Why Your Bike Is Made In Asia

My career in bicycles as I watched two continents squander an industry

Author: Bill McGann

Paperback

Author Bill McGann describes the bicycle industry's shift to Asia from Europe and the United States, from the viewpoint of his ownership of both retail and wholesale bike businesses.

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Summary

Author Bill McGann describes the bicycle industry's shift to Asia from Europe and the United States, from the viewpoint of his ownership of both retail and wholesale bike businesses.

Description

When author Bill McGann opened his bike shop in 1974, his stock of bicycles, parts and accessories were all made in Europe. At the same time, the nearby sporting goods store sold Schwinn bicycles that were made in Chicago. But across town was a busy shop owned by a gentleman named "Chuck". It was stocked with all the famous imported lightweights; among them Peugeot, Motobecane and Raleigh. But his top-selling brand was a bike McGann was barely familiar with, Nishiki, made in Japan. Chuck had populated the town with hundreds and hundreds, possibly thousands of bright orange Nishiki Olympic bikes, Nishiki's basic consumer ten-speed.

Chuck said his Nishikis were not only a terrific value and well-made, they were equipped with wonderfully reliable, cutting-edge derailleurs. He was adamant that Nishiki bikes shouldn't be confused with the shoddy post-war Japanese merchandise everyone thought was junk.

Being twenty-two and lacking judgement, McGann heaped contempt upon Chuck's Nishikis and about six months after McGann opened his shop, he attended Chuck's bankruptcy auction.

But McGann was wrong and Chuck was right.

How that came to be and what followed is his story.

Over the span of McGann's thirty years in the bicycle trade he watched European and American factories shuttered as the business of bicycle manufacturing moved from the west to Asia. It was a tragedy that could have been avoided if the western bicycle makers had responded to the needs of their customers, as the Asian makers did.

About the Author

Author Bill McGann grew up in Southern California where he opened a bike shop in 1974. He later started a bicycle import/wholesale business that served bicycle stores across the country. Upon selling the import company he and his wife Carol started McGann Publishing, specializing in cycling books.