WFSGI and UCI Invite Bike Industry for Meeting on Frames & Forks Homologation

AIGLE, Switzerland – The World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI) and the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) are inviting the bike industry for a meeting on frames and forks homologation. This meeting will take place on January 13 and 14, 2011 at the UCI headquarter in
Aigle, Switzerland.

Next to the members of the WFSGI (Accell Group, adidas, Argon18, BMC, Cannondale, Canyon, Cervelo, Felt bicycle, Fuji, Giant, Koga, Lapierre, Nike, ODLO, Ridley, Rotor, Scott, Shimano, Skins, Specialized, Sram, Trek, Wilier, Zipp), the meeting is open for all other bike companies and brands. However, priority on participation will be extended to the brands involved in Pro Tour racing. All brands interested in participation are invited to contact the WFSGI as soon as possible by e-mail: sburkert@wfsgi.org.

At the January 13 and 14, 2011 meeting further explanation and technical details will be presented on the homologation process that the UCI brings into force from January 2011. The first products targeted by this homologation process are frames and forks (Road, Track, Cycle-Cross) in development as from 1st November 2010. They are due to be tested according to the new 2011 homologation process. The homologation process for 2009/2010 frames is possible but not an obligation. The 2009/2010 frames will be controlled as previously done by the race commissioners.

The UCI homologation process starts with frames and forks. For wheels, saddles, handlebars and textiles the project on homologation begins in January. In the end there will be no changes to the existing rules but the UCI will support the industry by explaining in additional drawings the various measures and limitations.

The goal of the WFSGI/UCI meeting in January is to better inform the technical side of the UCI rules before manufacturers start their serial production. In the end it is the goal to have less to no discussions at the races if frames/forks (and later other products) are conform to the rules or not. It should also eliminate the difference in measures of the commissioners. It creates a level playing field and better security.

The speakers in Aigle

At the January 13 and 14, 2011 meeting several presentations will be held. Among the speakers are Patrick McQuaid, UCI President, Robbert De Kock, Secretary General WFSGI, Philippe Chevallier, UCI Sport and Technical Director, Julien Carron, UCI Technical Coordinator and Professor Jan-Anders Månson, EPFL, Lausanne.

On Friday 14, January Professor Jan-Anders Månson, one of the world’s leading experts in composite material, will do a presentation on the future of composite materials. The WFSGI bike members will also visit the bicycle testing laboratory at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne) and visualize the future process with the frames and forks.

For the interest of the bicycle industry the WFSGI and the UCI decided to open the meeting for other brands next to their members. For participation contact the WFSGI as soon as possible by e-mail at sburkert@wfsgi.org