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Top 10 Cycling Brands

Top 10 Cycling Brands

It can be challenging to find a brand whose quality is ensured and is still priced reasonably. Thankfully, there are a wide range of top brands from which to obtain quality and affordable cycling gear. The list below compiles a tried and true list of brands used by both professional bikers and those who enjoy biking recreationally.

  1. Assos
  2. Cannondale
  3. Cervelo
  4. Giant
  5. Kona
  6. GT Bikes
  7. MAAP
  8. Rapha
  9. Specialized
  10. Trek

1. Assos

Assos exclusively produces cycling apparel, not bicycles. The company dates its origins back to the 1970s when it was founded by Tony Maier-Moussa. It was the first brand to create a carbon fiber frame and introduced elements of aerodynamic and synthetic materials into its apparel.

The company has become incredibly popular within the professional cycling world, and riders who wear Assos have won over 250 gold medals at the Olympics. The brand has a reputation for producing high-quality cycling apparel and continues to have a loyal fan base to this day.

2. Cannondale

Cannondale is a top cycling brand, offering bicycles for men, women, and children. They also create tandem, off road, and e-bikes. Cannondale has a reputation for luxury, and its bikes tend to be on the higher end of the price range. The company is based in Canada, and is known for its effortless gear shifting mechanisms. It was founded in the 1970s, but initially started as a pickle factory. It was not until 1983 that the brand created its first bike model.

The popularity of the brand rose heavily when in 1997, the Saeco team pronounced the bike the best on the market during the Tour de France. The brand has established itself as a dominant company within the industry, with some of its professional riders including Jack Baur, Simon Clarke, and Benjamin King.

3. Cervelo

Cervelo holds a substantial spot within the cycling industry. This brand separates itself by its mission “to design the fastest bike”. Cervelo is not a brand for beginner riders, but for cyclists who want to experience fast speeds. It is a newer company, founded in 1995 in Canada. 

The company currently offers five bike models; however, due to their high performance, each of their bikes is priced into the thousands. The brand is currently represented by three professional teams: the men's road team, the women’s road team, and the triathlon team. Some of their sponsored athletes are Michael Matthews (men's team), Floortje Mackaij (women’s team), and Soren Kragh Andersen (men’s team).

4. Giant

Giant is a manufacturer of bicycles and is currently the most popular brand of bicycles in the world. It is the most commonly demanded brand within the cycling industry. The company has a simple global goal, to ensure that cycling is made accessible for all. Today the company is based out of Taiwan, but has plants in China and the Netherlands. It is available in over 50 countries and has over 12,000 retail shops. 

The company was founded back in 1972, and was a supplier of the Schwinn company. When Schwinn switched to China factories in 1987, Giant began to create their own bicycles. The company is widely recognized as a global brand and holds its place within the pro cycling world. They have their own professional CCC team, offroad team, and triathlon team. Some of their professional riders include; Francisco Ventoso (CCC team), Greg Van Avermaet (CCC team), Tyler Weyman (Off-road team), Tristan Uhl (Off-road team), Tim Van Berkel (Triathlon team), and Sam Appleton (Triathlon team).

5. Kona

Kona is another major manufacturer of bicycles, and separates itself from the competition with its mountain bikes. Their mountain bike models have an outstanding reputation of being able to handle the most extreme downhill terrains. The company is based in the Pacific Northwest and was founded in 1988 by Dan Gerhard and Jacob Heilbron. 

Today the company produces a wide range of different bikes and models, with their bikes usually priced in the thousands. The brand supports numerous professional cyclists worldwide, including Connor Fearon, Miranda Miller, Rhys Verner, and Tristan Lemire.

6. GT Bikes

GT Bikes is a California based company and is famous for the manufacturing of three bike models: road bikes, BMX bikes, and off-road bikes. These bikes are incredibly well priced without sacrificing quality or performance. All their bikes are designed with easy suspension creating a smoother ride and more comfort.

The brand was founded back in 1972 by Richard Long and Gart Tumer and together they have helped build this brand to what it is today. It will continue to be a popular brand in the future because of its efficient and productive three bike model. Some members of their BMX team include Dan Conway, Jeff Ludwig, and Brian Kachinsky.

7.  MAAP

MAAP is a newer company focusing solely on the production of cycling apparel. Their apparel is designed to “withstand the regular abuse of cycling with a strong focus on longevity”. The brand is recognizable and has a reputation for quality and highly fashionable products. The company is also new, only being founded in 2014. At the time of the launch the brand only offered 14 products, and has now expanded to a wider range. MAAP hopes to grow in the future and distinguish its brand with its high quality cycling products.

8. Rapha

Rapha is another popular brand that only sells bicycle apparel and gear that got its start in the early 2000s. The company is based in the United Kingdom and was one of the first companies to design high performance kits and apparel without large logos. The company is on the newer side, only launching its first line of apparel in 2004. It has quickly escalated into one of the top brands within the cycling industry and hopes to grow and improve in the future with their high performance apparel.

9. Specialized

Specialized is an American manufacturing company that solely produces bicycle and bicycle parts. It has clearly established itself as one of the most popular and premier brands in the world. The company was founded in 1974 by Mike Sinyard, who sold his VW bus to start the company. 

Specialized gained great traction within the cycling industry with the release of its Stumpjumper bicycle in 1981. This bike was the first to have off road capabilities and created a new sport, off road biking. Popularity and quality of the bikes helped grow and establish Specialized as a top global brand that will continue to grow. Some of their top professional riders are Joel Anderson, Katy Curd, Kriss Kyle, and Ned Overend.

10. Trek

Trek is a major producer and manufacturer of bicycles, and is one of the most popular in the world. The company has a long reputation of durability and quality and sells its products under different name brands such as Gary Fischer, Electra Bicycle Company, Klien and Diamant Bikes. It is currently the leader in the United States for bicycle manufacturing, but has factories and plants across the world. The company was founded in 1976, in Waterloo Wisconsin. 

Trek offers a wide variety of bicycles, even several electric mountain models. It also offers an assortment of different bicycle apparel. Like Giant, the company has many professional cyclists to represent and compete on the company’s behalf. They have international men’s, women’s, and cross country teams. Some of their athletes include; Mads Pedersen (Men’s team), Richie Porte (Men’s team), Lizzie Diegnan (Women’s team), and Emily Batty (Cross country team).

Honorable Mentions

  • Castelli
  • Sportful
  • Pearl Izumi
  • Endura
  • Velocio
  • POC

FAQ

What is the best cycling brand?

The best cycling brand is Assos. Since its founding in 1976, the Switzerland-based brand has produced high-quality cycling apparel. In fact, they were even the first cycling brand to use a carbon fiber frame and focus on optimizing the aerodynamics of their clothing materials. Though they do not make bicycles or cycling parts, they are easily the top brand for cycling apparel.

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