Re: [CR]MIYATA featured in "Italy vs. Japan" 1982

(Example: Framebuilding)

Comment: DomainKeys? See http://antispam.yahoo.com/domainkeys
Date: Thu, 28 Apr 2005 13:45:14 -0700 (PDT)
From: "brad stockwell" <brdstockwell@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [CR]MIYATA featured in "Italy vs. Japan" 1982
To: brad stockwell <brdstockwell@yahoo.com>, CR List <ClassicRendezvous@bikelist.org>
In-Reply-To: <20050427220658.4724.qmail@web31508.mail.mud.yahoo.com>


Miyata Fans:

Two more data points about the national origin of the Miyata Team bike -- them I'm bailing out!

In July of 1982, Bicycling! published an article titled "Italy vs. Japan" in which the Miyata Team was among the Japanese bikes (it was Guerciotti Jet, Rossin Record, De Rosa Super Prestige vs. Fuji Pro, San Rensho, and Miyata Team). On page 83 John Schubert says "Miyata has elbowed into the European professional racing scene more successfully than any other Japanese maker. The company considers the racing experience so valuable that every year Miyata's plant manager from Japan, Tom Numa, spends several months in Europe following the team."

On page 4 of the 1984 Miyata catalog that Rich Pinder posted on 4/26, Miyata says: "MIYATA bicycles must meet the stringent demands of their own testing facilities, as well as the challenges of the European professional racing circuit. No Japanese bicycle had met the standards of European racing until MIYATA."

Niether of the above two items prove the frames were made in Japan. They are simply evidence that Miyata and their henchmen at Bicycling! were implying that to be the case.

I understand Steven's comment that the Tour team sponsor was Koga Miyata, a Dutch concern. I also acknowledge Chuck's comment that tour bikes are not necessarily what they are painted to be -- in which case, as Jesse Jackson once exclaimed while guest-hosting Saturday Night Live, "the point is MOOT!"

Brad Stockwell Palo Alto

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