Australian manufactured bike - kid's in particular - any about?

Russell Wyatt

Hi

I'm looking to buy a kid's bike for my sons forthcoming 3rd birthday. I
would like to avoid supporting countries with exploitative work practices
(eg China, Indonesia etc) Does anyone have any suggestions for suitable
manufacturers (preferably made in Aus) and where I might find them? I'm in
Sydney.

Regards

Russell
Shwinn MTB with a kids seat on the back.

doofus

http://www.LEARSPORT.COM.AU

my brother inlaw bourght a racer from here thru ebay........very good value

D








"Russell Wyatt" <russellnwyatt_saysnotospam__@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:XAUjc.200$Tw3.8935@nnrp1.ozemail.com.au...
> Hi
>
> I'm looking to buy a kid's bike for my sons forthcoming 3rd birthday. I
> would like to avoid supporting countries with exploitative work practices
> (eg China, Indonesia etc) Does anyone have any suggestions for suitable
> manufacturers (preferably made in Aus) and where I might find them? I'm
in
> Sydney.
>
> Regards
>
> Russell
> Shwinn MTB with a kids seat on the back.
>
>

SloCoach

Thanks

However they do appear to source from Taiwan and China as well as some from
Australia. In any event they don't have anything for a 3 year old.

It's a sad state of affairs isn't it Raleigh moved production from UK to
far-east last year so it's looking pretty difficult (possibly impossible) to
find anything not made in China.

Russell

"doofus" <doofus@upnaway.com.au> wrote in message
news:newscache$zqpwwh$jo8$1@talaxian.upnaway.com...
> http://www.LEARSPORT.COM.AU
>
> my brother inlaw bourght a racer from here thru ebay........very good
value
>
> D
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> "Russell Wyatt" <russellnwyatt_saysnotospam__@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:XAUjc.200$Tw3.8935@nnrp1.ozemail.com.au...
> > Hi
> >
> > I'm looking to buy a kid's bike for my sons forthcoming 3rd birthday. I
> > would like to avoid supporting countries with exploitative work
practices
> > (eg China, Indonesia etc) Does anyone have any suggestions for suitable
> > manufacturers (preferably made in Aus) and where I might find them? I'm
> in
> > Sydney.
> >
> > Regards
> >
> > Russell
> > Shwinn MTB with a kids seat on the back.
> >
> >
>
>

Tamyka Bell

Russell Wyatt wrote:

> (eg China, Indonesia etc) Does anyone have any suggestions for suitable
> manufacturers (preferably made in Aus) and where I might find them? I'm in


According to Bicycles Network Australia
http://www.bicycles.net.au/links/brands.html

Elite Bicycles are made in Australia http://www.elitebicycles.com

but I couldn't check what they had because the website was down (or that
link is wrong, I don't know, I have a mega-old browser).

Tamyka

doofus

Is malvern Star made off shore??????



"SloCoach" <russellnwyatt_saysnospam__@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:c6pvhs$egvr9$1@ID-154752.news.uni-berlin.de...
> Thanks
>
> However they do appear to source from Taiwan and China as well as some
from
> Australia. In any event they don't have anything for a 3 year old.
>
> It's a sad state of affairs isn't it Raleigh moved production from UK to
> far-east last year so it's looking pretty difficult (possibly impossible)
to
> find anything not made in China.
>
> Russell
>
> "doofus" <doofus@upnaway.com.au> wrote in message
> news:newscache$zqpwwh$jo8$1@talaxian.upnaway.com...
> > http://www.LEARSPORT.COM.AU
> >
> > my brother inlaw bourght a racer from here thru ebay........very good
> value
> >
> > D
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > "Russell Wyatt" <russellnwyatt_saysnotospam__@yahoo.com> wrote in
message
> > news:XAUjc.200$Tw3.8935@nnrp1.ozemail.com.au...
> > > Hi
> > >
> > > I'm looking to buy a kid's bike for my sons forthcoming 3rd birthday.
I
> > > would like to avoid supporting countries with exploitative work
> practices
> > > (eg China, Indonesia etc) Does anyone have any suggestions for
suitable
> > > manufacturers (preferably made in Aus) and where I might find them?
I'm
> > in
> > > Sydney.
> > >
> > > Regards
> > >
> > > Russell
> > > Shwinn MTB with a kids seat on the back.
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

Ritch

"doofus" <doofus@upnaway.com.au> wrote in message news:<newscache$zqpwwh$jo8$1@talaxian.upnaway.com>...
> http://www.LEARSPORT.COM.AU
>
> my brother inlaw bourght a racer from here thru ebay........very good value
>
> D
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> "Russell Wyatt" <russellnwyatt_saysnotospam__@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:XAUjc.200$Tw3.8935@nnrp1.ozemail.com.au...
> > Hi
> >
> > I'm looking to buy a kid's bike for my sons forthcoming 3rd birthday. I
> > would like to avoid supporting countries with exploitative work practices
> > (eg China, Indonesia etc) Does anyone have any suggestions for suitable
> > manufacturers (preferably made in Aus) and where I might find them? I'm
> in
> > Sydney.
> >
> > Regards
> >
> > Russell
> > Shwinn MTB with a kids seat on the back.
> >
> >

Um, a racer for a 3yo? I'm afraid it will be difficult to find a
non-3rd world manufactured bicycle for your son, but I wish you luck
anyway.

