NEWS
Halfords gets in early on EN standards Retail chain’s brands to comply with new standards ‘long before’ impending legislation comes into force By Jonathon Harker NATIONAL bike retail chain Halfords has told BikeBiz that it is already hard at work to ensure its bikes will comply with forthcoming EN standards and that its brands will comply with the new legislation well in advance of the deadline. The pan European standards will replace current mandatory British bike standards – BS 6102 Part 1. The new regulations will bring new requirements for the safety and durability of bikes, including better braking performance for all types of bicycles, among other quality standards.
build and safety check, followed by our free six-week service. Ultimately, the customer receives greater peace-of-mind.” He added: “As the number one UK and Republic of Ireland bike retailer, Halfords is keen to adopt the most stringent available quality and safety standards, and pass these benefits onto the customer. We also feel that we have a duty to implement the most rigorous standards on the market, even though they may not strictly be required by law for some time.” Hall revealed that full compliance only required slight changes for the firm: “We have a long heritage and a well-
“We found that our history had served us well and that only relatively minor modifications were required to ensure full compliance to the new standards.” Chris Hall, Halfords’ Head of Quality Assurance Chris Hall, Halfords’ head of quality assurance and product Compliance, told BikeBiz: “Our entire cycle range will comply with the new standards, well before the legal deadline. This will include all of our own brands – Apollo, Carrera, Boardman, XRated and Trax – as well as all of the other popular brands that sit on our shelves. “Our desire to apply the most stringent quality and safety standards to our cycles is emphasised by Halfords’ free
Halfords is ensuring each of its own brands is fully compliant, as well as its external brands
selection. We found that our history had served us well, and that there were only relatively minor modifications required to ensure full compliance to the new standards.” The firm’s East European presence was an added incentive
for the retailer to take an early approach to the standards: “We also have stores in the Czech Republic and Poland where, unlike UK and ROI, there is no mandatory national cycle standard. The EN standards were therefore adopted immediately
on their issue in these countries, so this also was another reason for us to ensure compliance sooner. The focus in these countries has been, not surprisingly, on the safety elements of the standards for kids’ bikes.”
established product development process, which starts with feedback from our customers, via our store cycle specialist network. Our specialist staff take great pride in being knowledgeable about the products they sell, and that they have actively contributed to the improvements in our ranges of bikes. Our EN development programme, built on our long experience of bike design, meant closely working with our suppliers, with careful component
Moore Large sheds light on Fenix deal DERBY-BASED distributor Moore Large has added the new Fenix brand to its growing portfolio. The Fenix range, which features high-quality flashlights that can be mounted to handlebars and helmets, is already in stock and available to Moore Large’s dealer base. The new deal means that retailers will be able to get their hands on the Fenix line-up, which features cutting edge LED technology, and aircraft grade aluminium design with an extra tough anodised finish. An ML spokesperson told BikeBiz: "Moore Large are excited to add Fenix to its already strong
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lighting range. Torch Lights cover the low-to-mid range, Knog offers something outside the box for the trendy commuter and Fenix now covers high-power lights. Moore Large will be the exclusive cycling distributor in the UK for Fenix.” The supplier explained that one of the key selling points behind the range is the power output to size ratio, giving out bright light up to 240 lumens despite being small and compact. Beam brightness doesn’t fade as battery power diminishes, while the optimised circuit design of the TK series flashlights regulates output to prevent over-discharge.
The T6 aircraft-grade aluminium body offers great durability, is waterproof and dustproof, as a result of a specially designed seal structure. Also featuring a heat dissipating system and boasting electrical efficiency that makes the most of limited battery power, the optic’s design enables the beam of a Fenix flashlight to cast a fine blend of far throwing light and soft illumination with a perfect combination of hot spot and floodlight. Interested dealers should contact Moore Large on 01332 274200 for more information on the new torch range.
BIKEBIZ AUGUST 7