20 Participants, Two Days, One Clear Objective
In mid-April, 20 participants in Ludwigsburg completed the two-day “Advanced” training at the Zedler-Institut – the advanced level building on the already established “Basic” seminar. The target group was deliberately broad: experts from the bicycle industry, automotive damage assessors, and external insurance claims adjusters worked side by side at the test stations.
Key training topics:
- E-bike systems: diagnostic capabilities and typical fault patterns in EPAC motors and batteries
- Carbon components: inspection and repair methods, damage assessment
- Pre-existing and prior damage: detailed differentiation for legally robust expert reports
- Replacement values: classification of current bicycle technology within the market context
- Plausibility checks: based on real-world case examples from expert practice
Participant feedback was unequivocal: content quality, the balance between practical and theoretical elements, instructor expertise, and overall conditions received an average rating of 1.3.
Voices from the Training
Roland Leutheußer from an automotive engineering appraisal office summarized:
“Sensational impressions.”
Alexander Seidel from Konrad Sachverständige GmbH added:
“Just like the ‘Basic’ course – really strong performance.”
Why This Topic Is Critical
Assessing modern bicycles is far more complex than many assume. EPAC systems with integrated motors and batteries, carbon frames with non-visible damage, and replacement values in a highly differentiated market – all of this requires specialized expertise that automotive experts simply do not possess without targeted training.
The Zedler-Institut highlights the issue clearly: too few qualified bicycle experts mean that accident victims often wait years for claims settlement. Bicycle accidents are far from a marginal phenomenon – the increasing number of fatal bicycle accidents has only recently been covered in the media.
The institute incorporates experience from over 15,000 expert reports on bicycle damage into its training programs – a knowledge base of unique depth in Germany.
About the Zedler-Institut
Zedler-Institut für Fahrradtechnik und -Sicherheit GmbH, based in Ludwigsburg, has been active for over 30 years as a bicycle expert organization – both nationally and internationally. In addition to expert reporting and training, the institute develops and manufactures testing systems and methodologies, produces user manuals in more than 40 languages, and supports market surveillance procedures and product recalls. More than 150 customers worldwide use the testing laboratories in Ludwigsburg. The institute has received multiple awards for its sustainability efforts, including the Baden-Württemberg Environmental Award 2020.
Upcoming Dates
The next “Basic” and “Advanced” training sessions will take place in autumn 2026. All dates and further information:
www.zedler.de/en/news/events
Conclusion
Anyone in need of a competent expert after a bicycle accident—one who can accurately evaluate e-bike systems, carbon damage, and current market values—will quickly realize that the supply gap is real. The Zedler-Institut is addressing this gap—one training session at a time. This is not a minor niche issue, but a tangible problem for anyone waiting for fair claims settlement after an accident.
More information: wwww.zedler.de/en
