diff --git a/CHANGELOG b/CHANGELOG
index ef046fec3..05b405ae9 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG
+++ b/CHANGELOG
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 === Edge
 
+* Use <r:cycle /> for a numeric counter [Jim Gay, Dirk Kelly]
 * String format breadcrumb tag in archive pages [Oriol Gual]
 * Fix bug with deletion of page parts [Josh French]
 * Unroll PageMenu into core [Josh French]
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTORS b/CONTRIBUTORS
index 920228b4f..cc1017159 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTORS
+++ b/CONTRIBUTORS
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ core:
 
 === Edge
 
+* Dirk Kelly
 * Oriol Gual
 * Petrik de Heus
 * Gert Goet
diff --git a/app/models/standard_tags.rb b/app/models/standard_tags.rb
index 27e6cb805..944299da9 100644
--- a/app/models/standard_tags.rb
+++ b/app/models/standard_tags.rb
@@ -492,23 +492,44 @@ class RequiredAttributeError < StandardError; end
   end
 
   desc %{
-    Renders one of the passed values based on a global cycle counter.  Use the @reset@
-    attribute to reset the cycle to the beginning.  Use the @name@ attribute to track
-    multiple cycles; the default is @cycle@.
+    Renders a counter value or one of the values given based on a global cycle counter. 
+    
+    To get a numeric counter just use the tag, or specify a start value with @start@.
+    Use the @reset@ attribute to reset the cycle to the beginning. Using @reset@ on a
+    numbered cycle will begin at 0. Use the @name@  attribute to track multiple cycles; 
+    the default is @cycle@.
 
     *Usage:*
     
-    <pre><code><r:cycle values="first, second, third" [reset="true|false"] [name="cycle"] /></code></pre>
+    <pre><code><r:cycle [values="first, second, third"] [reset="true|false"] [name="cycle"] [start="second"] /></code></pre>
+    <pre><code><r:cycle start="3" /></code></pre>
   }
   tag 'cycle' do |tag|
-    required_attr(tag, 'values')
     cycle = (tag.globals.cycle ||= {})
-    values = tag.attr['values'].split(",").collect(&:strip)
+    if tag.attr['values']
+      values = tag.attr['values'].split(",").collect(&:strip)
+    end
+    start = tag.attr['start']
     cycle_name = tag.attr['name'] || 'cycle'
-    current_index = (cycle[cycle_name] ||=  0)
-    current_index = 0 if tag.attr['reset'] == 'true'
-    cycle[cycle_name] = (current_index + 1) % values.size
-    values[current_index]
+    if values
+      if start
+        current_index = (cycle[cycle_name] ||= values.index(start))
+      else
+        current_index = (cycle[cycle_name] ||=  0)
+      end
+      current_index = 0 if tag.attr['reset'] == 'true'
+      cycle[cycle_name] = (current_index + 1) % values.size
+      values[current_index]
+    else
+      cycle[cycle_name] ||= (start.presence || 0).to_i
+      output = cycle[cycle_name]
+      cycle[cycle_name] += 1
+      if tag.attr['reset'] == 'true'
+        cycle[cycle_name] = 0
+        output = cycle[cycle_name]
+      end
+      output
+    end
   end
 
   desc %{
diff --git a/lib/plugins/object_extensions/lib/object_extensions.rb b/lib/plugins/object_extensions/lib/object_extensions.rb
index b051da4aa..67931f414 100644
--- a/lib/plugins/object_extensions/lib/object_extensions.rb
+++ b/lib/plugins/object_extensions/lib/object_extensions.rb
@@ -2,4 +2,7 @@ class Object
   def self.descendants
     subclasses_of(self)
   end
+  def presence
+    return self if present?
+  end
 end
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/spec/models/standard_tags_spec.rb b/spec/models/standard_tags_spec.rb
index 753300f6b..b813f761a 100644
--- a/spec/models/standard_tags_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/standard_tags_spec.rb
@@ -944,6 +944,7 @@
   end
 
   describe "<r:cycle>" do
+    subject { page }
     it "should render passed values in succession" do
       page.should render('<r:cycle values="first, second" /> <r:cycle values="first, second" />').as('first second')
     end
@@ -952,6 +953,10 @@
       page.should render('<r:cycle values="first, second" /> <r:cycle values="first, second" /> <r:cycle values="first, second" />').as('first second first')
     end
 
+    it "should start at a given start value" do
+      page.should render('<r:cycle values="first, second, third" start="second" /> <r:cycle values="first, second, third" start="second" /> <r:cycle values="first, second, third" start="second" />').as('second third first')
+    end
+
     it "should use a default cycle name of 'cycle'" do
       page.should render('<r:cycle values="first, second" /> <r:cycle values="first, second" name="cycle" />').as('first second')
     end
@@ -963,10 +968,12 @@
     it "should reset the counter" do
       page.should render('<r:cycle values="first, second" /> <r:cycle values="first, second" reset="true"/>').as('first first')
     end
-
-    it "should require the values attribute" do
-      page.should render('<r:cycle />').with_error("`cycle' tag must contain a `values' attribute.")
-    end
+    
+    it { should render('<r:cycle /> <r:cycle />').as('0 1') }
+    it { should render('<r:cycle start="3" /> <r:cycle start="3" /> <r:cycle start="3" />').as('3 4 5') }
+    it { should render('<r:cycle start="3" /> <r:cycle name="other" /> <r:cycle start="3" />').as('3 0 4') }
+    it { should render('<r:cycle start="3" /> <r:cycle name="other" start="23" /> <r:cycle />').as('3 23 4') }
+    it { should render('<r:cycle start="3" /> <r:cycle name="other" start="23" /> <r:cycle reset="true" />').as('3 23 0') }
   end
 
   describe "<r:if_dev>" do