‘Approved by UCI’ meeting for Jan

The Union Cycliste Internationale and the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry – both based in Switzerland – will be holding a meeting – in Switzerland – to discuss the new ‘approved by UCI’ product accreditation process. This comes into force on January 1st. The UCI/WFSGI meeting will be staged in Aigle, January 13-14th.

The new accreditation scheme was launched at Eurobike in September.

WFSGI members include 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 first products to be covered by the ‘approved by UCI’ labelling program are frames and forks (road, track, cyclo-cross but not yet BMX or MTB) in development from 1st November 2010.

Accreditation for 2009/2010 frames is possible but not an obligation, says the UCI. The accreditation process starts with frames and forks. Wheels, saddles, handlebars and clothing will start in January. 

"There will be no changes to the existing rules but the UCI will support the industry to explain in additional drawings the various measures and limitations," said a statement from WFSGI.

To have a UCI-legal frame put through the accreditation process will likely cost about £6,746.61 ($10,400).

Marius Widmer, Communication & Marketing Manager for WFSGI, said:

"This seems a lot of money but the brands will also avoid a lot of modifications, changes and discussions with UCI commissioners, which in the end also equals money. "We’re checking to see if there are other cost options in the testing procedure available, for example, testing frames that have already been produced where part of the process integrated in the testing process becomes unnecessary."

One company will be charge of producing the ‘approved by UCI’ labels.

The mid-January meeting in Switzerland will have talks from Pat McQuaid, UCI President; Robbert De Kock, Secretary General of WFSGI; Philippe Chevallier, the UCI Sport and Technical Director; Julien Carron, the UCI Technical Coordinator; and Professor Jan-Anders Månson of Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, the composites expert in charge of the accreditation process.

Delegates to the two day meeting will also visit the bicycle testing laboratory at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne.

Any bike brand can attend the UCI/WFSI meeting. To apply, email sburkert[at]wfsgi.org.