Giant Manufacturing Co was founded in 1972, and claims to be the “world’s” largest bicycle manufacturer.With headquarters in Taiwan, Giant have manufacturing plants not only as you would expect in China but also the Netherlands that produce Giant Road Bikes.Giant originally came into being as an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) under brand names like Nishiki and Schwinn. Only eight years after Giant Manufacturing Co. Ltd. commenced, it rocketed to become the biggest bicycle manufacturer in Taiwan. With 20 years of experience under it’s belt Giant has a reach into many of the world’s developed countries like the USA, Japan, Canada, Australia, Holland and China.
Back in 1996 that Giant road bikes built their European operations centre in the Netherlands. By the end of the 90′s, Giant Manufacturing Co. Ltd. was manufacturing a lot more than 2.8 million bikeson every year. By 2002 the figures for production had doubled to 4.7 million bikes in just one year. You can see how Giant rose in popularity so quickly.
Giant started releasing accessories in the UK, the usual things like bike pumps and clothing. In 2007, the name Giant was a world-renowned brand and was heralded as the biggest high quality bicycle manufacturer in the world. Giant Manufacturing Co. Ltd. currently provides bikes to professional racing teams all over the world, including the T-mobile road racing and MTB teams. Comparing Ginat to the bigger players in the road cycling industry, Giant may not have that many years of experience – however, with innovation and sheer determination, Giant overcame the hurdles to grow as one of the biggest players in road bike manufacturing.
Timeline
- 1972 – Establishes Giant Manufacturing Co. Ltd. in Taiwan
- 1980 – Becomes Taiwan’s Largest Bicycle Manufacturer
- 1981 – Establishes Giant Sales Company, Taiwan
- 1986 – Establishes Giant Europe BV, Netherlands
- 1987 – Establishes Giant Bicycle Inc., USA
- 1989 – Establishes Giant Company Ltd., Japan
- 1991 – Establishes Giant Bicycle Co., Canada, Inc.
- 1991 – Establishes Giant Bicycles PTY Ltd., Australia
- 1992 – Establishes Giant Co. Ltd., China
- 1994 – Goes Public on Taiwan Stock Exchange
Taiwan Stock ExchangeThe Taiwan Stock Exchange Corporation is a financial institution, located in Taipei 101, in Taipei, Taiwan. The TSEC was established in 1961 and began operating as a stock exchange on 9 February, 1962…(TWSE Taiwan Stock Exchange
- 1996 – Establishes European Factory, Netherlands.
- 1997 – Establishes Chuansin Metal Products (Kunshan) Co. Ltd., China
- 1998 – Manufactures 2,840,000 bicycles in a single year
- 1998 – Acquires 30% share of Hodaka in Japan
- 2002 – Manufactures 4,730,000 bicycles in a single year
- 2006 – Giant released accessories into the UK such as pumps, little apparel and luggage.
- 2007 – Giant becomes the world’s largest quality cycle manufacturer
The Taiwan Stock Exchange Corporation is a financial institution, located in Taipei 101, in Taipei, Taiwan. The TSEC was established in 1961 and began operating as a stock exchange on 9 February, 1962…: 9921)
Giant makes a whole range of bike to suit all sports and leisure persuits and are categorized into 7 kinds:
- Comfort bicycles
- Family bicycles
- Indoor fitness bikes
- Mountain bikes
- Mode bikes
- Road bicycles;and
- Specialty bicycles
In 2006, Giant introduced the TCR Advanced road bicycle frame, a high end carbon fiber
Carbon fiber.
Carbon fiber is a man made material consisting of extremely thin fibers about 0.005-010 mm in diameter and composed mostly of carbon atoms. (The carbon atoms are bonded together in microscopic crystals that are more or less aligned parallel to the long axis of the fiber)
The TCR racing design which often (but not always) integrates the seatpost and frame together as a single unit. Proponents of this design point to weight savings and increased stiffness, at the expense of being able to fit the bicycle to a different rider in the future. Giant introduced the compact geometry frame and altered the specific requirements to allow for a sloping top tube. They also introduced its Maestro suspension in 2006. Maestro Suspension, according to Giant, is specifically designed to deliver an efficient rear suspension power transfer.
The Racing Bike
A racing bicycle, commonly known as a road bike, is a bicycle designed for road cycling according to the rules of the Union Cycliste Internationale (a cycling association that oversees competitive cycling events internationally). The UCI rules were altered in 1934 to exclude recumbent bicycles.
When you’re into the sport of road cycling, Giant road bikes, offer quality (Shimano components, Ultegra, Dura-ace) and innovation at an affordable price.
The historic models of Giant road bikes include the TCR, TCR Alliance, TRC Advanced, Defy, FCR, Trinity, Affinity and the new 2010 Rabobank TCD Advanced.