About Lee Cougan
Why choose a Lee Cougan bike?
Choosing a Lee Cougan bike means getting a technologically advanced bicycle made with innovative materials and components. It is designed to provide comfort, safety, stability, and maximum satisfaction in terms of performance and design. Lee Cougan is passionate about the world of cycling and has over a century of experience in the industry.
Each model is created to meet the expectations of the most demanding cyclists who seek top performance from their bikes.
Lee Cougan and their passion for mountain biking
It was in the 1970s when a group of dreamers decided that the endless roads no longer offered them the sensations they were seeking from their bikes. They wanted to build off-road bicycles that would allow them to venture into nature. They started transforming old cruiser bicycles by equipping them with better brakes, motocross handlebars, and wider tires to tackle the rugged trails of California. They called these bikes "klunkers," and "to klunk" became the verb that symbolized the then non-existent activity of mountain biking.
Among this group of enthusiasts was Mr. Lee, a curious and enterprising Russian. In 1977, in Evanston, Illinois, he decided to create his own brand to market his bikes. His passion for cycling led him to develop cutting-edge niche products for his cycling shops.
That's how the Lee Cougan brand was born, a result of Mr. Lee's inventiveness and experience. He personally designs the bikes and has the frames manufactured in Taiwan, which are then assembled in the United States, giving life to high-tech, high-performance solutions.
Mr. Lee personally visits the manufacturers to oversee production and ensure the quality of their work. He chose the name Cougan because of its resemblance to the cougar, one of the iconic animals of the American wilderness. The culture of mountain biking quickly spread beyond American borders.
Meanwhile, in northeastern Italy, a company called Stardue ""Active Sport Equipment"" was born in the 1980s, dedicated to the marketing of bicycles and accessories for bicycles and motorcycles. In search of a more flexible and customizable product than the high-end American and Italian brands they were distributing at the time, Stardue introduced Lee Cougan to Europe in 1993.
After a few years of collaboration on the products designed by Mr. Lee, Stardue had the opportunity to modify the designs to adapt them to the European market. This allowed Lee Cougan to access high-quality components by operating in two different markets, and direct assembly in Europe made the products more affordable in terms of price for a larger number of enthusiasts.
From the late 1990s, Stardue began designing models in-house, and with Mr. Lee's approval, ""Lee Cougan Europe"" bikes became increasingly high-end and performance-oriented. The collaboration with Mr. Lee continued until the end of the last century when the brand changed hands. Since then, Stardue has been managing the Lee Cougan brand's products worldwide, making it a fully Italian brand.
Lee Cougan started developing a wide range of products capable of adapting to various markets through its high innovation capacity. It quickly became a niche brand offering high quality at a competitive price, especially compared to the giants of American mountain biking.
Lee Cougan gained notable recognition when it participated in the Camel Trophy in Mongolia in 1997, followed by Tierra del Fuego in Patagonia in 1998. There, amidst the harshness of the Gobi Desert and the icy landscapes of southern Argentina, the brand's bikes proved their quality, performance, and reliability in the most extreme conditions.
The company was one of the first to offer cyclists the opportunity to customize their bike from the moment of ordering, with the ""Make your Custom Bike"" service. This allowed Lee Cougan to stand out by developing modular bikes according to customer demand.
Main Lee Cougan bike models
Are you looking for a full-suspension cross-country mountain bike? Choose the Lee Cougan Crossfire 428.
Are you one of those who still enjoy hiking and trail riding with a semi-rigid mountain bike? If so, we recommend the Lee Cougan Rampage.
What are the advantages of buying a refurbished Lee Cougan bike?
Buying a refurbished bike has three main advantages:
The first is economic. By opting for the purchase of a refurbished used Lee Cougan bike at Tuvalum, you can save between 20% and 60% compared to the price of a new bike.
The second advantage is mechanical revision. Although it is possible to buy a used Lee Cougan bike from an individual, most platforms and applications for second-hand products do not guarantee the condition of the items sold. You have to trust a stranger and run the risk of purchasing a bike with hidden damages. At Tuvalum, all bikes are meticulously checked and refurbished by our team of mechanics who ensure that each bike meets the same technical standards and approvals required by the European Union for new bikes. Moreover, they come with a one-year mechanical warranty and an 18-month buyback guarantee.
Another good reason to buy a refurbished Lee Cougan bike is its positive impact on sustainability. By opting for a pre-owned bike, you contribute to reducing the ecological footprint associated with the purchase of a new bike. Did you know that a new bike produces a carbon footprint of 300 kilograms of CO2 during its manufacturing process?
Lee Cougan is a brand born in the United States, refined in Italy. At Tuvalum, you can purchase your next Lee Cougan bike, whether new or refurbished, at the best price while enjoying peace of mind with our Tuvalum Certified quality label.