You might be surprised to know that Detroit got its start as the center of the American automotive industry by being a center of bicycle manufacturing. Several early car companies began as bicycle manufacturers, and the car factories contracted with the same suppliers of ball bearings and mechanical parts that bicycle factories used.

Over the past few years, I’ve seen a slow return to bike-related industry in and around the old Motor City. Take a look, for example, at this Made In Detroit leather saddle bag — the “Woodward” from Detroit Cargo.

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