Biking with the red, white and blue
Prior to my burgeoning family life (and SOC), I was an avid cyclist. With family responsibilities came the requisite decrease in free time to pursue bicycling through the New England countryside. But now I'm making the effort and have had my old mountain biike tuned and refurbished for the coming months.
Prior to my burgeoning family life (and SOC), I was an avid cyclist. With family responsibilities came the requisite decrease in free time to pursue bicycling through the New England countryside. But now I'm making the effort and have had my old mountain biike tuned and refurbished for the coming months.
With spring in full swing, the thoughts of many Americans are turning to spending more time outdoors. If that outdoors time includes cycling, you're going to have to think outside the big-box and take a road less traveled to get an American-made bicycle.
This means if you think you're going to walk into a Wal-Mart, Target or Sears and find a bicycle with a "Made in USA" tag on it, you're going to be disappointed that you wasted your time as well as your car's gas that you'll have to replenish at more than $4 a gallon.
It follows then, that we need a Buy American strategy before we blindly head out the door hunting for American-made Huffy for under a hundred bucks. It's not going to happen. Awareness is the key, and such a Buy American strategy should apply whether you're looking for bicycles or Band-Aids.
Two of the more-popular names in bicycles are Trek and Cannondale, but it's difficult to find American-made bikes from these brands for under $1,000. I bought my American-made Trek 1200 bike used for $400 over 10 years ago (I don't do a whole lot of cycling). Most of the high-end, carbon-frame bikes from Trek are made in USA, with their low-end, heavier aluminum frame bikes imported. Cannondale, which not long ago prided itself on having the complete line handmade in USA, is now importing the lower-end, lower-priced bikes from overseas. Trek and Cannondale usually are brands that are sought after by serious bike enthusiasts. You can locate dealers for Trek bikes at Trek Bikes.com and Cannondale bikes at Cannondale.com.
But what if you're not a super-serious bike enthusiast who wants a basic, casual, American-made bicycle for a cheaper price? Worksman Cycles proudly have been made in the USA since 1898, and you can custom design your own Worksman Customer Cruiser for $299. You also can find three-wheeled tricycles for $449.
Worksman Cycles workers pride themselves in the high quality of their bikes over the typical import, and they're not shy in telling you about it. On their website, they tell the reader, "To be perfectly frank, if you are looking for ordinary run of the mill imported cruiser bikes, shop somewhere else."
If you're in the market for an American-made bike with more of a retro-style feel, check out Aero-Fast bicycles. All Aero-Fast bicycles are made in Jacksonville, Fla. The least expensive model is the Beach Bomber Econo for $449, with almost all of their bikes costing under $1,000.
Bike riding is a source of recreation, relaxation and good health for many Americans. By buying an American-made bike, you can better your own health as well as the health of the U.S. economy, and that's better for all Americans whether they ride bicycles or not.
This means if you think you're going to walk into a Wal-Mart, Target or Sears and find a bicycle with a "Made in USA" tag on it, you're going to be disappointed that you wasted your time as well as your car's gas that you'll have to replenish at more than $4 a gallon.
It follows then, that we need a Buy American strategy before we blindly head out the door hunting for American-made Huffy for under a hundred bucks. It's not going to happen. Awareness is the key, and such a Buy American strategy should apply whether you're looking for bicycles or Band-Aids.
Two of the more-popular names in bicycles are Trek and Cannondale, but it's difficult to find American-made bikes from these brands for under $1,000. I bought my American-made Trek 1200 bike used for $400 over 10 years ago (I don't do a whole lot of cycling). Most of the high-end, carbon-frame bikes from Trek are made in USA, with their low-end, heavier aluminum frame bikes imported. Cannondale, which not long ago prided itself on having the complete line handmade in USA, is now importing the lower-end, lower-priced bikes from overseas. Trek and Cannondale usually are brands that are sought after by serious bike enthusiasts. You can locate dealers for Trek bikes at Trek Bikes.com and Cannondale bikes at Cannondale.com.
But what if you're not a super-serious bike enthusiast who wants a basic, casual, American-made bicycle for a cheaper price? Worksman Cycles proudly have been made in the USA since 1898, and you can custom design your own Worksman Customer Cruiser for $299. You also can find three-wheeled tricycles for $449.
Worksman Cycles workers pride themselves in the high quality of their bikes over the typical import, and they're not shy in telling you about it. On their website, they tell the reader, "To be perfectly frank, if you are looking for ordinary run of the mill imported cruiser bikes, shop somewhere else."
If you're in the market for an American-made bike with more of a retro-style feel, check out Aero-Fast bicycles. All Aero-Fast bicycles are made in Jacksonville, Fla. The least expensive model is the Beach Bomber Econo for $449, with almost all of their bikes costing under $1,000.
Bike riding is a source of recreation, relaxation and good health for many Americans. By buying an American-made bike, you can better your own health as well as the health of the U.S. economy, and that's better for all Americans whether they ride bicycles or not.
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