American Classic is emerging as a bicycle industry leader in the wheel and component design arena. We embrace improvement, fearlessly fusing engineering technology, quality and style into our 2011 product line. We are actively shaping the future of the bicycle industry and not sitting still to react to what others do.
Bill Shook, the founder and engineer of American Classic leaves the beaten path to seek new and innovative ways to improve bicycle technology with the single-minded purpose of making bicycle sport enjoyable for all who want to ride and race. We remain true to that chosen path. We strive for excellence and pave the way for a successful tomorrow with big picture creative thinking with you, the cyclist, in mind.
When you meet Bill Shook for the first time, he comes across as quiet, unassuming guy from the Midwest. But deep inside, he is an engineering powerhouse dedicated to improving bicycle performance through advanced technology. Bill started riding at age of 14. He trained hard and became a champion road and track cyclist, earning a place on the US National Team.
While racing, Bill started his design career building his projects in his Dad’s garage. In 1974 he created and fabricated the first large tube aluminum bicycle in the world and raced it all over the country. While racing professionally, Bill strove to find the best equipment, the lightest tires and rims. In the 1970’s in the US, fine equipment was hard to find and that is what sparked the idea of American Classic – a place where Bill could design and distribute high performance components for riders every where.
After retiring from a successful racing career, Bill received a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Ohio State University. Now he had the engineering expertise and everything was in place for American Classic to become a reality. The first products were new concepts, the lightweight water bottle cage and the revolutionary lightweight adjustable seatpost. The rest is history.
27 years passed since American Classic was founded and Bill continues to follow his dream of creating new technology for cyclists. There are many new patents and new, unique projects in the pipeline to make our customers ride fast. American Classic now has two facilities including our own testing facility and quality control center and our assembly plant. For 2011, American Classic has a broad variety of unique designs in all disciplines including road, track, triathlon, cyclocross, cross country, and new all mountain and downhill. All this, because Bill couldn’t find the right wheels to race in the 70’s.
Bill Shook, the founder and engineer of American Classic leaves the beaten path to seek new and innovative ways to improve bicycle technology with the single-minded purpose of making bicycle sport enjoyable for all who want to ride and race. We remain true to that chosen path. We strive for excellence and pave the way for a successful tomorrow with big picture creative thinking with you, the cyclist, in mind.
When you meet Bill Shook for the first time, he comes across as quiet, unassuming guy from the Midwest. But deep inside, he is an engineering powerhouse dedicated to improving bicycle performance through advanced technology. Bill started riding at age of 14. He trained hard and became a champion road and track cyclist, earning a place on the US National Team.
While racing, Bill started his design career building his projects in his Dad’s garage. In 1974 he created and fabricated the first large tube aluminum bicycle in the world and raced it all over the country. While racing professionally, Bill strove to find the best equipment, the lightest tires and rims. In the 1970’s in the US, fine equipment was hard to find and that is what sparked the idea of American Classic – a place where Bill could design and distribute high performance components for riders every where.
After retiring from a successful racing career, Bill received a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Ohio State University. Now he had the engineering expertise and everything was in place for American Classic to become a reality. The first products were new concepts, the lightweight water bottle cage and the revolutionary lightweight adjustable seatpost. The rest is history.
27 years passed since American Classic was founded and Bill continues to follow his dream of creating new technology for cyclists. There are many new patents and new, unique projects in the pipeline to make our customers ride fast. American Classic now has two facilities including our own testing facility and quality control center and our assembly plant. For 2011, American Classic has a broad variety of unique designs in all disciplines including road, track, triathlon, cyclocross, cross country, and new all mountain and downhill. All this, because Bill couldn’t find the right wheels to race in the 70’s.
WHY MAGNESIUM?
It’s about the rims. In terms of performance, wheels are the most important component on the bike and light weight rims are the most important part of the wheels. Expending less energy to get up to racing speed gives the rider a competitive edge.
It has taken years to find the right magnesium alloys, the correct level of heat, special proprietary bending technology to make the mag rims. Magnesium is treasured in the automotive and aerospace industries for its lightness, strength and ductility. Magnesium is the perfect choice to meet our customers’ demand for high-strength, lower weight bicycle rims.
Magnesium is lighter than aluminum and more durable than carbon fiber. Known for its dampening qualities, magnesium absorbs road shock and vibration. Bill Shook worked tirelessly studying the metallurgy of magnesium to find the right magnesium alloy. He developed proprietary manufacturing processes to roll-form thin-walled magnesium extrusions into tubular or clincher rims. As one of the final manufacturing details, each rim receives a protective coating inside and out to resist corrosion. Developing magnesium technology resulted in our unique 290 gr magnesium rims that are stiff, strong, accelerate quickly, corner hard and naturally dampen high frequency road vibration for a smooth ride. Try them to transform your cycling experience.
It’s about the rims. In terms of performance, wheels are the most important component on the bike and light weight rims are the most important part of the wheels. Expending less energy to get up to racing speed gives the rider a competitive edge.
It has taken years to find the right magnesium alloys, the correct level of heat, special proprietary bending technology to make the mag rims. Magnesium is treasured in the automotive and aerospace industries for its lightness, strength and ductility. Magnesium is the perfect choice to meet our customers’ demand for high-strength, lower weight bicycle rims.
Magnesium is lighter than aluminum and more durable than carbon fiber. Known for its dampening qualities, magnesium absorbs road shock and vibration. Bill Shook worked tirelessly studying the metallurgy of magnesium to find the right magnesium alloy. He developed proprietary manufacturing processes to roll-form thin-walled magnesium extrusions into tubular or clincher rims. As one of the final manufacturing details, each rim receives a protective coating inside and out to resist corrosion. Developing magnesium technology resulted in our unique 290 gr magnesium rims that are stiff, strong, accelerate quickly, corner hard and naturally dampen high frequency road vibration for a smooth ride. Try them to transform your cycling experience.
