Jon Whyte Retires From Cycle Trade

Jon Whyte – father of the full-suspension mountain bike – has retired from the cycle industry. The 50-year-old engineering guru has hung up his trusty pedal spanner and is moving on after eleven years in the bike trade. Jon’s engineering and design wizardry has seen him become the pivotal player in the on-going development of full suspension systems. His first ever FRS design helped Marin rider Paul Lasenby to his first National Championship back in the 1990s and his latest work – the Quad Link II – featured on the bike used by Shaums March to win his Masters DH World Championship just two weeks ago. Jon, who also designed and developed the award-winning Mezzo folding bike, has worked successfully with ATB Sales on Marin full suspension bikes for the past decade. He has also designed a range of UK-specific, high end mountain bikes that carry his name. Curiously, Jon – whose Formula 1 suspension system helped Michael Schumacher and Benetton to their first world championship title – has retired just days after ‘Schu’ quit F1. Ross Patterson, ATB’s sales and marketing director said: “We wish Jon every happiness in his retirement. It has been a great decade and we have enjoyed working with such a consummate professional for all this time. “It is a fond farewell to Jon after a fantastic partnership but it is important to point out that his legacy continues with the ATB design team at our UK R&D facility and there are exciting developments ahead.” Jon’s assistant at the ATB facility in the heart of the Cotswolds for the past four and half years has been the dynamic young designer Ian Alexander. As the sorcerer’s apprentice Ian has worked alongside the maestro and this year has designed and developed his own curvaceous lines on the 2007 Marin Quad Link II XC suspension platform. Ross added: “All the lessons learned, the technology and technical development and all the patents granted remain with our design team at ATB Sales. “The last decade’s achievements combined with the light touch and design flair of the new team gives us the ingredients we need for a great future.” Ian has a unique new style that is poised to set the MTB world alight all over again and it gives the industry a clear insight into great things to come from the ATB design team. The Jon Whyte Timeline 1984 – Aerospace engineer Jon Whyte joins the F1 world as a designer. 1994 – As a senior suspension designer he helps the Benetton team and Michael Schumacher to their first of his world championships. 1996 – Jon – a keen mountain biker - joins ATB Sales Ltd’s design team and develops their first full suspension system. Marin take the system as their own. 1996 – Paul Lasenby wins his first XC national points series race with Jon’s FRS system – the first ever win at this level on a full suspension bike. 1997 – Lasenby sweeps all before him to win the National XC Championship on the FRS Mount Vision. (Every year since, a suspension bike designed by Jon has won a major championship) 2003 – Jon develops the Quad Link system that further revolutionises full suspension mountain biking. 2004 – Jon designs and develops the Mezzo – a folding bike that wins accolades and awards from the press. 2005 – Jon brings out the second version of his Quad Link system, launched in the Whyte E5. 2006 – The Marin Quake – running the Quad Link II FRS system is described as “The Kick-ass freeride bike for the masses” 2006 – Sept Shaums March wins the Masters DH World Championships on a Marin Quake. 2006 – Sept Schumacher announces his retirement from F1. 2006 – Sept Jon Whyte hangs up his pedal spanner.