TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Liu Chin-pao (劉金標), founder of Giant Manufacturing Co., passed away early Monday at the age of 93.

Born in 1934 in Taichung’s Shalu District, Liu developed a passion for mechanics and bicycles from a young age, showing early interest in gears, chains, and metalwork. In 1972, he co-founded Giant Manufacturing, initially focusing on producing high-quality bicycles for international clients, according to Ettoday Finance and CNA.

Liu implemented Japanese Industrial Standards to improve product precision, boosting Taiwan’s manufacturing reputation worldwide. In 1981, he launched the Giant (捷安特) brand to create a Taiwanese-owned bicycle company.

Giant rapidly expanded internationally, becoming one of the world’s most influential bicycle brands and putting Taiwan’s bicycle industry on the global stage.

Beyond business, Liu promoted cycling as a lifestyle. In 1978, he organized the Tour de Taiwan, a week-long round-the-island cycling event that has since become an annual fixture.

He also helped launch Taipei’s YouBike public bike-sharing system in 2012, integrating bicycles into urban transportation. Liu’s contributions earned international recognition, including Japan’s Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon in 2016, and a United Nations World Bicycle Day Special Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022.

Demonstrating his personal commitment to cycling, Liu completed a 973-kilometer ride around Taiwan at age 73 in 15 days, inspired by a line from the movie Island Etude: “Some things, if not done now, may never be done.”