Bike Athletic Company is an American sportswear company.
In 1874, Charles F. Bennett, an employee of the Chicago sporting goods company Sharp and Smith, invented the jockstrap, designed to provide support and protection for bicycle transporters navigating Boston's cobbled streets.[2] Bennett later founded the Bike Web Company and played a major role in popularizing the jockstrap among athletes and workers.[3]
On November 30, 1897, Bennett patented an improved version of the undergarment under U.S. Patent No. 594,673, titled "Combined Jock-Strap and Suspensory". Over time, the jockstrap became widely adopted in various organized sports, leading to the colloquial term "jock" for athletes who wore them.
On April 15, 2021, the brand was purchased by Alex Angelchik,[4] as the lead investor. The brand launched a new website, and reopened for online sales, featuring a modernized version of their trademark "No. #10" jockstrap, as well as active apparel collections.[5]
In the years following its relaunch, BIKE Athletic has focused on e-commerce distribution and expanded its product range to include additional underwear styles, athletic apparel, and themed collections such as the "Heritage Collection" and "Pride Collection." The company primarily operates as a direct-to-consumer brand and marked its 150th anniversary in 2024, highlighting over 350 million jockstraps sold since its founding.[6][7]
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