Trek - Heritage
Born in a Barn
Trek was never just a name. From the beginning, it was a summation of values.
Months later, spring of 1976, in a southern Wisconsin barn located halfway between their homes in Madison and Milwaukee, this pair of visionaries set out to make a business of building bikes of extraordinary artistry. Here, in the geographically convenient town of Waterloo, their dream sparked to life.
There were five employees on the payroll when the barn doors opened in 1976. In its first year, Trek produced 904 touring frames. Steel tubing, lugged and silver-brazed, handcrafted and hand-painted with care.
A culture of craftsmanship and rebellion was fostered in the young American upstart. Every bend and every weld was charged with purpose, as each meticulously constructed frame broke the convention that all great bikes must come from Europe. Trek was out to change minds.
Today, Trek's headquarters is a mile up the road from the original barn, in a much larger facility. Although Trek has outgrown the barn, every bike we make is a testament to Trek's founding principles.
Barn Story
In 1976, my dad started Trek in a barn in Waterloo, Wisconsin.
A lot of people would have seen the barn for what it was. But my dad saw something bigger-a way to bring freedom and adventure to people all around the world.
People underestimate themselves. But that doesn't happen at Trek and it shouldn't happen anywhere. When someone shows you a barn, see something bigger.
This is my father's way, and it is Trek's way.
