Product Description
The production of bicycles in Britain and the United States recently suffered severe setbacks. The renowned American Schwinn brand was downgraded to the mass market by its new owners following bankruptcy, and Britain’s Raleigh came close to closure because of high debts and poor returns, saved only by a last-minute management buyout. In both cases, market share and credibility were lost to newer, more innovative firms, as well as to a recentering of the global bicycle industry in the Far East. This book reflects on such changes by setting them within a sociological and historical context. It focuses on the British bicycle industry in the interwar years and in the 1980s and the 1990s–periods characterized by modernization of production and of industrial organization, by changing relations among players in the industry, by new developments in labor relations, and by changes in interactions between markets and product design. In particular, it traces the fortunes of the Raleigh Cycle Company from its beginnings as an innovative young firm, through massive expansion of its products and markets and the assimilation of many of its competitors, into further innovation amid market contraction and management inertia, and finally into a phase of global restructuring that has transformed and reduced its role within the industry. The book explores the complex ways in which product design, production methods, industrial organization, and the cultures of cycling have interacted to create a succession of sociotechnical frames for the bicycle. At the same time, on an activist level, the book promotes a participatory politics of bicycle technology and a less car-centered view of personal transportation.
Framing Production: Technology, Culture, and Change in the British Bicycle Industry
No Comments »
Product Description
A comprehensive history of the development of the British bicycle industry from the perspective of business and economic history. Focusing on themes such as entrepreneurship, personal capitalism, and organization, technological and cultural change, the shifting fortunes of the industry are traced through the business history of one of its leading firms, Raleigh. The history of the company is then set within the context of more general trends in the industry’s evolution over three chronological periods: 1870 to 1914, 1914 to 1939, and 1939 to 1960. In addition to the story of Raleigh, the business activities of other leading bicycle firms such as Rudge-Whitworth, Hercules, BSA, J.A. Phillips and BCC, the bicycle division of Tube Investments, are examined to inform our understanding of the business evolution of the industry. The book demonstrates that the British bicycle industry was both tenacious and dynamic, typified by the personal leadership of entrepreneurs such as Frank and Harold Bowden at Raleigh.
Raleigh and the British Bicycle Industry: An Economic and Business History, 1870-1960
No Comments »
Dawes bikes have been in the cycle manufacturing business for over a 100 years now. They offer a decent collection of road cycles. The Dawes Bicycle company was founded in the year 1906 in Birmingham, UK when Charles Dawes merged business with a cycle company that was originally called Humphries & Dawes. The Humphries were in the business of manufacturing motorcycles, which they continued doing while Dawes concentrated on Road Bicycles for the Racing Cycle market. By 1926 Dawes Cycles was fully established and it focused on the production of cycles. Dawes Cycles are famous for their quality as they are hand built by an extremely skilled and experienced workforce. One of the best selling Dawes Cycles in the cycle market was the Dawes Galaxy a Road Bike which was especially built for Touring, and that is still being made today and also the Dawes Super Galaxy. The new range of Dawes Road Cycles includes the Dawes Giro range with the Giro 200, Giro 300, Giro 400 and Giro 500 and all of them differ slightly to cater to a wide range of consumers and wallets. The current best selling road cycle is the Giro 500 the frame is built from double butted alloy 6061 with carbon stays and an Alloy Steerer with carbon blades. The finishing kit of the Giro models, are all of the best quality. The Sportif Ultra Ti comes form the Dawes Sportif range, the price of the Sportif Ultra ti is similar to that of the Giro 500. The Sportif Ti is made from hi tech Titanium and built for comfort with a low weight and Sportif/Audax geometry the ride characteristics of the Sportif 3AI/2.5V are superb and give comfort that only titanium frames can give- rigid, and comfortable with carbon forks, Shimano Ultegra compact gear set and WH-RS20 wheels. So, if one is looking for high quality hand made cycles with a long tradition of comfort and service, then Dawes Road cycles are the answer which would help you in the sport of road cycling.
Dawes Bike Offerings
Dawes was one of the first companies to produce a complete single speed mountain bike, the Edge One.
Some vintage Dawes cycles have a distinctive curved seat tube that parallels the rear wheel closely, in order to reduce the wheelbase.
This British brand of bicycle has a long heritage of making great quality bikes. From tandem to folding bikes, and even BMX and freestyle bikes, Dawes has what you need. You can even convert one into a Dawes fixed gear bike (why not!). Check out these different styles and offers and figure out if Dawes is the bike brand for you. You just might find what you’re looking for.
Types of Dawes Bikes
12″ Wheel (2 1/2 to 5 yrs)
14″ Wheel (4 to 6 yrs)
16″ Wheel (5 to 7 yrs)
20″ Wheel (7 to 9 yrs)
24″ Wheel (9 to 11 yrs)
BMX – Dirtjump
BMX – Freestyle
Leisure Bikes – Comfort Bikes (26W)
Leisure Bikes – Fast City
Leisure Bikes – Folding Bikes
Leisure Bikes – Hybrids
Leisure Bikes – Traditional
Leisure Bikes – Trekking
Mountain Bikes – Front Suspension
Mountain Bikes – No Suspension (Rigid)
Mountain Bikes – Womens
Racing – Cyclo Cross
Racing – Road Racing
Racing – Single Speed
Tandems
Tourers / Audax
No Comments »
Entries (RSS)