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 06/2017
Reading time 1:00 minute

Interview with Dirk Zedler, bicycle expert for bicycle technology and safety

Why is a classification important?

Because the field of use and the requirements between the different mountain bike categories couldn't be more diverse. It’s the same thing with add-on parts such as for example handlebars: It is clear that downhill handlebars must be more resistant than marathon handlebars. As the customer wants to use the product for jumping high drops with the one and to spare weight and ride unchallenging trails with the other one.

In how far are manufacturers with the classification on the safe side in terms of liability?

The sticker and the description are considered as guideline. In a lawsuit this is a major factor. It is, however, no free-ticket for manufacturers. Each case must be considered individually.

Am I right that the classification is not prescribed by law?

Yes, but existing court judgements have a similar effect. Which means there are judgements which make bike manufacturers look bad. If someone takes legal action in a similar case, the court will come to a similar judgement.

Enduros of category 4 are limited to a drop height of 1.22 metres. Not really high.

Correct. Of course, manufacturers place the bar rather low to be on the safe side.

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