Originally Posted by Bekologist
They've kind of perpetuated the touring bike, this is not a feint into the market for Trek.
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I think they perpetuated the touring bike for a American made product because prior to Trek I don't think any American company made a touring bike except maybe (though doubtful) Schwinn? But this did not apply to the rest of the world since Europe had been touring on bikes way back to the early 1900's and possibly late 1800's; and you could buy dozens of European including English manufactured touring bikes in America long before Trek was even concieved.