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.

TOUR 02/2013
Reading time 1:45 minutes

You have a right

Creaking bottom brackets, chipping off paint or a crack in the frame – there is no bicycle that is resistant to damage. Good to know one’s rights as a purchaser. TOUR explains what you can claim.

The sun shines, the carbon frame is polished and the silent run of the chain is the only noise in the quiet landscape. This is how road racing should be. As long as all runs perfectly, road racers and dealers are best friends. They have the same hobby and have a lot of joy with sophisticated engineering. But what happens when the chain jumps permanently to the one or the other side or when the frame surface is affected by cracks? Then customers and dealers often become bitter enemies, all the more as both sides are often enough not familiar with current laws. (...)

LIABILITY FOR MATERIAL DEFECTS

You’re looking forward to the first weekend trip with your brand-new road racing bike. Facing your first uphill climb you shift into the easiest gear, then a cracking noise, the cranks and the rear wheel get blocked and you hardly prevent a fall. (...)

The cause of all this mess is improper adjustment: this falls under warranty, your dealer is obliged to compensate the entire damage. The warranty is granted from the date of purchase on and regulates the contingent liability between dealer and customer. (...)


IN SHORT
Warranty and product liability are consumer protective laws. A guarantee extending the two-year period and Crash Replacement applicable in case of an accident can have a cash value – this is a point you should consider when buying a bicycle!


GUARANTEE AND CRASH REPLACEMENT

Two years after the date of purchase the statutory warranty period expires.

Whether or not you’ll find someone who’ll settle the costs in the event of a loss, depends on the guarantee or the crash replacement arrangement granted by the manufacturer. (...)

PRODUCT LIABILITY

Even if the damage occurs only years later, you as a consumer are not left completely unprotected. The statutory product liability compels manufacturers to ensure that products are safe and do not pose any risk to the user and the environment ten years from the date of purchase. (...)


COMMENT
Laws and guarantees are like the rules of soccer. It’s only by these rules that the parties involved have a base for a fair dispute. Laws regulate the rights and the obligations on both sides. As customer you should not only consider the question of weight or colour, but also check the receipts and terms of warranty, keep them in a safe place and observe and perform the indications of the manufacturer as to the servicing. Replacement will only be granted in case you do. If the positions will harden nevertheless, in most of the cases it may only help to consult a lawyer who will contribute to clarify the claim, if necessary in cooperation with an expert.


DIRK ZEDLER
Bicycle expert, Ludwigsburg


If you want to read more about this, request the respective issue from Delius-Klasing-Verlag or (in the event the issue is out of stock) send us a stamped self-addressed envelope (DIN A4) and € 3.00 in form of stamps together with a short notice indicating the actual article you are interested in. A copy of the respective article will then be made available to you immediately.

Go back