Ritch.

PS. Remember that England employed 5-9 year-old children as filthy
jobs as chimney sweeps as recently as the mid 19th century.

For example,
http://www.people.man.ac.uk/~mfsssz...donChildren.pdf

SloCoach

"Tamyka Bell" <tbell@hms.uq.edu.au> wrote in message
news:40909534.67C2B39C@hms.uq.edu.au...
> Russell Wyatt wrote:
>
> > (eg China, Indonesia etc) Does anyone have any suggestions for suitable
> > manufacturers (preferably made in Aus) and where I might find them? I'm
in
>
>
> According to Bicycles Network Australia
> http://www.bicycles.net.au/links/brands.html
>
> Elite Bicycles are made in Australia http://www.elitebicycles.com
>
> but I couldn't check what they had because the website was down (or that
> link is wrong, I don't know, I have a mega-old browser).
>
> Tamyka

Thanks. However that might be for when he's off the training wheels - by
about 16 years!

Russell

SloCoach

Sad to say yes. Just a brand, the guy at Pacific Brands had no idea about
manufacturing conditions (that says they don't care to me).

So far Trek doesn't look too bad, at least they claim that they check
regularly, that way they get the quality.

Russell

"doofus" <doofus@upnaway.com.au> wrote in message
news:newscache$zz3xwh$yx8$1@talaxian.upnaway.com...
> Is malvern Star made off shore??????
>
>
>
> "SloCoach" <russellnwyatt_saysnospam__@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:c6pvhs$egvr9$1@ID-154752.news.uni-berlin.de...
> > Thanks
> >
> > However they do appear to source from Taiwan and China as well as some
> from
> > Australia. In any event they don't have anything for a 3 year old.
> >
> > It's a sad state of affairs isn't it Raleigh moved production from UK to
> > far-east last year so it's looking pretty difficult (possibly
impossible)
> to
> > find anything not made in China.
> >
> > Russell
> >
> > "doofus" <doofus@upnaway.com.au> wrote in message
> > news:newscache$zqpwwh$jo8$1@talaxian.upnaway.com...
> > > http://www.LEARSPORT.COM.AU
> > >
> > > my brother inlaw bourght a racer from here thru ebay........very good
> > value
> > >
> > > D
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > "Russell Wyatt" <russellnwyatt_saysnotospam__@yahoo.com> wrote in
> message
> > > news:XAUjc.200$Tw3.8935@nnrp1.ozemail.com.au...
> > > > Hi
> > > >
> > > > I'm looking to buy a kid's bike for my sons forthcoming 3rd
birthday.
> I
> > > > would like to avoid supporting countries with exploitative work
> > practices
> > > > (eg China, Indonesia etc) Does anyone have any suggestions for
> suitable
> > > > manufacturers (preferably made in Aus) and where I might find them?
> I'm
> > > in
> > > > Sydney.
> > > >
> > > > Regards
> > > >
> > > > Russell
> > > > Shwinn MTB with a kids seat on the back.
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

Zebee Johnstone

In aus.bicycle on Thu, 29 Apr 2004 15:40:04 +1000
Tamyka Bell <tbell@hms.uq.edu.au> wrote:
> Russell Wyatt wrote:
>
>> (eg China, Indonesia etc) Does anyone have any suggestions for suitable
>> manufacturers (preferably made in Aus) and where I might find them? I'm in
>
>
> According to Bicycles Network Australia
> http://www.bicycles.net.au/links/brands.html
>
> Elite Bicycles are made in Australia http://www.elitebicycles.com
>

Well.. there's an Elite Bicycles at that site, but they are made in
America. Mind you, they say the contract out the welding and painting,
imply to Americans but it's not stated for sure.

Zebee

John Retchford

Slocoach wrote:
> Sad to say yes. Just a brand, the guy at Pacific Brands had no idea
> about manufacturing conditions (that says they don't care to me).
> So far Trek doesn't look too bad, at least they claim that they check
> regularly, that way they get the quality.



I think you get into some philosophical difficulties when you start to
apply selective morality. People could come back and say: But Trek is a
USA brand. Isn't that the country with the biggest stock of weapons of
mass destruction, which imprisons more of its citizens than almost any
other, that executes its citizens and that holds prisoners of (illegal)
war indefinitely and contrary to all international conventions, but
that's all right because it refuses to sign up the the World Court where
it might be held accountable?

