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Specialized Bicycle Components

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Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc.
Company typePrivate
IndustryBicycles
Founded1974
Headquarters
Morgan Hill, California
,
USA
Key people
Mike Sinyard, CEO
ProductsBicycle and Related Components
RevenueUS$200,000,000 (est.) (2000)[1]
Number of employees
300 (2002)[1]
Websitewww.specialized.com

Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc., more commonly known simply as Specialized, is a major American brand of bicycles and related products. It was founded in 1974 by Mike Sinyard and is based in Morgan Hill, California.

History

Specialized was founded in 1974 by Mike Sinyard,[2] a cycling enthusiast who sold his Volkswagen Bus for $1,500 to fund a cycle tour of Europe, where he bought handlebars and stems made by Cinelli to take back to the US.[3][4][5] Sinyard started out importing Italian bike components that were difficult to find in the United States,[2] but the company began to produce its own bike parts by 1976, starting with the Specialized Touring Tire.[4] In 1979, the company started to produce the Allez, a road bike, in Japan.[6] Specialized introduced the first major production mountain bike in the world, the Stumpjumper, in 1981. This was actually a Fisher/Ritchey Mountain bike that Mike had bought, taken over to Taiwan and copied exactly [2][7] Specialized continues to produce the Stumpjumper, which—like mountain bikes in general—has evolved significantly since 1981 and now comes in full suspension and hardtail options.[8] An original Stumpjumper is displayed in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.[4][9] In 1989, Specialized introduced the Epic, the world's first (apart from Trek) production carbon fibre mountain bike.[6]

In the early 1990s, Specialized introduced the Globe line of urban bikes. The line was the subject of a major relaunch in 2009,[10] which sees Globe become its own distinct brand.[11]

A 2008 Specialized Stumpjumper with full suspension
A 2008 Specialized S-Works Transition carbon Triathlon/Time Trial bike.

In 1995, Specialized launched the Full Force brand.[12] Full Force was a lower-end mountain bike brand sold through sports stores and discount retailers such as Costco.[4] The move angered some Specialized dealers. In 1996, Specialized withdrew the Full Force line and Mike Sinyard wrote a letter of apology to dealers.[4][13] By the end of 1996, Specialized had lost 30% of its bike shop sales and, according to Sinyard, "came within a few hundred dollars of declaring bankruptcy".[4]

In 2001, Merida Bikes of Taiwan bought 19 per cent of Specialized for a reported US$30 million. Mike Sinyard remained majority owner and CEO of the company.[14][15] Specialized is now one of the largest bicycle brands, just below Trek Bicycle Corporation and Giant Bicycles.[16]

Use

Many riders in recent years have used Specialized bicycles in the North American and European professional cycling circuits. In 2010, Specialized is the bike supplier to Team Saxo Bank and Team Astana on the UCI ProTour, the latter deal being announced in January 2010 as a result of team leader Alberto Contador's demands.[17] Specialized has previously supplied teams including Quick Step and Festina.[17][18] Until 2008 the disbanded Team Gerolsteiner was using Specialized. Specialized bikes also sponsors the University of Georgia and Colorado State University Collegiate Cycling. Three-time world downhill champion, Sam Hill, Australian rider rides for Monster Energy Specialized.

On October 17, 2010 Specialized announced a tie up with Team Columbia-HTC for 2011 and beyond. Specialized will supply the team‘s frames, forks, and helmets. The men will race the S-Works Tarmac for most road races, the S-Works Roubaix for cobbled classics, as well as the new Venge and the Shiv TT in time trials. The all-new S-Works Prevail and TT3 helmets will protect the riders in road and TT applications, respectively. The women will race on Amira road bikes and Shiv TT bikes for the time trials.

Specialized also has various athletes in various disciplines of cycling utilizing their equipment. Martin Sörderström,[19] a Swedish professional mountain biker and winner of the 2010 Eurobike Dirt Jump Contest, utilizes the less traditional P.Bike series from Specialized in free ride mountain bike events.[20]

Team Gerolsteiner riders (right) with Specialized bikes and gear
Specialized bikes of the Quick Step team, Tour of California, February 2007

Specialized sponsor the following cycle teams:

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Editnotices

Talk page notices

Miscellaneous

Specialized sponsor the following riders:

Bicycle lines

Major lines in production include:

