It is with regret we advise of the sad passing of Simon Sharp on Monday 4th July. One on the original founders of Hope Technology in Barnoldswick, every product in Hope’s almost 30 years history has had influence and input from Simon, from the disc brakes that originally made Hope famous through to the latest carbon fibre products. He was still in the factory every day keeping his watchful eye over all Hope’s product development.
Simon was an accomplished Motorcycle Trials rider as well as competitive mountain biker, riding at the highest level in both. In May this year he rode in the Pre-65 Scottish Two Day Motorcycle Trial and the following week rode the Scottish Six Days Trial with his son, Sam. An epic eight days trials riding around the Scottish Highlands that even his younger son found challenging. Last year he raced his mountain bike in several rounds of the Enduro World Series in the Masters category for competitor's over 40 years old and embarrassed many younger riders with his excellent results. Every weekend he could be found either riding Mountain bikes or Trials bikes with his children and members of the Hope staff around the local Dales or further afield.
In his riding career he suffered several concussions, with the most serious resulting in brain bleed and it is believed that this may have led to CTE, a degenerative brain disease that arises from concussions and is associated with impaired judgment and depression and may have contributed to his death.
He leaves his wife Alison and three children, Sam, Katherine and Heather. He will be sorely missed and fondly remembered by all who knew him.