2010 SSCXWC and Cyclocross in Seattle

My cousin Ryan after the race

I spent the last full day of my trip to Seattle with family. I took my brother to a cyclocross race to watch my cousin compete in the Cat 3 race before the Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships in Kent, Washington.

Pits

The weather had been rainy, but cleared up just in time for racing to start.

Junior Racing

The first to race were the kids. I love seeing kids out there racing around on drop bars. Some kids has some pretty expensive rigs.

A competitor with her LaCruz

Most of the competitors were men, but several women were in the field. The women race at the same time the men do, but their placing is calculated separately.

Naughty Nurse

Lots of costumes on display.

"And they're off!"

Rich races Single Speed

Ryan slogs through the muck

Over the bumps

In decline

Slicing though the puddle

A Climbing Bike

Mud Flats

Ryan digs into a turn

What's the over under?

Dressed to kill

When will we get this in Taiwan?

Chinese Bikes... Made In Taiwan? Misleading Labels and Substandard Equipment

The Taipei Times is reporting that a number of bicycles and parts labeled "Made In Taiwan" are actually produced in China using substandard parts.

"Consumers often think they are buying a Taiwan-made product and only after they bring the product home and find that it is substandard do they realize that the main components are made in China..."

Taiwanese cooperation with manufacturing facilities in China is nothing new. With expanded trade and easing of regulations, there will surely be more of this type of "cross pollination". The government in many cases seems to even be treating economic partnerships between Chinese and Taiwanese companies as something "local".

I see a danger here in Taiwan degrading its brand as a whole.

Over the past 30 years Taiwan has become a well respected name in manufacturing. Over the past decade Taiwan's bicycle manufacturing industry has shed the stigma as an "Asian producer", and the name "Taiwan" has become synonymous with quality. Part of that quality stems from a system that promotes political and economic clarity.

Taiwan needs to protect its brand and strengthen rules that protect consumers from poorly made and potentially dangerous Chinese goods that sully Taiwan's good name.

Also:

The professional cyclist, George Bennett, blogs on his Taiwan Bike Festival experience.