The John Warrick Cycles company was established by John Warrick, the son of a Reading bargee. He was originally a gunsmith, apprenticed to William Soper, and together they had success manufacturing complex and highly accurate but slightly unreliable rifles. Warrick himself was a member of the Berkshire Volunteers and was an excellent marksman, using his medals and competition victories to promote the company. The trade mark on Warrick bicycles was a metal triangle on the top of the rear mudguard of the cycle.