Recall of Bicycles and Bicycle Components

Description

Recall of Bicycles and Bicycle Components NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 17, 2001 Release # 01-200 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: Yolanda Fultz-Morris, (301) 504-7066 CPSC, Firms Announce Recall of Bicycles and Bicycle Components The following product safety recalls were conducted by firms in cooperation with the CPSC: PRODUCT: RANS Bicycles -- RANS Inc., of Hays, Kan., is recalling about 4,000 long-wheelbase recumbent bicycles. The models being recalled are the RANS Stratus, Stratus XL, Gliss, Tailwind, Wave, Response and Nimbus. RANS models Tailwind and Wave bicycles with a serial number of 0700 or 0301 after a two-letter prefix are not included in the recall. Serial numbers are located beneath the bottom bracket or crankset of the bike. Specialty bicycle shops sold these bikes from June 1993 through July 2001 for between $700 and $1,500. PROBLEM: The bicycle's front fork steering tube can break, causing the rider to lose control of the bicycle, fall and suffer injuries. INCIDENTS/INJURIES: RANS Inc. has received eight reports of forks breaking on these bicycles. The company has received no reports of injuries. WHAT TO DO: Consumers should stop using these bicycles immediately and return them to the store where purchased or to a qualified bike mechanic for inspection and repair, if necessary. For more information, call RANS Inc. toll-free at (877) 990-7267 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit their web site at www.rans.com/recall or at www.ransbikes.com/recall. PRODUCT: Specialized Bicycles Hemi 12-inch Children's Bicycles - Specialized Bicycles, Inc., of Morgan Hill, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 3,500 Specialized-brand bicycles. These Hemi 12-inch boys and girls model bicycles were sold for the 2001 model year only. The model names are the 2001 Hemi Pro 12-inch boys team red and the 2001 Hemi Fastgirl 12-inch girls pink bikes. "Specialized" and the model name are written on the bicycles. Specialized dealers sold the bicycles nationwide from July 2000 through May 2001 for between $110 to $130. PROBLEM: The frame of the bicycle can break during use causing the rider to lose control of the bicycle, fall and suffer serious injuries. INCIDENTS/INJURIES: Specialized Bicycles Inc. has received two reports of these bicycles breaking resulting in minor injuries. WHAT TO DO: Consumers should stop using these bicycles immediately, and return them to the nearest Specialized dealer for a refund. To determine if the bicycle is part of this recall and for more information, call Specialized Bicycles Inc. at (800) 214-1468 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday. PRODUCT: Cannondale "Carbon Left" Suspension Forks - Cannondale Corp., of Bethel, Conn., is voluntarily recalling 367 "Carbon Lefty" suspension forks. These single-sided suspension forks were sold on the 2001 model Cannondale F4000 SL, Jekyll 4000 SL, Raven 4000 SL bicycles and separately. All forks made prior to May 31 are subject to recall. The brand name "Cannondale" appears on the frames of these bicycles. The recalled forks are marked "Carbon" and "Lefty." Cannondale dealers sold the recalled forks on bicycles from December 2000 through June 2001. The bicycles sold for between $3,500 and $4,300. PROBLEM: The bicycle forks can break, causing the rider to lose control of the bicycle, fall and suffer serious injury or death. INCIDENTS/INJURIES: Cannondale has received six reports of forks breaking. However, there have been no injuries reported. WHAT TO DO: Consumers should stop using these bicycles immediately and return them to a Cannondale retailer to arrange to have the fork to be rebuilt and upgraded at no charge. To determine if your bicycle is subject to recall, and for more information, call Cannondale toll-free at (800) BIKE USA between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, betwe