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Environmental and Social impact of bicycle goods
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? I'm not trying to spark some kind of anti or pro global market debate or anything along those lines. I'm more curious if faced with a choice would "enthusiasts" pay 15%-20% more for a US produced product made with environmentally safe methods. I look at a company like Chris King and say yes, but then I think has a king headset become more of a status symbol? How many people purchase a king headset or hubs based on their manufacturing process? I'm personally a big fan of King components for several reasons including performance, durability, manufacturing process and their continued support of trail building efforts. I know my question is entrenched in a lot more then just a persons recreational activities and more in the way of American life. Thanks Chris |
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#2
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Environmental and Social impact of bicycle goods
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? I'm not trying to spark some kind of anti or pro global market debate or anything along those lines. I'm more curious if faced with a choice would "enthusiasts" pay 15%-20% more for a US produced product made with environmentally safe methods. I look at a company like Chris King and say yes, but then I think has a king headset become more of a status symbol? How many people purchase a king headset or hubs based on their manufacturing process? I'm personally a big fan of King components for several reasons including performance, durability, manufacturing process and their continued support of trail building efforts. Well, unless you are talking specifically about products that are *significantly* better than their foreign-made competition, (e.g. King headsets), I don't think that you're likely to get enough sales at a 15-20% premium to survive in today's market for very long. Time and time again American consumers have proven their undying loyalty to the lowest price, regardless of any implications outside of the impact on their wallet. A prime example of that would be Wal Mart. |
#3
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Environmental and Social impact of bicycle goods
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. |
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