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 06/2014
Reading time 1:00 minute

Testing, but in the correct way

Pedelec tests are expensive and complex, but more necessary than ever before due to stricter legal regulations and jurisdiction which will strengthen the obligations of the manufacturers.

A test must be as close to reality as possible. For this purpose the field of use must be determined beforehand. "The test results of the German foundation for comparative product testing (Stiftung Warentest) revealed what may happen," says Zedler.

Zedler distinguishes three types of tests: Performance (riding characteristics), quality (user friendliness, paint and the like) and safety (operational strength). To determine the safety of a product, like a bicycle, the field of use must be determined beforehand. "It makes a difference, whether we are talking about a 60-kg-heavy road racer or a 140-kg-heavy reconvalescent sitting on the bicycle like a wet sack. Do I ride in all kinds of weather or only when the sun shines? A test must be conducted accordingly", says Zedler.

During a test you simulate the life of a bicycle in fast motion. That doesn’t mean to perform all kinds of tests at a faster pace, which might produce effects distorting the results. To avoid unrealistic and unserviceable results, the application of the loads must be performed accordingly, i.e. braking and acceleration loads must be mixed in the test, instead of performing a test of hundred brake cycles one after the other.

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