Why no major German bikes?
03-04-21, 03:13 PM
#76
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I recently bought This German Weed Eater
Stihl Straight Shaft String Trimmer - 27.2cc, 16 1/2Inch Cutting Width, Model FS 56 RC-E | Google Shopping
Made in CHINA
Stihl Straight Shaft String Trimmer - 27.2cc, 16 1/2Inch Cutting Width, Model FS 56 RC-E | Google Shopping
Made in CHINA
That's curious. I have the same trimmer, but mine was made in the US.
Of course, I got mine from an OPE dealer, not a discount tool store, so that might be why.
03-04-21, 03:38 PM
#77
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What I wrote is not from my head, I am not that much die hard pro biking scene follower. That was the view taken by the TV commentators of the major pro races that caught my interest at the time. I am aware of all those names and teams you mention and of course the TV commentators too. I think it had to do with Germany not having their own big race(s) and popular home base for cycling and it being way richer economically than other EU countries. Like no one expects anything from its small neighboring countries, Czechs and Slovaks, whose talents have to leave and find place on some other countries, teams, sponsors (Sagan, Kreuziger, Stybar).
Prague also might host opening TDF stage one day like Germany did several times in past but that is about as far as it may go.
That the thread like this one was made in the first place is indicative of the general perception and it wouldn't exist if things were 'ALL RIGHT' in this direction as your reply would seem to indicate. When you say Italy, you can say in second breath Campagnolo bikes, Ferrari cars, when you say Germany, you can say Mercedes but you can't cite an iconic bike manufacture. And that is what this is about.
Prague also might host opening TDF stage one day like Germany did several times in past but that is about as far as it may go.
That the thread like this one was made in the first place is indicative of the general perception and it wouldn't exist if things were 'ALL RIGHT' in this direction as your reply would seem to indicate. When you say Italy, you can say in second breath Campagnolo bikes, Ferrari cars, when you say Germany, you can say Mercedes but you can't cite an iconic bike manufacture. And that is what this is about.
I would agree that the quantity of pro-level bike racers from Germany is lower than some other EU countries where bicycle racing is a more deeply ingrained part of the nation's culture, such as Italy. Such is the nature of how nations develop their own "personality".
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03-05-21, 01:27 PM
#78
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That's fair point. It is a very interesting subject. Also, to some extent it is not set in stone, things can change, at least somewhat, like bike racing used to be pretty well European thing, then Americans joined in, now you even have a fairly strong bicycling base in US with home racing scene, but still the wider popularity of the sport can't even come close to football, basketball.
03-07-21, 03:29 AM
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That's fair point. It is a very interesting subject. Also, to some extent it is not set in stone, things can change, at least somewhat, like bike racing used to be pretty well European thing, then Americans joined in, now you even have a fairly strong bicycling base in US with home racing scene, but still the wider popularity of the sport can't even come close to football, basketball.
03-08-21, 01:36 PM
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I'm going to take the subject of German/Schwinn bikes in America in a little different direction. The German-born, Ignaz Schwinn started the Schwinn company in 1895. Eventually, the company went bankrupt in 1992. The manufacture of the lower-quality bikes went to a string of corporate acquisitions (Pacific, GT, Windpoint, Dorel, Nautilus, Questor Partners Fund)--I am not concerned with this topic right now. In the meantime, Schwinn Paramounts, designed by Mark Muller, had been made at the Waterford, WI plant since 1980. Ignaz Schwinn's great grandson, Richard Schwinn and Mark Muller purchased the plant in 1993 to form Waterford Precision Cycles. Today, Waterford builds frames under its own label as well as for Rivendell Bicycle Works, Milwaukee Bicycle Co., and Shinola Detroit. Personally speaking, my Milwaukee bike is outstanding! And I am happy that Schwinn has carried on with bike-building in this way.
03-08-21, 01:43 PM
#81
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I suggest that since Europe is a relatively smaller and highly interconnected geography and there were many very well-established and respected bike brands available from neighboring countries, German makers may have decided to compete in other areas of manufacturing. Post-war, cars were it, once a renewed manufacturing base was developed. Bikes were not big business any longer. Perhaps for that reason German bike brands were not exported to the US, just as there are a great many "vintage" (60's, 70's, 80's) Italian brands never sent across the pond and thus unknown to most American cyclists.
