Finding May Solve Riddle of Fatigue in Muscle.  Read more HERE

*Bike Recalls*

JUST IN 2/07/2008

--Product recall: Trek Recalls Girls Bicycles Due To Frame Failure

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: Trek MT220 Girls Bicycles
Units: About 49,000
Importer: Trek Bicycle Corp., of Waterloo, Wis.
Hazard: The bicycle’s frame can break during use, causing the rider to lose control and suffer injuries.
Incidents/Injuries: Trek has received 13 reports of frames breaking, including four minor injuries.
Description: This recall involves Trek girls’ bicycles model MT220 and model years 2005 (light metallic blue), 2006 (metallic silver and metallic purple or pink and pearl white), and 2007 (pink and white pearl or metallic purple). The model name is printed on the frame of the bicycle. Model year 2008 bicycles re not included in this recall.
Sold at: Authorized Trek dealers nationwide from April 2004 through June 2007 for about $300.
Manufactured in: China and Taiwan
Remedy: Consumers should take the recalled bicycle away from children immediately and return it to a Trek dealer for a free replacement MT220 girl’s bicycle or a $100 discount on a different size Trek bicycle.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, consumers can contact Trek at (800) 373-4594 between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. CT Monday through Friday and between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Saturday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.trekbikes.com

12/18/2007  Bicycle Helmets Recalled by Specialized Due to Failing Helmet Standard
Name of Product: Specialized Bicycle Helmets
Manufacturer: Specialized Bicycles, of Morgan Hill, Calif.
Hazard: The helmets fail testing required under CPSC's safety standard for bicycle helmets. This can pose a head injury hazard to riders in a fall.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported.
Description: This recall involves the Specialized helmets, model 2D. Model “2D” is printed on the sides of the helmet in the rear. The helmets were sold for men and women in matte black, white, silver, blue, pink, and team colors.
Sold by: Specialized through its authorized retailers and online stores between July 2007 and October 2007 for about $200.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled helmet immediately and return it to an Authorized Specialized Retailer to receive a free replacement or a full refund.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Specialized toll-free at (877) 808-8154 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. MT Monday through Friday, or visit the company’s Web site at www.specialized.com

Cannondale Recalls Scalpel Mountain Bikes; Frame Failure Poses Crash Hazard

The following product safety recall was voluntarily conducted by the firm in cooperation with the CPSC. Consumers should stop using the product immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Cannondale 2008 model year “Scalpel” mountain bikes

Units: About 150

Manufacturer: Cannondale Bicycle Corporation, of Bethel, Conn.

Hazard: The frame can break while in use, causing the rider to lose control and suffer injuries from a fall or collision.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received six reports of frames breaking. No injuries have been reported.

Description: The 2008 model year Scalpel is a cross-country racing mountain bike, made from carbon fiber and aluminum. They were sold in Black/White, Blue/Black and Black. The recall includes the following models:

Only certain serial numbers are affected.

Sold at: Authorized Cannondale dealers nationwide from October 2007 through December 2007.

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the bicycle immediately and contact Cannondale or authorized dealer for a free replacement frame. Consumers have been directly notified.

Consumer Contact: For further information, contact Cannondale at (800) 245-3872 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, send an e-mail to custserv@cannondale.com, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.cannondale.com

Reynolds Recalls Bicycle Forks Due to Fall Hazard
Name of Product: Reynolds UL Bicycle Forks
Units: About 330
Manufacturer: MacLean Quality Composites, d.b.a. Reynolds, of West Jordan, Utah
Distributors: Quality Bicycle Products, of Bloomington, Minn., and Security Bicycle Accessories, of Hempstead, N.Y.
Hazard: The fork tips could separate from the fork legs, causing the wheel to come loose from the fork while riding. This could pose a serious fall hazard to riders.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported.
Description: This recall involves the Reynolds UL bicycle fork models with 43 mm and 50 mm rakes and with serial numbers 09100 through 10403. The serial number decal is located on the steer tube. To see the serial number, the fork must be removed from the frame. Some recalled forks are black, have “Reynolds” printed on them, and have a gray and white stripe painted on the legs of the fork. Other recalled forks were painted with a different paint scheme and do not have “Reynolds” printed on them. To determine if a fork is included in this recall, consumers should contact the company.
Sold at: Independent bicycle retailers nationwide from October 2006 through May 2007 for about $500. The recalled forks were included in custom 2007 bicycle frame kits from the following manufacturers: Independent Fabrication, Litespeed, Lynskey Performance Designs LLC., Merlin, Parlee, Rock Lobster, Spectrum Cycles, Strong Frames and Vicious Cycles.
Manufactured in: United States
Remedy: Consumers should stop using the bicycles equipped with the recalled forks immediately and contact Reynolds for a free replacement fork.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Reynolds toll-free at (866) 798-3040 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, visit the company’s Web site at www.reynoldscycling.com/recall or send an email to recall@reynoldscycling.com

