Facts About High End Racing Bike Manufacturers

Ever wanted to know how the highest end racing bike makers got where they are now? Here's a short history and some basic information about them to help you.

Colnago

Colnago is an Italian company that has has been making road racing bicycles of high quality and reliability since the mid-1950s. Located near Milano, this bicycle manufacturer started out small, but has produced a number of extremely famous cycles over the years. They're currently known for high end steel bicycles, as well as other materials like carbon fiber, aluminum, and titanium frames. You'll know Colnago by their signature "clubs" trademark and the quality bikes they produce.

This manufacturer keeps on producing great racing bike frames, and has been cultivating an image that stresses its quality, eye catching look, and Italian heritage. This contrasts strongly with the trend followed by many other makers of sending production to Taiwan, China, and other Asian countries.

Colnago has kept up their quality steel bicycle lines since the 1980s, branching out into other materials, too. The company has worked in conjunction with Ferrari, for instance, to develop new technologies for using carbon fibers. There are have also been several aluminum and titanium bicycle frames from Colnago. Currently, the flagship frames made by this company - the C40 and C50 - are made from carbon fiber.

This company stresses the fact that they have only one production line, producing professional and casual bicycles on the same line, with the same employees. In fact, the entire frame set range was produced at the Cambiago factory until 2005.

Cervelo

Cervelo is relatively new on the bicycle manufacturing scene - dating only from the mid 1990s. However, while this manufacturer doesn't have the long history that some of the other companies have to offer, it does have some great frames. Over the years, they've made top bikes for time trials, triathlons, and many other events, and have developed a real following.

This relatively small company doesn't have the resources to support athletes and teams in the same ways as a large one. That means that when someone chooses Cervelo over another sponsor, it's because they know the product and the company are truly great. These athletes are giving up possible benefits from a large company for the product they know they can trust.

Initial market acceptance of Cervelo's two road and two time trial and triathlon bikes was slow - they were too close to the leading edge. By 2000, however, due to anticipation and planning for the new rules of the International Cycling Union, Cervelo's popularity began to soar. Competitors had to completely redesign their bikes, while this company was able to keep on with the lines they'd been working on all along. In 2003, Cervelo became the bike supplier for Team CSC, which was then the fourteenth ranked team in the world, and is now the world's number one pro cycling team.

Unlike many companies that have grown this quickly, Cervelo is still owned by the two men who founded it. They've chosen this because they don't want to have to answer to shareholders and investment companies - instead, they'd rather focus on the quality of their bikes.

Bianchi

Bianchi is a major manufacturer of bicycles based in Italy. Founded in 1885, this company has been producing bicycles ever since, as well as producing cars and motorcycles for part of the twentieth century. Over all, Bianchi is considered one of the biggest and best names in racing bikes. Their signature color and famous high level of quality has made them well known.

Bikes sold in the United States under this brand are produced by Bianchi USA. This US division makes bicycles for the American market only. The Reparto Corse range are made in Italy and sent to the US, but are specially created for the US market. Other bikes sold through Bianchi USA are made in Taiwan. American models other than Reparto Corse are not available in other countries.