Trek
History and Articles
Trek
first started making bicycle frames in 1976. Trek made a total of 805
frames that first year (according to a 2008 article in the New York
Times). Two years later they started offering complete bicycles in addition
to the bare frames.
All of the early frames were silver brazed, a more costly
and exacting process than using brass brazing rods. Silver brazing allows
the joining of the tubes at lower temperatures, which better maintains
the strength of the frame tubing. Silver brazing is specified in the
1976 and 1978 catalogs. It is is not specifically mentioned in the 1982
catalog. The 1984 catalog describes brass and silver brazing.
Trek domestic bike production figures for late 1980
through 1986 were calculated from Trek's paper serial number list for
this period. The results are presented on the Trek Bike Production by Model, Late 1980 through 1986 page.
In recent years Trek, as has the industry in general,
has moved away from steel frames in favor of aluminum and composite
materials. However, Trek still offers a steel-framed touring bicycle,
the model 520, to meet the needs of their customers who know and prefer
the functionality of a steel bike.
In the early 1990s Trek produced a line of entry-level
mountain bikes and kids bikes under the Jazz label. The graphics on
the bikes say "Jazz by Trek". The bikes were made in Taiwan.
The models included: "Latitude"; "Streetlife"; "Calipso";
"Cruiser Classic"; "Bold Moves"; Dazzle"; "Flipside";
"Inferno"; "Rocket"; "Clash"; "Synthesis";
"Vertical"; "Wizard"; "Zig-Zag"; and "Voltage".
A Jazz
by Trek catalog from 1993 is included on the brochures page.
Over time, Trek has expanded its domain by purchasing
other bicycle manufacturers. These include Bontrager, Gary Fisher, Klein
and LeMond. Brochures from these brands are here.
Trek has created a interesting and well-written history
entitled "A Trek through Time – The History of Trek Bicycles".
It appeared on the Trek Dealer website in February of 2002. The
five page article, in PDF format, is here.
An interesting presentation of the business history
of Trek was made by Richard A. Burke, Chairman and CEO of Trek, in October
of 2000. The presentation was made as part of "Profiles of American
Enterprise" at the University of Colorado. The link to this video
is no nonger working. If you know a link to this presentation, please
contact me (skip@skipechert.com).
Trek's Richard Burke was interviewed by Leigh
Buchanan of Inc.com. Her article, "Trek's
Burke: How I did it", dated August 2006, appeared on Reuters.com.
Our thanks to Reuters for permission to reproduce the
article.
The Museum
of Mountain Bike Art & Technology offers an excellent history
of Trek and the mountain bikes it produced.
Mr. Richard Burke died in 2008. His son, John Burke,
is now CEO of the company.
Articles
Here are references, suggested by Larry Osborn, that
contain Trek historical information. Those underlined are links to PDF
files of the articles.
These articles are copyrighted by their publishers.
Our thanks to the publishers for their use here.
"Trek:
A Giant is Growing in the Midwest" by Gary Fisher, in Bicycling!,
February 1978.
"Choosing a $210-$250 Bicycle", Bicycling,
April 1979, 9 pages, comparison test of 17 bicycles include Trek TX
302.
"Road
Test - Trek 714" in Bicycling, November/December 1979 pp
59-60.
"Workshop
- All about Loaded Touring Bikes" in Bicycling, June 1983 (Includes
a review of the Trek 720).
"Trek
728 - Hurray! True Classic Touring Bikes are Made in Wisconsin"
in Bicycling, January/February 1982 pp 87-90.
"Trek is Going Strong", Bicycling,
March 1985, 4 pages, 3 color photos, 1 B/W photo.
"Technical
Edge - Trek 520" in Bicycling, April 1985, pages 98 - 112.
"Trek
Technology Central" by Ted Costantino in Bicycle Guide,
August 1986.
"Trek
520" in Bicycling, April 1988, pages 194, 199, 200.
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*Trek is a trademark
of Trek Bicycle Corporation, Waterloo, WI
All copyrights in
the TREK brochures, pricelists, owner's manuals and photographs displayed
on this website are the sole property of Trek Bicycle Corporation, Waterloo,
Wisconsin.
All materials in
this site not copyrighted by others are Copyright © 2001-2014 Skip
Echert Web Associates, All rights reserved.
