WASHINGTON, D.C. (BRAIN)—The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Dahon and REI, issued a voluntary recall of about 11,500 of the 2008 model year Dahon and REI Novara folding bicycles.
The hinge on the handlepost can crack, posing a fall hazard. There have been 25 reports of the handlepost hinge on these bicycles cracking, including one minor injury involving scrapes and bruises.
This recall involves model year 2008 Dahon and REI Novara folding bicycles. The models included in the recall are as follows:
via Bicycle Retailer and Industry News.

ELKTON, MD (BRAIN)—Gore Bike Wear has launched a B2B online shop specifically designed for retailers. The site is a tool for retailers to easily place immediate orders on the web. Current Gore customers can visit www.gorebikewear.com/shop_us (click on link) to register.
Jessica Czipoth, Gore’s U.S. marketing and PR associate, said, “We are very excited to launch the online shop and we look forward to having the ability to service our retailers at their convenience. They can now place immediate orders, 24/7, using our web based ordering program.”
via Bicycle Retailer and Industry …

WASHINGTON (BRAIN)—President Obama on Tuesday nominated Inez Moore Tenenbaum as chair of the Consumer Product Safety Commission and Robert S. Adler as a new commissioner.
If confirmed by Congress, Tenenbaum would replace outgoing chair Nancy Nord, a George W. Bush appointee.
President Obama also announced plans to increase the commission from three seats to five and to budget $107 million for the department, an increase of 71 percent since 2007.
via Bicycle Retailer and Industry News.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (BRAIN)—The League of American Bicyclists has announced its 2009 spring Bicycle Friendly Communities and States in celebration of Bike Month 2009, starting May 1.
The League is recognizing 13 new Bicycle Friendly Communities and three BFC renewals. Notably, five states have their first BFC designations: Cedar Falls, Iowa; Columbia, Missouri; Tulsa, Oklahoma.; Columbus, Ohio; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia and Columbus add to the League’s roster of metropolitan cities east of the Mississippi River to become a BFC, proving that the nation—not just the west coast—is growing increasingly aware of …

WASHINGTON, D.C. (BRAIN)—Bicycle imports in January and February posted the steepest decline in almost 10 years. Suppliers pulled the plug on factory orders to cope with inventory build-up at the end of 2008 and amidst worries over a deepening recession.
Statistics released by the Commerce Department show that 746,941 fewer units entered the U.S. in those two months when compared to the same period in 2008—a 31 percent drop. The last time the industry experienced such a steep decline was in 2001 as the nation struggled through a milder recession and …

WASHINGTON, D.C. (BRAIN)—The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Specialized, has issued a voluntary recall of about 14,000 mountain bikes from the 2009 model year.
The handlebars can break, posing a fall hazard to the rider.
via Bicycle Retailer and Industry News.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (BRAIN)—The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Specialized, has issued a voluntary recall of about 3,000 Roubaix Comp and Roubaix Pro bikes from 2004.
The cable stop on the bicycle can loosen, which can cause the rider to lose control and fall from the bike.
via Bicycle Retailer and Industry News.

WASHINGTON, D.C (BRAIN)—Members of the bicycle industry joined a rally on Capitol Hill last week to help urge legislators to amend the Consumer Product Safety Information Act.
One part of the law limits the amount of lead contained in products made for kids ages 12 and under, which impacts everything from used books to bicycles.
via Bicycle Retailer and Industry News.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (BRAIN)—The League of American Bicyclists has announced its 2008 Bike Shops of the Year.
via Bicycle Retailer and Industry News.