On Mon, Jul 13, 2009 at 7:23 AM, CycloFiend<cyclofi...@earthlink.net> wrote: > > By the sound of things with the Roadeo, it seems as if that's what they are > doing. >
Yep, they'll be US-made, in Wisconsin. To maintain a manufacturing floor that produces high-end components in the United States is extremely difficult. Aside from labor costs, our governments (particularly in California, where most of the US bike parts are made) don't make it easy to stay in business. Between a business unfriendly climate and nonsensical regulations, they make it extremely difficult to actually build stuff. But luckily companies like King (who left California to Oregon), White, Paul, and Phil have soldiered on. To put together even a US-built bike is also difficult, if not impossible. Here's a cyclocross bike that is about as truly locally made as you can get, and I'd say that we in NorCal are about the only locality in the country that could pull it off (because nearly all of the good manufacturers are here!). (BTW, this CX bike is amazing in person) http://rocklobstershop.blogspot.com/2009/03/sucka-to-side-i-know-you-hate-my-ninety.html My guess is that Grant (and John and others) make choices that are in line with staying in business. Seems to make sense if you ask me. > Just getting any frames built has to be quite an artful balancing act. Yep. And lastly, while I'm talking business and politics and not bikes, I'd like to remind people that it isn't acceptable on this list to talk poorly about any cultural group, including cowboys. I know a ton of cowboys first hand*, and they're awesome people. I personally and solely-on-my-own-accord don't give a shit if you don't like cowboy culture, but you can keep your political PETA-esque pedestal out of this list. Without farmers and cowboys, all of the committed cosmopolitans on this list wouldn't have stocked shelves at their local Whole Foods. I know I'm being aggressive here, but if that poster replaced "cowboy" culture with "black" or "japanese" or "gay" culture, it would magically become unacceptable. So, let's celebrate diversity. And that means everyone. Ok, I'm done, back to regularly scheduled RBW-related programming. Gino "Ro-DAY-oh Cowboy" Zahnd Chico, CA * http://www.flickr.com/photos/gzahnd/750922790/ ;-) --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
