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.

TOUR 01/2002
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Is a wave of returns approaching?

On January, 1, new consumer protection laws were introduced.

Legal warranty was changed – it is now making particularly dealers discharge their duties. TOUR did some research to find out if the amendments will lead to a wave of returns and complaints approaching the bike shops. Furthermore: What customer and dealer have to consider in order to handle complaints without trouble.

Buying a road bike usually is a cause for rejoicing – for buyer and seller alike. But the newly built business-relation between customer and dealer quickly turns bad when the bike does not work as it is supposed to be. Most dealers take care of smaller problems like a rattling gear shifter or lumpy wheels – this is part of their service. But if serious defects arise after a longer period of time, which are costly to repair, trouble is bound to come. The customer’s rights were until recently rather narrowly held – thought the European Commission and issued a guideline in 1999 stating how consumer rights are to be strengthened. The EU member countries had to turn this guideline into laws, which came into force on January, 1, 2002.

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Author: Dirk Zedler

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