ABSTRACT
The bicycle industry, like many other industries, is going through a large-scale change; but this is not new, the bicycle is constantly being developed and hence the ways of making them and selling them is constantly changing too. There is a saying that nothing is constant except change-there are likely to be disruptions to the bicycle industry for as long as people ride bicycles and others want to make a living from them. This chapter looks at the past, present and the possible future of the bicycle industry. Bicycle manufacturing, like any other manufacturing, is about return on capital investment per unit made. Bicycle assembly is a skilled job; it takes time and a high degree of skill. Accurate assembly is essential for both safety and the aesthetics of the finished bicycle. Hand-made bicycles can be made to a fraction of a millimeter in sizing for the customer; but mass-produced bicycles are usually made in three sizes— small, medium and large.
