[CR]no US bike group

(Example: Books)

Date: Fri, 30 Aug 2002 14:51:02 -0400
From: <chasds@mindspring.com>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]no US bike group

No full groups from a US company in the classic era? A riddle easy to solve.

The United States is a motor-dominated society. It has been for 100 years. Bicycles are toys to most people in the US. Not serious transportation. In the 1960s and 70s this was even more that case, if that's possible. No one in the US who cared had the money or expertise to manufacture a full parts group...but mostly, no-one cared, is my theory.

In Italy and France and Japan, by contrast, bicycles are serious technology, deserving of serious time and money. Look at Suntour derailleurs from the 70s, or the full Superbe group in the early 80s...or even the first Dura Ace group. Clearly designed and manufactured by people who cared deeply about every aspect of bicycles and bicycling...labors of love, you ask me. No-one in design and manufacturing in the United States has loved parts enough to do that.

They all go make cars, instead.

Charles "I like cars--I like bikes better though" Andrews SoCal