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Time Bicycles to make CF frames in USA

Old 03-27-23, 06:41 AM
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NJgreyhead
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Time Bicycles to make CF frames in USA

According to Bicycle Retailer And Industry News, Time will make carbon fiber frames in South Carolina.

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (BRAIN) — Time Bicycles will establish the nation's largest carbon fiber bicycle factory after acquiring a 140,000-square-foot building in Landrum. "This is a huge moment for the cycling industry," Time CEO Tony Karklins told BRAIN on Thursday morning. "This is what everybody needs to be doing right now. This is what people have been doing for the last three years in Europe. It makes complete sense to do it. And the moment's now. It's not getting easier to do business far away."

Carbon fiber bike detractors, please ignore. Thanks.
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Old 03-27-23, 09:28 AM
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https://www.bicycleretailer.com/indu...h#.ZCGp9XbMKUk

Itll be interesting to see a few things...

- will bikes with these frames say 'Made in USA' or will it show elsewhere?
- where will finishing take place between end of '23 and end of '24 since it wont be in the US? The article says painting will be added, but thats a plan vs reality as of now.
- why will frames made in Slovakia be finished in the US facility instead of finished locally?
- will frames made in Slovakia and finished in the US facility say 'Made in USA'?
- how exactly will the partnership with Clemson play out? Will it be with new materials not already used?
- where is Time production moving from? The European facility will stay open per the article, so what closes?...I thought Time has always been manufactured in Europe, so no Asia.
- will this help get Time back onto the Pro Tour?
- will Time still be located in Little Rock AR, or is this factory a sign that Time will move east and HQ will be in SC?
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Old 03-27-23, 09:39 AM
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I'm sure the bikes will be labeled in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission rules. (Understand there are ways to do this and still deceive/fool the customer.)

https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidanc...ng/made-in-usa
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Old 03-28-23, 01:59 PM
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Backin the old days,Time made everything in France kinda Look did.
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Old 03-28-23, 02:15 PM
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Nice video on frame building from that article:

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Old 03-28-23, 02:35 PM
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I don't care where they're made. Time has a long history of making outstanding bikes, and I fully expect that to continue, regardless of factory location. I wish I could afford one of their new ones.
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Old 03-28-23, 02:45 PM
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Originally Posted by mstateglfr
https://www.bicycleretailer.com/indu...h#.ZCGp9XbMKUk

Itll be interesting to see a few things...

- will bikes with these frames say 'Made in USA' or will it show elsewhere?
- where will finishing take place between end of '23 and end of '24 since it wont be in the US? The article says painting will be added, but thats a plan vs reality as of now.
- why will frames made in Slovakia be finished in the US facility instead of finished locally?
- will frames made in Slovakia and finished in the US facility say 'Made in USA'?
- how exactly will the partnership with Clemson play out? Will it be with new materials not already used?
- where is Time production moving from? The European facility will stay open per the article, so what closes?...I thought Time has always been manufactured in Europe, so no Asia.
- will this help get Time back onto the Pro Tour?
- will Time still be located in Little Rock AR, or is this factory a sign that Time will move east and HQ will be in SC?
Only Time will tell.
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Old 03-30-23, 04:57 PM
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Good on S Carolina and Time for doing it in USA.

also being done (not sure of the size) in Arkansas.
and in 'small' quantities elsewhere.
Mine a N. Santa Cruz Calfee.
Heard Parlee is folded.
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Old 03-31-23, 04:28 AM
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Originally Posted by FrozenBiker
Nice video on frame building from that article:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bQQqJ3r20E
Their "braided" carbon manufacture is certainly fascinating, but I'm not sure how relevant/cost-effective it still is today. It will be interesting to see if they continue with this method or switch to say pre-preg sheets.
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Old 03-31-23, 05:20 AM
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Pretty sure the quality won't be any better than if made in Taiwan or anywhere else.
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Old 03-31-23, 05:43 AM
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Originally Posted by wolfchild
Pretty sure the quality won't be any better than if made in Taiwan or anywhere else.
What is interesting is that Clemson and South Carolina have been investing a lot in composite engineering and are doing some really neat things in the automotive space. If they are open to new ideas this could really pay off for Time.
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Old 03-31-23, 03:03 PM
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Originally Posted by wolfchild
Pretty sure the quality won't be any better than if made in Taiwan or anywhere else.
Why?
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Old 03-31-23, 04:06 PM
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Originally Posted by wolfchild
Pretty sure the quality won't be any better than if made in Taiwan or anywhere else.
Disagreed when Cannondale was made in the USA it showed a much better craftsmanship regarding the welds and qualitywise like on the CAAD OPTIMO 7-8 unlike the CAAD 10 which didn't have the made in the USA label. Also a Cannondale made in China isn't better than one which was made in the USA cheaper labor means cheaper quality of crafstmanship.Taiwan is known for its savoir faire regarding bike manufacturing with Giant, Merida and Specialized. I have two Taiwainese bikes one Merida and one Giant which are both30 years old approximately and who are reliable and bulletproof.
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Old 03-31-23, 04:18 PM
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Originally Posted by wolfchild
Pretty sure the quality won't be any better than if made in Taiwan or anywhere else.
My experience with Time bicycles showed me that there's more to their bikes than just the materials. My 20yo Time is still the best-handling bike I've ever ridden. Maybe it's a geometry thing. Maybe there's something in the way they use the CF material. Talking with other Time riders with bikes newer than mine - and with enough experience to recognize subtle differences between high-end bikes - it's a pretty common feeling. My newer Storck is lighter, and is my #1 road bike right now, but its handling is a bit twitchy and nervous compared to my Time, which is quick, but very predictable and sure-footed when leaned over at speed.
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Old 03-31-23, 08:11 PM
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Originally Posted by CrimsonEclipse
Why?
It's kind of romantic that Time has their own loom and produces their own carbon fiber cloth. But keep in mind that they are going up against Toray, an industrial giant that has been pushing carbon fiber technology for decades. It looks like Time is still using wet resin. I believe the rest of the industry has moved onto dry prepreg sheets. It's one thing to cheer for the underdog, but the overdog is overdog for a reason.
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Old 04-01-23, 09:17 AM
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- Top quality frames made using the (supposedly) superior RTM process and (apparently) tight tolerances.
- No-nonsense engineering: well-made BB386 (my favorite press-fit standard), simple seatpost clamps, reliable Quickset headset, good seatpost clamping mechanism etc.
- Great aesthetics. For example, to me the green ADHX is one of the best looking frames on the market.
- Relatively uncommon Euro brand that few in your group will have
- Surprisingly reasonable prices. Their top of the line road frameset (Alpe D'Huez Disc) costs about what a mid-tier Tarmac costs.

Now being made in the US? I think I found my next bike.
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