Procycle Group Inc. Recalls Bicycles Due to Fall Hazard (Rocky Mountain)

Name of Product: Rocky Mountain-Solo Bicycles

Units: About 45

Manufacturer: Procycle Group Inc., of Quebec, Canada

Hazard: The head tube can detach from the rest of the frame, posing a fall hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: Procycle Group Inc. has received two reports of head tubes detaching from the frames, resulting in shoulder and facial injuries.

Description: This recall involves the Rocky Mountain Bicycles brand of Solo bicycles. The models included in this recall are: 2006 SOLO CR50, 2006 SOLO CR70, and 2007 SOLO CR LTD. The bicycles have a full carbon Columbus frame. “Rocky Mountain” and “Solo” are printed on the head tube.

Sold by: Independent bicycle dealers nationwide from August 2006 through July 2007 for between $2,000 and $5,850.

Manufactured in: Taiwan

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the bicycle immediately and return the frame to the bicycle store where purchased to receive a free replacement frame, a full refund, or credit.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, please contact Procycle Group Inc. at (800) 663-2512 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.bikes.com

---Product recall:  Ritchey WCS and Pro model cranksets. cyclingnews.com reports that the left (non-drive-side) arms of some of these cranks can break while being ridden. To determine if your crank is suspect, check the five-digit code stamped in the back of the left arm. The first digit indicates the alloy used (6 indicates 6061; 2 indicates 2014) and the next four digits indicate the production date in year/month format (e.g., 0301 means January 2003). All WCS cranks with a forging code earlier than 0501 and all Pro cranks with a code prior to 0508 should be replaced. Affected crank owners should call Ritchey at 650-517-1878 or e-mail to contact_us@ritcheylogic.com (subject: "crankarm recall") for return instructions.
 

---Product recall:  Ritchey WCS Carbon 1Bolt seatposts. According to Ritchey, an unauthorized "deviation" in manufacturing procedures at its Asian factory has produced seatposts with substandard test results. A small number has reached the marketplace. Not affected are all single-bolt alloy WCS posts, "Stubby" heads included with certain Scott Addict models, and all Ritchey two-bolt seatposts. If you have a suspect 1Bolt post, e-mail contact_us@ritcheylogic.com.
 

---Product recall:  About 7,000 trailer bikes with brand names InStep Pathfinder, Schwinn Run About and Mongoose Alley Cat are involved. The coupler that connects the child's trailer bike to the adult's bike has welds that can fail, posing a crash hazard to children. The recall includes model numbers 12-PF250, 13-SC250, 13-SC350 and M5101. (The number is on the lower seat tube of the frame.) The faulty couplers have welded plates. Those made with cast parts aren't being recalled. The affected trailer bikes were made in China and sold by U.S. bike stores and other retailers from January through August 2007 for $80-$120. If you have one of these trailer bikes, keep your kid off it and contact the importer, Pacific Cycle, for a free repair kit at http://tinyurl.com/2ouaju
 

Raleigh Fork Recall.  More information HERE

-Cannondale Fork recall. More information HERE

-Cannondale Crankset recall. More information HERE

-Cannondale Brakes HERE

-SRAM Brake Set recall. More information HERE

-Dynacraft kids bikes recall (sold at Target). More information HERE

-Mirraco bike recall.  More information HERE

I have seen some of these bikes and components in our Bellingham peloton so if you think you, or a friend, have any of them please check the recall pages I have listed.