Looking for US-made bike gear

Hi,

As part of my New Year's resolution, I have decided to to commute by
bicycle to work. To enable this, I would like to outfit my bike with
standard commuting gear, and to give something back to my adopted
country that has given me so much, I would like to purchase quality
US-made gear wherever possible. Obviously, my goal is to reward
companies that have made a commitment to quality and to preserving a
US manufacturing base.

To this end, I am soliciting advice and recommendations on the
following items: panniers/racks, front and tail lights, pumps,
tires/tubes and simple hand tools. Either posting in this newsgroup
or email will be fine. Recommendations on other items that are not
explicitly mentioned above are welcome as well.

And please, this is a very simple question from a new US citizen. I
do not wish to provoke any nationalistic flame wars nor am I implying
anything about the quality of non-US goods.

Sam

And please, this is a very simple question from a new US citizen. I
do not wish to provoke any nationalistic flame wars nor am I implying
anything about the quality of non-US goods.

Well, I'm not nationalistic and I commute. My bike is from Taiwan,
my tires are from India. My jacket is from Macau and most of the
rest of my equipment is from the PRC. My lights are from California,
I think.

My cell phone is from Finland but the provider is Mexican.

My touring frame is from Wisconsin but my road bike is French.

Some of my gear is German but I think it was unhappy with my
English saddles, etc.

If you want all-American stuff you can do it, and some of it is
the best in the world. Some of it isn't.

I'd advise you to pick and choose, I'd go with German tires, French
pumps, US frames, Japanese or Italian running gear, US lights,
Japanese fenders, English saddles, Canadian panniers, German racks,
Indian tubes, and a big helping of whatever works the best.

The fact is that it all works well.

To answer your specific questions, the best racks are Tubus (German),
the best panniers are Arkel (Canadian) or Ortleib (German).

The best lights are either SON (German) or in the case of battery
lights, Niterider (American).

The best pump is the Zefal XP (French).

The best tires are the Continental Top Touring 2000s (German/Indian).

The best simple hand tool is the Topeak Alien. Other hand tools from
Park (American) and Var (French) are excellent.

All of this is my opinion, I never claimed to promise you a rose
garden or anything else.

--

_______________________ALL AMIGA IN MY MIND_______________________
------------------"Buddy Holly, the Texas Elvis"------------------
in.edu__________

"Scrumhalf" wrote in message
om...
I would like to purchase quality
US-made gear wherever possible. Obviously, my goal is to reward
companies that have made a commitment to quality and to preserving a
US manufacturing base.

To this end, I am soliciting advice and recommendations on the
following items: panniers/racks, front and tail lights, pumps,
tires/tubes and simple hand tools.

For racks, see http://www.bgcycles.com/racks.html

For panniers, I don't know. Arkel in Canada is as close as I can come.
www.bicyclebags.com.

For lights, Niterider.

For pumps, I don't know. Have not seen a US-made pump recently. Same for
tires and tubes.

Park tools is a US company. Don't know how much of their manufacturing is
still domestic.

RichC

"Eric S. Sande" wrote in message ...

Well, I'm not nationalistic and I commute.
.......
I'd advise you to pick and choose, I'd go with German tires, French
pumps, US frames, Japanese or Italian running gear, US lights,
Japanese fenders, English saddles, Canadian panniers, German racks,
Indian tubes, and a big helping of whatever works the best.


Eric, thanks for the advice! I am not nationalistic either - the term
to me has negative connotations, but I certainly would like to, all
else being equal, pick US products. I could even be convinced to ease
up on the "all else being equal" bit in the price dept. as long as I
feel that the quality is equivalent.

Thanks to all for your inputs. They were very useful!