03-08-21, 01:49 PM
#83
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In the former eastern part of Germany is the oldest still existing German bike brand: Diamant, which also build the east's racing bikes. Some photos here (the models with FF in the name were the high-end, made for the Friedensfahrt (the TdF of the east https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_Race) race -> https://www.diamantrennradkult.de/di...t-modell-1955/ ).
A lot of German bike and component brands were already mentioned, just some few more:
- Continental (there's not only Schwalbe...)
- some newer bike brands: Bombtrack (gravel), Veloheld
ok, that's all I have in mind right now, there are for sure some more...
A lot of German bike and component brands were already mentioned, just some few more:
- Continental (there's not only Schwalbe...)
- some newer bike brands: Bombtrack (gravel), Veloheld
ok, that's all I have in mind right now, there are for sure some more...
03-08-21, 02:23 PM
#84
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In the former eastern part of Germany is the oldest still existing German bike brand: Diamant, which also build the east's racing bikes. Some photos here (the models with FF in the name were the high-end, made for the Friedensfahrt (the TdF of the east https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_Race) race -> https://www.diamantrennradkult.de/di...t-modell-1955/ ).
A lot of German bike and component brands were already mentioned, just some few more:
- Continental (there's not only Schwalbe...)
- some newer bike brands: Bombtrack (gravel), Veloheld
ok, that's all I have in mind right now, there are for sure some more...
A lot of German bike and component brands were already mentioned, just some few more:
- Continental (there's not only Schwalbe...)
- some newer bike brands: Bombtrack (gravel), Veloheld
ok, that's all I have in mind right now, there are for sure some more...
Diamant is owned by Trek
03-08-21, 02:26 PM
#85
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I suggest that since Europe is a relatively smaller and highly interconnected geography and there were many very well-established and respected bike brands available from neighboring countries, German makers may have decided to compete in other areas of manufacturing. Post-war, cars were it, once a renewed manufacturing base was developed. Bikes were not big business any longer. Perhaps for that reason German bike brands were not exported to the US, just as there are a great many "vintage" (60's, 70's, 80's) Italian brands never sent across the pond and thus unknown to most American cyclists.
Smaller huh
03-08-21, 04:00 PM
#86
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03-08-21, 05:39 PM
#87
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Vintage Enik Iseran from Germany
This was purchased by a US serviceman in Germany and brought back to the US. It has Columbus Aelle tubing w. Shimano 600. The store is still in existence.
03-08-21, 07:52 PM
#88
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One jarring fact I was reminded of while fact checking myself here: there hasn't been an Italian-registered team in the World Tour since 2016 when Lampre folded. Currently, Kazakhstan, Israel, the UAE and Bahrain all have World Tour teams but Italy has no team. That's really weird.
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03-09-21, 10:48 AM
#90
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Part of it is the relative lack of popularity of cycling in Germany when compared to France or Italy, but I think a far bigger factor was the fallout of the various doping scandals. The most notable scandal was obviously Ullrich, but more broadly on tons of Germans on teams like Ullrich's T-Mobile and Gerolsteiner tested positive in those dark days. Germany took these scandals more seriously than most countries. In 2007, the major German TV networks ARD and ZDF refused to broadcast the Tour in Germany. By 2009, every German sponsor had pulled out of World Tour cycling. A German sponsor wouldn't return to the World Tour until 2015 when Giant/Alpecin (now DSM) came back in. In 2017, the Tour started in Germany, signaling the return of Germany to the cycling fold. This lost decade really hurt German pro cycling. The Aderlass scandal is now threatening to disrupt this momentum again...
One jarring fact I was reminded of while fact checking myself here: there hasn't been an Italian-registered team in the World Tour since 2016 when Lampre folded. Currently, Kazakhstan, Israel, the UAE and Bahrain all have World Tour teams but Italy has no team. That's really weird.
One jarring fact I was reminded of while fact checking myself here: there hasn't been an Italian-registered team in the World Tour since 2016 when Lampre folded. Currently, Kazakhstan, Israel, the UAE and Bahrain all have World Tour teams but Italy has no team. That's really weird.
Not Italian team...wow! I didn't realize that, either. That's as surprising to me as learning that last year was the first time a Colnago-branded bike won the Tour.
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