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.

BIKE 10/2022
Reading time: 2:00 minutes

Pit stop

Not every biker is a gifted mechanic; a visit to the bike shop is therefore obligatory from time to time. How much should a repair cost? How do you recognise a good workshop? And what do you do when problems arise? We explain a smoothly running service.

Interview with graduate engineer Dirk Zedler, bicycle expert


BIKE: If there is a disagreement between the bike workshop and the customer, experts like you are called in in complicated cases. What are they usually about?
DIRK ZEDLER: The point is that the allegations have to be substantiated by evidence. As a publicly appointed expert witness, I then draw up an expert report that can also be used in court, for example, to clarify claims for damages. In principle, the goods, e.g. the repaired mountain bike, must be handed over free of defects and in a roadworthy condition. If this is impossible or something else was agreed upon, it must at least be documented to prevent any dispute at a later date. My cases range from serious accidents due to material or technical faults to trifles such as a chain that was not oiled, which led to a noise that was inexplicable to the customer; in this case, he had to pay for the entire procedure and expert report.

We have often heard lately that there is a lack of well-qualified staff in the shops, especially fully trained two-wheeler mechanics or mechatronics. Is that true, and does that lead to poor work?
What is true in any case, is that too many dealers show too little commitment to training. In addition, many bike shops have not yet adapted sufficiently to the bike boom, which in many areas is no longer a pure hobby. Greater professionalization would have to take place here. However, clients also have to accept that good work costs money. We are dealing with absolutely high-tech material, and maintenance costs money.

How can I, as a customer, bring myself up to the appropriate level of information to assess what should be done and how often my bike needs servicing in the workshop?
In this connection, the operating instructions supplied with each bike are very important. Although they are as erotic as an athlete's foot, they also include for example maintenance intervals.

Is there also a guarantee or warranty on the repairs, and what is the difference?
Guarantee is only a voluntary service provided by the manufacturer and refers, for example, to components such as the frame. Although the term warranty is often used, it actually refers to the liability for material defects in the case of a purchase. However, you can assert rights under the law of contracts for work and services if the work was carried out improperly or incorrectly.

The interview was held by: Stefanie Weinberger

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