For 25 years, King Cycle Group has been making Chris King Precision Components to the highest possible standards. To purchase a Chris King headset or hub has always been a vote for an exceptional level of quality unique among bicycle parts. What many may not have realized, however, is that their standards are not limited to issues of quality and value. Purchasing a Chris King component also supports a successful effort in combining good business with a strong, active, and effective environmental consciousness. Jason Houston, who is in charge of implementing King Cycle Group's Vibe and Consciousness program explains, "Environmental consciousness is a common often empty buzz word these days. But, right from the start, Chris has realized our reliance on the outdoors, and we've always tried to act responsibly with that relationship in mind. Concern for the quality of life and a passion for being outdoors is why King Cycle Group exists. Awareness and mitigation of our environmental impact is fundamental to our operating philosophy, and our recent move to Shasta County has given us the opportunity to really put it all out in the open."

The major challenge is that manufacturing, by its very nature, is polluting. For example, the Chris King headset is made from aluminum and steels that are mined from the earth, purified and formed using less-than-green processes and then hauled around on big trucks that spew pollution. The headset is then carved by machines fueled by electricity provided by dams. The headsets are lubricated by petroleum products pumped from deep in the ground. The colors that make the headsets so desirable require the use of several strong chemicals and the boxes they are shipped in are made from trees.

Any environmentally sensitive manufacturer faces an inescapable reality. If you over extend your enthusiasm for the environment, you could begin to compromise quality, value, and various fiscal realities that risk yielding the market and momentum to others less conscious than yourself. On the other hand, if you do too little, then by definition you could do more and are not doing enough. "Given this choice, we'll choose to do more than less," says Houston. "We won't fail, but we may have to back track here or there. However, we'd rather do that and try to justify it as a promotion of something larger than ourselves rather than look back and see that we could have - or worse, should have - done more. Our goal is to do as much as we can and be an example of what is ultimately possible."

King Cycle Group's recent move to Shasta County was brought on by a variety of circumstances. The most superficial of these was the need to continue expanding. "The tight labor market and expensive property in Santa Barbara has always made growth there difficult," explains Chris King. "We have a lot of orders to keep up with and, on top of all that, we're always exploring new and innovative technologies. Our move to Shasta County was just the next logical step in the progression of our growth."

And more has come of the move than growth. The opportunity to start over and build a building from scratch has allowed King Cycle Group to create the ultimate in comfortable, healthy, and environmentally responsible work places.

More » - The New Buildings Tour