A small cycling clothing brand is taking a stand against Donald Trump's controversial tariffs, and their story is one of resilience and determination. Terry Precision Cycling, a women's cycling apparel manufacturer, has decided to fight back, and their lawsuit against Trump's tariffs is set to be heard by the Supreme Court next week.
The bike industry has been in turmoil throughout 2025 due to Trump's economic policies. Many brands have had to raise prices, speak out against the tariffs, or even withdraw from the US market entirely. But here's where it gets controversial: Terry Precision Cycling is refusing to back down and is taking the fight to the highest court in the land.
"We felt like we had no choice but to fight," said Nik Holm, the company's president. "The uncertainty created by these tariffs is threatening the very essence of cycling - the joy and freedom it brings. We had to do something to survive."
Holm's words resonate with a deeper concern: the inconsistent nature of Trump's tariffs. "If the rules keep changing, how can we possibly play the game?" he asks. And he has a point. With tariffs fluctuating, businesses like Terry Precision Cycling are left in a state of constant uncertainty, making long-term planning nearly impossible.
The impact of these tariffs is evident. When a 145% tariff on Chinese imports was introduced, Terry Precision Cycling had to add $50 to the price of a pair of shorts, hiking the price to $199. The company sources materials from various countries, including France, Italy, and Guatemala, but some key components can only be found in China.
The lawsuit argues that Trump's actions are a threat to the global economy, with the potential to cause severe damage. It demands compensation for the financial losses incurred and challenges the President's authority to unilaterally impose tariffs without proper consultation or consideration of their impact.
"Even before this year's increases, we were facing tariffs of up to 39.5%," Holm explained. "With the new tariffs, we simply can't sustain our business for long. Twenty years ago, we manufactured all our apparel in the US, but we had to move production overseas to stay afloat."
Bringing manufacturing back to the US, Holm argues, would require a comprehensive strategy, consistent government policies, investment in skilled labor, and access to raw materials that aren't subject to high tariffs. Many of their products rely on materials not produced in the US, making this a complex issue.
While the bike industry largely agrees on the negative impact of Trump's tariffs, there's an interesting outlier: Guardian Bikes. This US bike manufacturer has actually lobbied the Trump administration to go further and include bicycles and frames in a proposed 50% aluminium and steel tariff. Brian Riley, Guardian Bikes' CEO, believes this would promote fair competition and support national interests.
The impact of these tariffs has been far-reaching. Chinese bike imports to the US have plummeted, and brands like Rotor and BMC have cited the tariffs as the reason for shutting down their US offices and reducing their workforce, respectively.
In July, PeopleForBikes, an industry group, warned that the US bike industry might not recover from the devastating consequences of Trump's tariffs until the end of the decade.
So, what's next for Terry Precision Cycling and the bike industry as a whole? Will their lawsuit make a difference, or will the industry continue to struggle under the weight of these tariffs? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: this is a story of resilience and a fight for survival in the face of economic adversity.
