I do my best to NOT buy bikes made in China or Taiwan for a number of reasons. Most bike companies from the US and Europe have moved most of their production to Asia except the ones mentioned above and some boutique mfg's. It's funny how prices for some of these brands who have moved production to asia (Colnago, Cervelo, etc.) have remained very high, and it's even more shocking how many people believe the "romance" that surrounds how these bikes are made, when in reality many are probably made in factories right along side those cheap eBay and BD CF frames.

What really pisses me off is how manufacturers try to deceive consumers by putting things like "designed in the USA" or similar in unremoveable paint, under the clear coat, while the "Made in China" sticker on the head-tube is a VERY easy to remove EZ-Peel sticker with the adhesion of a post-it note. I wonder why?

I would love to see the following rule: If you make your bike in China or Taiwan, you have to print "Made in China" or "Made in Taiwan" UNDER THE FRICKIN' CLEAR COAT, in large, easy to read letters. You know, so the owners can show it off "with pride". Also, I wonder why Cannondale, once the biggest flag-waver company around, doesn't show their "pride" in 2011 and emblazon their bikes, no longer made in the USA, with "Handmade in Taiwan" or "Made in China"? Say it loud and proud! Right?

Question for the owners of Chinese or Taiwanese made bikes: do you peel off the "Made in China" or "Made in Taiwan" sticker before or after you remove the dork disk and reflectors? I'm guessing before.


Cheers!