Beistegui Hermanos
Encyclopedia
Beistegui Hermanos S.A. (BH) is a Spanish
bicycle
manufacturer founded in 1909 to make guns. In the early 1920s, it began making bicycles and sponsoring cycling teams.
BH is in Vitoria-Gasteiz
, capital of the Basque Country
. During the 1960s, the main BH factory in Vitoria manufactured not just frames but everything from saddle to spokes and handlebar. Today, BH has two manufacturing and assembly facilities in Vitoria and another in Portugal
. The facilities include CNC laser machining which also produces fitness equipment and parts for BMW
and Mercedes Benz.
In the early 1990s, BH purchased Peugeot
and founded Cycleurope. Cycleurope owns Bianchi, Peugeot and Gitane
. In 1996, BH sold Cycleurope to concentrate on home markets of Spain and Portugal. In 2001, it re-focused on the pan-European market .
BH manufactures 200,000 bicycles a year, 50 per cent for European countries other than Spain.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
bicycle
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
manufacturer founded in 1909 to make guns. In the early 1920s, it began making bicycles and sponsoring cycling teams.
BH is in Vitoria-Gasteiz
Vitoria-Gasteiz
Vitoria-Gasteiz is the capital city of the province of Álava and of the autonomous community of the Basque Country in northern Spain with a population of 235,661 people. It is the second largest Basque city...
, capital of the Basque Country
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
. During the 1960s, the main BH factory in Vitoria manufactured not just frames but everything from saddle to spokes and handlebar. Today, BH has two manufacturing and assembly facilities in Vitoria and another in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. The facilities include CNC laser machining which also produces fitness equipment and parts for BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
and Mercedes Benz.
In the early 1990s, BH purchased Peugeot
Cycles Peugeot
Peugeot was a manufacturer in the French bicycle industry through the 20th century.-History:Peugeot was a French manufacturer of bicycles founded by Jean Pequignot Peugeot who, in the 19th century, made water mills...
and founded Cycleurope. Cycleurope owns Bianchi, Peugeot and Gitane
Gitane
Gitane is a French manufacturer of bicycles based in Machecoul, France; the name "Gitane" means gypsy woman. The brand was synonymous with French bicycle racing from the 1960s through the mid-1980s, sponsoring riders such as Jacques Anquetil , Lucien Van Impe , Bernard Hinault , Laurent Fignon ,...
. In 1996, BH sold Cycleurope to concentrate on home markets of Spain and Portugal. In 2001, it re-focused on the pan-European market .
BH manufactures 200,000 bicycles a year, 50 per cent for European countries other than Spain.