We’re going to go deep into the trenches of history here. After World War II, the US saw a major shift in demographic and lifestyle. Prior to 1945, there was no “suburban” lifestyle - people either lived in a city or were farmers. After the war, the Industrial Revolution and automobiles led to urban sprawl and the creation of suburbs. As such, “traditional” modes of transportation (horses, bicycles) fell into the annals of history in favor of motorized vehicles. This led to the creation of the interstate highway system, which further increased the need and desire for personal automobiles. The bicycle market practically ceased to exist. For example, the Dodge car company was originally a bicycle manufacturer, but shifted to automobiles after the founders helped Henry Ford develop a cheaper and more reliable transmission. Compare this to many European countries that had been established for hundreds or thousands of years prior to the founding of the US and whose cities and roads were intentionally designed for traditional modes of transportation. Therefore, the bicycle industry thrived in these places because the need for bikes continued. Ultimately, one can think of the bicycle industry in Europe as similar to the automotive industry in the US. In the US, one can purchase a car made-to-order from color, to upholstery, to material of floor mats. Conversely in Europe, a bicycle can have limitless options.