So what’s the big deal? Why should we care where the stuff we buy is made? And why should we care where the bike stuff we buy is made?
Good question. I come from an Italian-American family. My first “real” road bike was Italian. A Bianchi Nuovo Racing, bought new in 1983 with money I made mowing lawns. It was Celeste. It had a few Campy bits. It was beautiful.
I love Campy. I love Shimano. And I’m amazed what money can buy these days.
But at the end of the day, I love American ingenuity, innovation and craftsmanship. I’m awed by guys like Tom Ritchey and Keith Bontrager. I worked in bike shops from the mid-80s to the mid-90s and saw so many great American bike companies turn from manufacturing to marketing and design. I found it depressing.
Guys like Paul Price and Chris King are my heroes. They stuck it out. They went through some tough times and built great products and great companies. I love this statement by Light and Motion–Why We Manufacture in the USA.
This blog is dedicated to the home team.
