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WATERLOO, US – This week’s announcement of Trek to recall 49,000 bicycles worldwide doesn’t come alone. It’s one in a long list of recalls that has been published since January. Is price pressure putting too much stress on quality, or has the bicycle industry lost its control over quality?

Trek decided for the very costly recall due to possible frame failure. 13 reports of broken frames in the US, causing four minor injuries have prompted this measure.

Rictchey Design

In January Ritchey Design announced a recall for its WCS and PRO model non-drive side crank arms (left arm) and the WCS carbon one-bolt seatposts. Reasons were ‘potential safety issues’ meaning that the affected WCS and PRO crank arms may crack while the problems with the WCS carbon single-bolt seatposts are a result of an improper lay-up method used during the manufacturing process.

Decathlon

Also in January Decathlon had to take action for three types of B-Twin labelled Mountainbikes: Rockrider 9FR, Rockrider 9.1 and Rockrider 8.1. Brake problems are the cause here. Decathlon sold these bikes between 1 March 2007 and 23 August 2007.

Cannondale

Beginning this month Cannondale had to notify its customers of problems with the carbon frame of the Scalpel model (see picture). Glue used on the suspension unit at the back of the frame does not hold and a connection can come loose resulting in cyclist loosing control over the bike. Cannondale received ten reported incidents.

Stevens Bike

Stevens Bike had to take precautionary measures for the seatposts of its Oxygen Driver bikes. The ones used between March 2005 and August 2006 might break at top of the seatpost.

Riese & Müller

Also Riese & Müller is having troubles with the Schwalbe tubes on its Birdy. The valve of the SV5 tube is put under too much stress when used in combination with the Big Apple on the Birdy. This problem only arises with Birdy’s delivered to dealers since August 3th, 2007.

Recalls in the EU

These and other recalls are officially announced via the European Union’s alert system for consumer products that show a safety risk, RAPEX. More information can be found on Bike Europe Fact & Figures. 

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