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

In our daily work as we deal with bicycle safety, technology and user manuals we come across lots of safety risks. The most frequent ones are published in articles of the leading German special-interest magazines TOUR – Europas Rennrad-Magazin Nr. 1, BIKE – Das Mountainbike Magazin Europas Nr. 1 and E-Bike – Das Pedelec-Magazin to make this information important for the sector accessible to a wider public.

For many years now the Eurobike Show Daily accompanying the annual international Eurobike Show has given us the opportunity to publish our perspective on major developments in the cycle industry in full-page articles.

We also speak regularly in independent lectures about all topics relating to bicycle technology and bicycle market. In addition, we are regularly cited by further special-interest magazines or trade journals as well as more and more by radio and television and in their media reports, which shows us that we are completely right with our information. The section NEWS informs you about the latest news from our specialist fields. The reports and publications of this section are listed chronologically or according to topics of interest.

RadMarkt.de 12/2014
Reading time 1:30 minutes

E-bike agenda: Exchange parts catalogue and centralised complaints

A central complaints system and an exchange parts catalogue – these are the issues set on top of the e-bike agenda 2016 of the VSF (German association of self-governing cycle companies).

The details are explained to the manufacturers by Andreas Luebeck. On the occasion of the annual meeting last year in Bad Boll, the VSF-dealers had expressed their wish to work out an e-bike agenda. The items of the agenda have meanwhile been substantiated by representatives of VSF together with selected manufacturers.

The exchange parts catalogue is intended to provide the dealers with more security when they want to adapt an e-bike to the wishes of their customers. The CE-marking stipulates that you are only allowed to exchange e-bike components after they were approved by the manufacturer. Series tests and type examinations are requested by the product liability law. "Conducting these tests together is for the manufacturers easier and less expensive than conducting them on their own", states Luebeck.

As a first step it is intended to develop together with the manufacturers involved that part of the exchange parts catalogue that lists the components which can be replaced in view of making ergonomic changes to the vehicle in view of adapting it to the cyclist. This part of the catalogue is planned to be ready until spring 2015. It includes first of all handlebar/stem-combinations and grips, saddles and seat posts as well as adjustments in terms of the gear ratio.

Dirk Zedler of the Zedler institute pointed out the long-term effect. If the manufacturer was forced to grant by tests for example the safe use of five certain tyres on a certain rim from their brand, you would obtain longer product cycles, less manufacturers, less variants and better quality.

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Author: Verena Ziese

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