first bicycle frame after a dramatic career change brought on by deteriorating health. He built his first full-suspension mountain bike for his wife in 1993 and by 1994 Tony was building bikes "for people whose names he didn't know", at which point he considered that he had built a business.

BST Nano Carbon bought Ellsworth in 2014 and changed the focus to carbon fiber frames with aluminium frames to be manufactured elsewhere. The offices and research and development departments were relocated from Ramona to BST's San Diego composite factory but Ellsworth did not release any bikes in 2015 as BST had underestimated the costs associated.

A private investor from San Diego bought the company from BST and in January 2016 a new product range with both carbon fiber and aluminium alloy bikes was announced.

Innovation

Ellsworth bicycles are unique in that they use Instant Center Tracking technology, an Ellsworth-specific technology. Tony Ellsworth, founder of the company, holds nine patents related to ICT technology.

In 2004 Fallbrook Technologies partnered with Ellsworth to commercialize their NuVinci technology. The NuVinci is a new drivetrain targeted for use on bicycles, though Fallsworth is trying to adapt it for other uses. The large NuVinci hub uses a new technology, a 'continuously variable planetary' drive train, to allow multiple gear ratios while removing the gears. Thus, a derailleur and multiple gears are no longer necessary. This technology is already in use on Ellsworth's 'The Ride', a cruising bike, which was designed specifically for the NuVinci.

Trail bikes

Freeride

Road bikes

Other

Frames

Wheels

Sponsorship

Ellsworth sponsored the Suzuki 24 Hour National Point Series in 2008, along with Infinit Nutrition. They will continue to sponsor the event through 2010.

Ellsworth resigned Pua Sawicki, the 2007 Female Mountain Biker of the Year. She rode a Truth, produced by Ellsworth, during the 2008 season.

Four teams competing in the 2008 Primal Quest Adventure Expedition, a two-week endurance race held near Big Sky, Montana, were sponsored by Ellsworth. Three teams rode Truths, and one rode Epiphanies.

The beginning of 2009 saw the formation of the Ten Speed Drive/Ellsworth Factory Cycling Team. Part of the team's mission is reducing their environmental impact, and both Ten Speed Drive Racing, Inc. and Ellsworth will emphasize their commitment to the environment. The team will use Ellsworth's Scant scandium road bike frames.

In April 2009 Ellsworth announced it would sponsor Jack Reading, a profession downhill mountain biker from the United Kingdom. He rides a Dare, produced by Ellsworth.