An entirely North American bicycle?
#26
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I'd start looking for tires and inner tubes. Decades ago I read somewhere there wasn't anybody producing them domestically. I honestly don't know if that's still true or not.
Frankly, however, I think it's a moot point. The last time that I bought inner tubes for my recumbents, I had trouble finding ANYBODY who had the exact size and valve stem length that I wanted in stock.
Frankly, however, I think it's a moot point. The last time that I bought inner tubes for my recumbents, I had trouble finding ANYBODY who had the exact size and valve stem length that I wanted in stock.
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Are any points awarded if the components are purchased from Jenson USA?
John
John
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#28
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If I own stock in a foreign manufacturer, should I feel slighted?
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North American manufactured bicycle? Despite several posters answering "no" and even "impossible", RBR of Alameda, California does in fact make a 100% American bicycle. Get out your credit card and get on their waiting list.
Victory Bicycles in Florida also made an all-American bike until just a few years ago, when the shop closed.
The NuVinci N180 was, but that's been several years ago now. The present N330 and N380 are manufactured in Asia.
Victory Bicycles in Florida also made an all-American bike until just a few years ago, when the shop closed.
The NuVinci N180 was, but that's been several years ago now. The present N330 and N380 are manufactured in Asia.
Last edited by tcs; 09-08-21 at 07:11 AM.
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It is possible to build a bike with no Asian made parts but not with strictly USA parts. I assume Zipp had their system made overseas? But if you add the EU both Campy and Rotor become options. Campy is Italian for the higher end stuff while the lower I believe is Romania. Rotor is, I believe, Germany and Spain. This exercise works real well with an all Euro bike.
Besides wheelsmith Marwi/Union spokes should be US made, velocity is firmly US made having moved from Australia, hubs have boundless options, really for track or bmx the tires might be the only issue.
Besides wheelsmith Marwi/Union spokes should be US made, velocity is firmly US made having moved from Australia, hubs have boundless options, really for track or bmx the tires might be the only issue.
#31
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OP I have a question….
You told us what you want to do but not why.
What is the purpose of a full USA made build?
For example…
Are you trying to prove anyone can do this with production parts.
or
Are you trying to prove you can do it by any means. Including custom & 1off locally made parts allowed.
Is this a Show bike or a daily driver.
Example would be the chain. There are USA chain companies that most likely manufacture offshore. But maybe R&D chains are made locally.
A begging letter giving details of the project might shake one loose.
Barry
You told us what you want to do but not why.
What is the purpose of a full USA made build?
For example…
Are you trying to prove anyone can do this with production parts.
or
Are you trying to prove you can do it by any means. Including custom & 1off locally made parts allowed.
Is this a Show bike or a daily driver.
Example would be the chain. There are USA chain companies that most likely manufacture offshore. But maybe R&D chains are made locally.
A begging letter giving details of the project might shake one loose.
Barry
#32
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100% made in the US, no. Probably not.
But mostly made in the US, probably. As others noted, you're probably limited to a single speed or fixed gear bike. Frame, bars, stem, seatpost, hubs, cogs, cranks can all be found in the US. I think you are going to be harder pressed to find US made tires, tubes, chains and saddles.
But mostly made in the US, probably. As others noted, you're probably limited to a single speed or fixed gear bike. Frame, bars, stem, seatpost, hubs, cogs, cranks can all be found in the US. I think you are going to be harder pressed to find US made tires, tubes, chains and saddles.
#33
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Selle Anitomica saddles are made in the U.S.
https://selleanatomica.com/collections/saddles-1
I have seen it said more than once that Wheelsmith isn't making anything at all right now. Website is still there though. It's not listed in "our brands" however
https://hayesbicycle.com/pages/wheelsmith-technology
https://selleanatomica.com/collections/saddles-1
I have seen it said more than once that Wheelsmith isn't making anything at all right now. Website is still there though. It's not listed in "our brands" however
https://hayesbicycle.com/pages/wheelsmith-technology
#34
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Velocity used to be Australian but, yes, now make their rims in the US. Any other companies of any sort move from elsewhere in the world to here? Not aware of any other bike companies doing that.
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^^^Goodyear returned production of their travel trailer tires to the US several years ago.
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A few years ago Whirlpool moved some refridgerator production from Mexico back to America. Ohio, I believe.
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What’s all this “MUSA” stuff? OP said N. America, which to inform folks, includes Canada, Mexico at the very least, and technically includes the Caribbean countries, Greenland, and all the nations known as Central America.
That fact doesn’t necessarily make this NorAm bike project more achievable, but it could make it more interesting to consider.
That fact doesn’t necessarily make this NorAm bike project more achievable, but it could make it more interesting to consider.
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Does Race Face still make parts in Canada?
Wolf tooth is making a lot of parts in the U.S. and I think Cane Creek does too. Does Cane Creek make a crank in the U.S.? I know there are framebuilders that make cranks, but it might be hard to buy one, they are in high demand
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It’s been said we live in a golden age of stupidity, but that the aged and well-worn “NA” abbreviation for North America is too difficult to work with and “MUSA” should be preferred suggests that we live in an era even more preciously stupid than gold.
