Chris wrote:

There's something that I have been thinking about for quite sometime now.

I've been working in the bicycle industry for just over ten years now, and
like everything else I see the shift of US produced bicycle goods to places
like China, Taiwan and Mexico.

We all understand why production is moving away from here, lower wages, lack
of environmental restrictions, etc. It all comes down to cheaper production.

Ok, but at what costs? Do or should cyclists and other outdoor enthusiasts
care more about where and how there goods are produced? Especially the
effects the production cycle and extra transportation required to get the
goods here has on the environment? Should that be a concern?

That probably depends on what kind of bike you want. I don't know about
the US, but here in Germany you can get 100 euro made-in-china bikes in
a supermarket which may last you 2 or 3 years. Or you spend 800 euro on
a nice brand name bike from a German or Dutch manufacturer that lasts
you a life time. The latter will have added safety, added comfort and
added style, too.

The problem is that many of the factors that distinguish a quality bike
from a cheap import are not immediately obvious, certainly for a lay
person but sometimes even for a professional. Corrosion resistance is
proven only after running a bike through several winters on salty roads.
This is were a good bike shop has the advantage over the supermarket:
The attendant can recommend a bike meeting the needs and wallet of a
customer, and advise on advantages and disadvantages of the various
solutions. This is a position of trust, of course, which is easily
abused.