Trek bicycles began in a small barn in Wisconsin. Even while supplying Lance Armstrong and selling all over the world, they have stayed true to their roots.

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Home: Trek Bicycles – The Bike that won the Tour de France

Trek Bicycles– The Bike that won the Tour de France

Trek Bicycles started in 1976 in an old barn in Waterloo, Wisconsin. 5 employees hand-crafted steel framesets, adopting a European brazed style with American verve. The frame quickly grew in demand due to its high quality and the Made in America seal (up to then, bicycle manufacturers were dominated by the Europeans and Japanese.) Word of mouth turned Trek into a multi-million dollar sensation, and in 1980 a new factory was built a few blocks from the old barn. The larger facility allowed them to begin building fully assembled road bikes.

Trek Mountain Bikes

In the early 1980’s, Trek became aware of a phenomenon on the West Coast, where cyclists hit the local hills and mountains with road bikes modified with everything from balloon tires to motorcycle parts. In 1983, the company shipped off their prototype “mountain bike” to race alongside with Gary Fisher’s Clunker bikes. It successfully held up, and by the end of the decade, mountain bikes were Trek’s primary business.

Taking a chance: Lance Armstrong

The late 1980’s to mid 1990’s saw Trek experimenting with aluminum and then carbon fiber frames, innovations that would lead to lighter and faster road and mountain bikes. However, with sales flat by 1995, Trek knew they had to increase sales in Europe and Asia, where the cycling culture is much more dominate. Joining the Tour de France, every year they have supplied Lance Armstrong with their advanced carbon fiber road bikes.

Product Line

Today, Trek sells a huge variety of road bikes (the same used by Lance), mountain bikes, bicycles specially made for women, urban, folding, tandem and children’s bikes.

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