This was reported in the Italian Cycling Journal site earlier:
The end of an era has arrived at Cannondale. All aluminum frame manufacturing has ceased in Bedford, Pennsylvania, and now the auction of equipment will take place on December 9, 2010
It was in late 1996 when Saeco, international maker of pump-driven espresso and cappuccino machines, engaged Cannondale to sponsor its Italian-based Team Saeco professional cycling team. Cannondale became the first U.S. bicycle maker to supply frames under its own name to a European professional team.
The 1997 cycling season became very special for Cannondale. Mario Cipollini won five stages in the Giro d’Italia, and also won two stages at the Tour de France where he also wore the yellow leader’s jersey for four days. And from there...the rest is part of cycling history.
It's always a bit sad to see great brands sending their product manufacturing to China. But if consumers are not prepared to pay a premium to keep the process at home then it's an inevitable consequence.
.
.
I guess that makes both Jim and Andrew's bikes with their 'Made in the USA' stickers into collectors items. Well... maybe one day anyway.
1 comment:
The Made in USA has not applied to a lot of Cannondale's bikes for years. It is the same thign that lts Orbea be 'made in Spain' though all their frames are from Taiwan. (Same with made in Aust). the laws refer to how much is made, and this might be % of completed product but I think is usually % of value. So if you buy cheap in Asia but add 60% of the value (ie cost) in the US it is made in USA. (But I don't know how much value you have to add...)
I think my 'dale has the made in USA sticker, but on the forks and seat tube are tiny made in China stickers. I have even heard a salesperson at BSC telling a punter that my very model was actually made in the USA so was better. Didn't have a clue (he was genuine, not lying.) Also in terms of premium, for mass prod. you are gaining little. Taiwan is state of the art for this stuff and there are very few not made there outside of a tiny number of very top end premium frames. (But even then many of the parts would be manufactured in Asia, Mavic for example.)
Post a Comment