icepick_trotsky 

Would it be possible to source and build a road bike from entirely U.S. manufactured pieces? As it might be cost prohibitive, this remains a totally theoretical exercise (for now, at least). How would you spec it?

Frameset: Plenty of choices here, especially if you include custom builders, but I think a Waterford Paramount would be the most patriotic.
Headset: Chris King
Rims: Pacenti
Hubs: White Industries
Crankset: White Industries VBC
Derailleur: Paul Components Powerglide
Seatpost: Paul Components Tall and Handsome
Brake Calipers: Paul Components Racer
Handlebars and stem: custom builder one-off?
Shifters: ???
Brake levers: ???
Spokes: ???
Cassette/cassette/cables/etc: ???

The Golden Boy 

Spokes- Wheelsmith- in Milwaukee. (Or Mequon or Germantown...)

miamijim

Bars n stem Ritchey or IBIS or Easton?

mikemowbz

Might need to be a single speed project?

I'm not sure anyone in USA manufactures cassettes as a production item...but what do I know?

Solve w/White Industries ENO SS freewheel, and save big by avoiding the need to deploy boutique CNC derailleurs...

You'd also avoid the requirement for shifters, and could throw some Paul flat-bar style levers on there for good measure.

But I imagine that's not quite what you have in mind.

I'm curious to see if others can bring to our attention any made-in-USA production cassettes, drop-bar brake levers, or shift levers. I can't think of any, either.

mikemowbz

Thomson bar and stem might do the trick there, too.

iab

Tires would be tough to source. Harder to ride without tires.

Chombi

Did you forget Phil Wood for the bottom bracket??.....
Also consider Topline for a crankset.
I thought of doing the same for one of my projects, but US components are few and far between, plus the coolest ones are so expensive.
As for Paul derialleurs, I heard that although they have all that CNC'd billet coolness, they don't work that well..... but they still cost an arm and a leg in VGC or NOS.
Some US made components can be surprisingly fugly too, which could make one reluctant to use them on builds....... Phil Wood's CHP pedals for example, looks like they were sawn off an aluminum ladder step.... Quite a contrast to their beautifully crafted BB's and hubs....almost like Phil just forced himself to come up with a pedal to fill a gap in his component group.

crank_addict

New or vintage obsolete, many from the boutique early mtn. bike era.
top of my mind....
Sun and Matrix rims
Zzip
HED
Joe's derailleur from Prototype Machining
Ringle
King
Salsa
Scott
SRP fasteners
TNT
Action-Tec ti cassette cogs and chain rings
Hi-E goodies
Sampson
anyone recall Spline Drive?
(spoke nipples..... slogan was 'twist our nipples')

Flog00

I used IRD cassettes and understood they are made in the states? I could be mistaken.

fietsbob

you are , IRD is a Brand Name of Merry Sales Imports ,

They bought the Name rights from a Small framemaker of MTB's that was in Selma Oregon. Interloc ..

White industries in Petaluma Makes freewheels, but just 1 or 2 'speed' ..

You cannot make more than a single speed / Fixie with US components , on a Hand Made Frame..

90's a few Boutique CNC machined derailleurs were made ..

Oldguyonoldbike

Where are Velo Orange components made?

Chombi

I would not be surprised if a lot are made in Asia, mostly China. As most other things are these days. Only way they can sell them for the prices they ask for, I guess.

Reynolds 

Specialized?

norskagent

China renamed a city to "usa" just to help with your quest.

Italuminium

yes, yes, an Independent Fabrication/@fthewelder/Rock Lobster single speed with all-Paul components (gotta love those new mechanical disk brakes!), velocity rims, wheelsmith spokes, custom @rhm saddle, CK headset and Phil Wood bb...

Where do I sign up?


I know this is C&V, but that's a godawfully sexy brake.

The Golden Boy 

HOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Chombi

IIRC, Specialized Turbos were made in Japan when they first came out in the 80's I'm 100% sure that is not the case anymore. Most likely Thailand where a lot of tires are made these days.

RobE30

I have one of those Joe's rear derailleurs. Very cool piece. I also have an old Joe Murray headset that's made in the USA that is incredibly burly looking. I'm always scouring yard sales/flea markets/etc for cool old MTB bits

easyupbug 

What I have gotten from them were from Taiwan, not China but I would expect some is from China.

masi61

How about a nice, polished silver "Winners" roller clutch 8 speed Uniglide cassette hubset? Might be nice with some Velocity A23 rims.

crank_addict

All righty now.... a little plug for a company making water bottles.
clean-bottle-custom

Had two defective leakers where they dribbled onto the bike frame. I contacted them, they acknowledged of a small defect batch, later discovered but that got out. They PROMPTLY sent me replacements. 1st class company and nice product. Learned they were on Shark Tank.

mtnbke

I thought about going to try the USA build project. It will probably be easier than most of us think:

Ultimate Listing: Mountain Bike Parts Made In America

I've got Cannondale frames, a Joe's rear derailleur, Zinn/High Sierra crank, Phil Wood BB, Thomson seatpost. This build scares me though. The price of a Joe's, Proshift, Precision, or Paul front derailleur has gotten crazy. A Boone Titanium Cassette will be expensive. The Phil Wood rear cassette hub will be expensive.

Just thinking about this build made me realize how expensive it would be. I sent my Joe's rear derailleur to Pastor Bob to get a ride report on just how bad it actually shifts. I didn't want it around tempting me into throwing money at trying to pull this off. I truly hope I never try. There are better ways to spend money than chasing a USA build.

RobbieTunes

Vuelta, some made in SC

RobbieTunes

I think I'd just buy a Stanridge Speed frame and sponsor a CNC technician from KCNC for citizenship.

mtnbke

Categorically not true!

There were a variety of people making high zoot USA made titanium cassettes back in the day.

Boone Titanium has a great story:

About Us : Custom Made Rings : Titanium Engagement Ring : Boone Titanium Rings

They made a ton of titanium goodies and were a staple of BikePro.com back in the day:
Freewheels and Cassettes / Catalog - Bicycle Parts at discount prices / the Buyer's Guide / Bicycle Parts at their finest! / Professional Bicycle Source / Bike Pro

For a cassette that was almost two bills in the early 90s I'll bet you can pay less than $50 at a bike swap if you can find one. Nobody knows what a Boone Ti Cassette actually is.

The point is the same, you absolutely CAN make a 7/8 speed bike with derailleurs on an al USA made build, frame included. Heck, you can even manage USA made frame tubing (aluminum or steel). Also Bryan Heu made some indexing thumb shifters, I think. A USA build , it can be done.