Sam

Rich Clark wrote:
: For panniers, I don't know. Arkel in Canada is as close as I can come.
: www.bicyclebags.com.

http://www.maddenusa.com
http://www.russi.us/listproducts.cfm?catalog=122

: Park tools is a US company. Don't know how much of their manufacturing is
: still domestic.

boy, good question. they're in a creepy little unspellable suburb of saint
paul, mn named mahtomedi. from their virtual tour it looks like at least
the work and truing stands are. ahh, and oddly enuf the spoke wrenches.
it's possible a lot of it is. dunno.
--
david reuteler

In article ,
David Reuteler wrote:

Rich Clark wrote:
: For panniers, I don't know. Arkel in Canada is as close as I can come.
: www.bicyclebags.com.

http://www.maddenusa.com
http://www.russi.us/listproducts.cfm?catalog=122

: Park tools is a US company. Don't know how much of their manufacturing is
: still domestic.

boy, good question. they're in a creepy little unspellable suburb of saint
paul, mn named mahtomedi. from their virtual tour it looks like at least
the work and truing stands are. ahh, and oddly enuf the spoke wrenches.
it's possible a lot of it is. dunno.

More investigation required: I looked in my toolbox.

I have bike-specific tools from Pedro's, Trek (!), Shimano, Park, and
Wrench Force. Only the Wrench Force cone wrench clearly indicates the
place of manufactu "MADE IN USA". It was also pretty expensive, as I
recall.

The Park Tools say "Park Tool USA", but that's not quite the same. I
don't have the original packaging for any of these.

--
Ryan Cousineau, http://www.sfu.ca/~rcousine
President, Fabrizio Mazzoleni Fan Club

"Ryan Cousineau" wrote in message
...
In article ,
David Reuteler wrote:

Rich Clark wrote:
: For panniers, I don't know. Arkel in Canada is as close as I can come.
: www.bicyclebags.com.

http://www.maddenusa.com
http://www.russi.us/listproducts.cfm?catalog=122

: Park tools is a US company. Don't know how much of their manufacturing
is
: still domestic.

boy, good question. they're in a creepy little unspellable suburb of
saint
paul, mn named mahtomedi. from their virtual tour it looks like at
least
the work and truing stands are. ahh, and oddly enuf the spoke wrenches.
it's possible a lot of it is. dunno.

More investigation required: I looked in my toolbox.

I have bike-specific tools from Pedro's, Trek (!), Shimano, Park, and
Wrench Force. Only the Wrench Force cone wrench clearly indicates the
place of manufactu "MADE IN USA". It was also pretty expensive, as I
recall.

I believe Wrench Force tools, originally sold thru Trek, were made by
Snap-on....

"Scrumhalf" wrote in message
om...
Hi,

As part of my New Year's resolution, I have decided to to commute by
bicycle to work. To enable this, I would like to outfit my bike with
standard commuting gear, and to give something back to my adopted
country that has given me so much, I would like to purchase quality
US-made gear wherever possible. Obviously, my goal is to reward
companies that have made a commitment to quality and to preserving a
US manufacturing base.

I think it would be hard to find a new bike totally made in the USA ...
frames maybe, but not so much parts. however, if you want to support the
local economy, I would suggest making friends with the local bike shop.

Are you anywhere around Boston?

C.Q.C.

(Scrumhalf) wrote in message . com...
Hi,

As part of my New Year's resolution, I have decided to to commute by
bicycle to work. To enable this, I would like to outfit my bike with
standard commuting gear, and to give something back to my adopted
country that has given me so much, I would like to purchase quality
US-made gear wherever possible. Obviously, my goal is to reward
companies that have made a commitment to quality and to preserving a
US manufacturing base.

To this end, I am soliciting advice and recommendations on the
following items: panniers/racks, front and tail lights, pumps,
tires/tubes and simple hand tools. Either posting in this newsgroup
or email will be fine. Recommendations on other items that are not
explicitly mentioned above are welcome as well.

And please, this is a very simple question from a new US citizen. I
do not wish to provoke any nationalistic flame wars nor am I implying
anything about the quality of non-US goods.

what's "US-made"? (Google "Buy American Act")
ex: a Honda made in Ohio? a Dodge minivan made in Cananda? a BMW
made in South Carolina? or is it assembled or does it matter?