Most countries (alas, even ours!) have their wicked and selfish ways and
it is sometimes hard to make good judgements on their worth. China is
trying hard on many fronts, but has a long way to go to be considered
truly civilized. So, in different ways, does the USA.

John Retchford



--

Gemma Kernich

"Russell Wyatt" <russellnwyatt_saysnotospam__@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:XAUjc.200$Tw3.8935@nnrp1.ozemail.com.au...
> Hi
>
> I'm looking to buy a kid's bike for my sons forthcoming 3rd birthday. I
> would like to avoid supporting countries with exploitative work practices
> (eg China, Indonesia etc) Does anyone have any suggestions for suitable
> manufacturers (preferably made in Aus) and where I might find them? I'm
in
> Sydney.
>
> Regards
>
> Russell
> Shwinn MTB with a kids seat on the back.
Just a suggestion - why not 'recycle' and buy 2nd hand?
Cheers Gemma

doofus

Im waiting for them to remove Mugabe , besides oil there isnt much
difference between him & Saddam.



"John Retchford" <john@forum.net> wrote in message
news:9C2kc.8759$Qe.8084@fe24.usenetserver.com...
> Slocoach wrote:
> > Sad to say yes. Just a brand, the guy at Pacific Brands had no idea
> > about manufacturing conditions (that says they don't care to me).
> > So far Trek doesn't look too bad, at least they claim that they check
> > regularly, that way they get the quality.
>
>
>
> I think you get into some philosophical difficulties when you start to
> apply selective morality. People could come back and say: But Trek is a
> USA brand. Isn't that the country with the biggest stock of weapons of
> mass destruction, which imprisons more of its citizens than almost any
> other, that executes its citizens and that holds prisoners of (illegal)
> war indefinitely and contrary to all international conventions, but
> that's all right because it refuses to sign up the the World Court where
> it might be held accountable?
>
> Most countries (alas, even ours!) have their wicked and selfish ways and
> it is sometimes hard to make good judgements on their worth. China is
> trying hard on many fronts, but has a long way to go to be considered
> truly civilized. So, in different ways, does the USA.
>
> John Retchford
>
>
>
> --
>
>

Russell Wyatt

"Gemma Kernich" <gemm@holon.net> wrote in message
news:4090b934$1@duster.adelaide.on.net...
>
> "Russell Wyatt" <russellnwyatt_saysnotospam__@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:XAUjc.200$Tw3.8935@nnrp1.ozemail.com.au...
> > Hi
> >
> > I'm looking to buy a kid's bike for my sons forthcoming 3rd birthday. I
> > would like to avoid supporting countries with exploitative work
practices
> > (eg China, Indonesia etc) Does anyone have any suggestions for suitable
> > manufacturers (preferably made in Aus) and where I might find them? I'm
> in
> > Sydney.
> >
> > Regards
> >
> > Russell
> > Shwinn MTB with a kids seat on the back.
> Just a suggestion - why not 'recycle' and buy 2nd hand?
> Cheers Gemma


A good suggestion too. Will see what can be found.

Russell

Russell Wyatt

"John Retchford" <john@forum.net> wrote in message
news:9C2kc.8759$Qe.8084@fe24.usenetserver.com...
> Slocoach wrote:
> > Sad to say yes. Just a brand, the guy at Pacific Brands had no idea
> > about manufacturing conditions (that says they don't care to me).
> > So far Trek doesn't look too bad, at least they claim that they check
> > regularly, that way they get the quality.
>
>
>
> I think you get into some philosophical difficulties when you start to
> apply selective morality. People could come back and say: But Trek is a
> USA brand. Isn't that the country with the biggest stock of weapons of
> mass destruction, which imprisons more of its citizens than almost any
> other, that executes its citizens and that holds prisoners of (illegal)
> war indefinitely and contrary to all international conventions, but
> that's all right because it refuses to sign up the the World Court where
> it might be held accountable?
>
> Most countries (alas, even ours!) have their wicked and selfish ways and
> it is sometimes hard to make good judgements on their worth. China is
> trying hard on many fronts, but has a long way to go to be considered
> truly civilized. So, in different ways, does the USA.
>
> John Retchford
>
I quite agree. The US and Australia (and no doubt others) have very
questionable morals on many issues. However, it generally seems to be the
case that people employed in factories in these countries are looked after
to some extent by unions. It's true, though, that here in Australia, many
'Made in Australia' items (probably not bikes though) are made for less than
the minimum wage, by home workers. The whole thing stinks. I'm very happy
indeed to buy goods from any country, if I'm assured as far as possible that
the goods are made and traded under (what most people would call) fair and
reasonable conditions. There doesn't seem to be a clear way for the consumer
to be able to tell that goods have been made and traded fairly (except
buying through the limited sources of fair trade goods, such as Oxfam), and
until that is the case the only option seems to be to make a judgment based
on the little information we have, such as information on human rights and
employee rights.
Russell