Mountain bikes
Epic, Era, Stumpjumper, Safire, Fate, Camber, Myka, Enduro, SX, Demo, Status, Carve, Rockhopper, Hardrock, Jett, Pitch
Road bikes
Tarmac, Venge, Amira, Shiv, Roubaix, Ruby, Secteur, Allez, Dolce, Langster
Cyclocross
Crux, Tricross
Hybrid/commuter/touring
Crossroads, Crosstrail, Expedition, Sirrus, Vita, Source
Dirt/street
P series
childrens
Hotrock boys, Hotrock girls

References

  1. ^ a b "Specialized Bicycle Components Inc". FundingUniverse.com. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
  2. ^ a b c "Reinventing the wheel". The Economist. 324 (7770): 61–62. 1992-08-01.
  3. ^ Clarke, Jody (2009-09-18). "Mike Sinyard: Riding the mountain bike craze to a fortune". Moneyweek. Retrieved 2009-09-25.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Overfelt, Maggie (2008-05-20). "King of the mountain bike". CNN Money. Retrieved 2009-09-25.
  5. ^ "Specialized" (PDF). Cool Brands. 2008/09. p. 120. Retrieved 2009-09-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) [dead link]
  6. ^ a b Rogers, Seb (23 October 2010). "Interview: Specialized founder Mike Sinyard". What Mountain Bike. Retrieved 23 October 2010.
  7. ^ Ruibal, Sal (2006-03-22). "Still shredding after all these years". USA Today. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
  8. ^ Rogers, Seb. "Specialized Bicycles Stumpjumper Comp HT (09)". BikeRadar. Retrieved 2009-09-27.
  9. ^ Eng, Sherri (1994-09-26). "Mountain bike founders still cycling". Calgary Herald. p. C1. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  10. ^ Boulanger, Gary (2009-09-16). "Specialized relaunch Globe urban brand". BikeRadar. Retrieved 2009-09-29.
  11. ^ Booth, Philip (2009-06-12). "Tech features: Specialized launches Globe brand". Road Bike Action Magazine. Retrieved 2009-09-29.
  12. ^ Boulanger, Gary (2008-03-20). "Cannondale purchase raises ire of Specialized founder". BikeRadar. Retrieved 2009-09-27.
  13. ^ Kaufman, Steve (1996-12-26). "Mountain-bike innovator now rolling with the punches Specialized has matured with founder". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2009-09-27.
  14. ^ "Merida buys not 49% but 19% of Specialized". Bike Europe. 2001-08-07. Retrieved 2009-09-27.
  15. ^ "Correction: Merida Buys 49% of Specialized". Bike Europe. 2001-08-08. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
  16. ^ Mesure, Susie (5 July 2009). "Bicycle races: Manufacturers struggle to keep up with the boom". The Independent. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  17. ^ a b c Arthur, David (4 January 2010). "Astana to ride Specialized bicycles". Road Cycling UK. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
  18. ^ Brown, Gregor (8 January 2007). "Specialized answers the call: Quick-Step's new 2007 ride". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
  19. ^ "Biography - Martin Sörderström". Retrieved 2011-09-10.
  20. ^ Rasoulution Communication Agency (January 21, 2011). "Martin Soderstrom joins Specialized Freeride Team for 2011". PinkBike.com. Retrieved 2011-09-10.
  21. ^ "Specialized and Team Saxo Bank join forces". Specialized Bicycle Components. 2008-09-01. Retrieved 2009-09-29.
  22. ^ "Matt Hunter". Specialized Bicycle Components. Retrieved 2009-09-27.
  23. ^ "Darren Berrecloth". Specialized Bicycle Components. Retrieved 2009-09-27.
  24. ^ "Lene Byberg". Specialized Bicycle Components. Retrieved 2009-09-27.
  25. ^ "Sam Hill". Specialized Bicycle Components. Retrieved 2009-09-27.
  26. ^ "Dan Hugo". Specialized Bicycle Components. Retrieved 2009-09-27.
  27. ^ "Chris McCormack". Specialized Bicycle Components. Retrieved 2009-09-27.
  28. ^ "Ned Overend". Specialized Bicycle Components. Retrieved 2009-09-27.
  29. ^ "Christoph Sauser". Specialized Bicycle Components. Retrieved 2009-09-27.
  30. ^ "Burry Stander". Specialized Bicycle Components. Retrieved 2009-09-27.
  31. ^ "Conrad Stoltz". Specialized Bicycle Components. Retrieved 2009-09-27.
  32. ^ "Christoph Strasser". Specialized Bicycle Components.

Further reading

  • Riedy, Mark (2006). Stumpjumper: 25 Years of Mountain Biking. Halcottsville, NY: Breakaway Books. ISBN 1-891369-63-6.

External links

Template:Mountain Biking in the United States

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