#41
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Thanks to everyone who's responded! I've reached out to all of the suggested sources above in the last couple of days, and can confirm that there are indeed North American-made options for some of the bits in question:
Spokes
Saddles
Drop bars
Bar tape
Still not much hope of a multispeed option here, so be it. This is a copy/paste of what's still missing from the list above:
Tires?
Cassette?
Derailers front and rear?
Shifters and Levers? Or Brifters? (I know this is way out there, but have to ask)
Cables+Housing?
Pedals?
Thanks again for all the responses, and for not getting the thread locked (so far anyway).
I'll report back in a while, when there's an actual bike to see. It will have two wheels, and they may or may not be the same size. : )
Spokes
Saddles
Drop bars
Bar tape
Still not much hope of a multispeed option here, so be it. This is a copy/paste of what's still missing from the list above:
Tires?
Cassette?
Derailers front and rear?
Shifters and Levers? Or Brifters? (I know this is way out there, but have to ask)
Cables+Housing?
Pedals?
Thanks again for all the responses, and for not getting the thread locked (so far anyway).
I'll report back in a while, when there's an actual bike to see. It will have two wheels, and they may or may not be the same size. : )
#42
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I am not aware of component production in Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean. Please allow me to formally apologize to those countries for so dearly offending them, if there is a component made in their country that is needed here.
#43
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Is this project still a go despite being impossible to do derailleured? If so, I think eThirteen are still machining cassettes in Massachusetts, and they could be mated to American-owned SRAM Eagle AXS rear derailleur and Force brifters (you’re doing drop bars, right?). You could do Red, of course, but I’d save the ducats for a pair of Berd fiber spoke wheels (with Industry Nine hubs) from MN.
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Spinergy wheels are built in Mexico, American owned, and use California made Hadley Racing freehubs. They make their PBO spokes (from Toyobo fibers), but I dunno where the rim or hub bodies are made; could be in-house, but I don’t know.
#45
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I try to use as much MUSA stuff as possible but the reality is the Japanese Nitto/MKS/Panracer are the best in the business.
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While this doesn't help with the OP's project, the linked thread does highlight that it may have never been possible to build a high end multi-speed derailleur racing bike with parts made in America.
A couple of interesting points in the article state that in 1965 the "Paramount was one of only two racing machines manufactured in America," but a quick look at the build reveals it wasn't close to completely American made parts. I do believe that you could buy a completely American made Varsity. It goes to show that despite the American aerospace and automotive manufacturing heritage, road racing bikes never really had the same prominence as their lower performing siblings.
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...mount-p13.html
John
A couple of interesting points in the article state that in 1965 the "Paramount was one of only two racing machines manufactured in America," but a quick look at the build reveals it wasn't close to completely American made parts. I do believe that you could buy a completely American made Varsity. It goes to show that despite the American aerospace and automotive manufacturing heritage, road racing bikes never really had the same prominence as their lower performing siblings.
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...mount-p13.html
John
Last edited by 70sSanO; 09-08-21 at 09:06 AM.
#49
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PowerCordz are now defunct, but like Spinergy, used PBO fiber for brake and shift cables. Maybe some could be found NOS; I think it has only been about 5 or 6 years now…
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Fwiw: An American made frame from an American boutique frame builder leaves very few options for American tubes with which to build the frame from.
Vari-Wall Therm-LX tubing is made in a foundry in Ohio. On par with Reynolds 853 IIRC.
If you are looking for carbon rims, We Are One Composites makes their rims in Kamloops B.C. So there is a non-ENVE North American option that is 50% cheaper than the MUSA, if that is important. At $450 the We Are One's are only 3½ the price of aluminum Velocity rims. As a side note: Velocity recently consolidated both US operations to Grand Rapids, Michigan.
WoundUp forks are made in Utah. When they contract build forks for other companies they attach a label that says "Advanced Composites." You've probably seen their forks. Once you know what they look like you'll see 'em everywhere...carbon legs, aluminium 1⅛ straight steerer or steel threaded, ~$80-$150 or so, depending. Great budget carbon forks, actually.
Vari-Wall Therm-LX tubing is made in a foundry in Ohio. On par with Reynolds 853 IIRC.
If you are looking for carbon rims, We Are One Composites makes their rims in Kamloops B.C. So there is a non-ENVE North American option that is 50% cheaper than the MUSA, if that is important. At $450 the We Are One's are only 3½ the price of aluminum Velocity rims. As a side note: Velocity recently consolidated both US operations to Grand Rapids, Michigan.
WoundUp forks are made in Utah. When they contract build forks for other companies they attach a label that says "Advanced Composites." You've probably seen their forks. Once you know what they look like you'll see 'em everywhere...carbon legs, aluminium 1⅛ straight steerer or steel threaded, ~$80-$150 or so, depending. Great budget carbon forks, actually.
Last edited by base2; 09-08-21 at 09:39 AM.
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