All about bicycles, electric-assisted bikes, technology and safety in the press

The most common safety risks that we come across in our daily work around bicycle safety, technology and operating instructions are also published by us in articles in the leading German special-interest magazines TOUR (Europe's road bike magazine no. 1), BIKE (Europe's mountain bike magazine no. 1), MYBIKE and EMTB in order to make this information, which is important for the industry, available to a wider public.

For many years now, the Eurobike Show Daily, trade fair magazine of the annual Eurobike Show, has also given us the opportunity to publish our view of major developments in the cycle industry in full-page articles.

We also speak regularly in independent expert presentations about all areas of bicycle technology and the bicycle market. In addition, we are quoted by further special-interest magazines of the industry and the trade as well as increasingly by radio and television in their media reports, which shows us that we are spot on with our advice. The section "News" informs you about the latest news from our specialist areas. The reports and publications of this section are listed chronologically or according to areas of interest.

MYBIKE 06/2024
bike-magazin.de, 2024/10/11
Reading time 7:40 minutes

Power Bikes with a Potential

They can reach speeds of up to 45 kilometres per hour and are therefore great fun, even if the commute is a little longer. Nevertheless, they are a niche product right now. Today, speed pedelecs only make sense for some user groups. For you as well?

Dirk Zedler is a bicycle and electric bicycle expert and founder of the test institute Zedler.
(...)
 

“Speed pedelecs need a rethink”

Dirk Zedler is a bicycle and electric bicycle expert and founder of the test institute Zedler. We asked him about the technical differences between speed pedelecs and electric bicycles.
 
MYBIKE: What are the technical features a speed pedelec must have?
Zedler: Speed pedelecs are vehicles, therefore require an operating licence. Manufacturers often equip these vehicles with very high-value components. For maintenance work mainly original spare parts must be used. With regard to tyres, for example, you need replacement tyres of the same dimensions and with UN ECE-R 75 approval. You can find more detailed information on spare parts in our “Guidelines for the parts replacement on speed pedelecs.” Many pedelecs have full beam and brake lights as standard, daytime running lights are mandatory, as well as rear-view mirrors, reflectors, insurance licence plate lighting and a horn.
 
Does the chassis of a speed pedelec have to be designed differently to an electric bicycle?
The probability of getting into a challenging riding condition is significantly higher in a vehicle that is generally ridden at higher speed. As regards design, reputable suppliers add more reserves to the riding stability. Suspension forks and wide tyres should be included in the basic equipment.
 
Are there further technical points in which speed pedelecs should differ from electric bicycles?
The mileage is often significantly higher than that of an electric bike with pedal assist up to 25 kmh. Wear is therefore a major issue that is not taken seriously by all manufacturers. The brake pads and discs, the chains and sprockets are still designed on the basis of mechanical bicycles. This is where a rethink is needed.
 
Read the entire German article online.
 
Author: Georg Bleicher
Photo: Zedler-Institut

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