Shimano reported this week that their sales for 2007 were up a whopping 40 percent. That would be a natural result of setting a new record for sales revenue. The world’s largest manufacturer of quality bike parts had $1.9 billion in sales. (To be sure, there’s got to be a few million in fishing reels — which, I hasten to point out, allowed me to boat a couple monster walleyes last summer with style and grace.)

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Is it a pedal? Or a fishing reel? Yes!

And in case you hadn’t heard: Our favorite Japanese component maker bought one of our favorite Japanese clothing manufacturers. Last week, Shimano acquired Pearl Izumi.