A Belgium brand of bicycle stems were called for a voluntary recall by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission due to a report of the handlebar breaking, resulting in minor injuries for a customer, reported the U.S. CPSC on Tuesday.
The handlebar stem in question as a possible hazard was the 4ZA Threadless Carbon Bicycle Handlebar Stem, according to the press release issued by the CPSC, of which 105 units have been sold in the U.S. The stems were manufactured in Taiwan but released by the Race Productions NV in Belgium, and distributed in the U.S. by Sinclair Imports, of Reno, Nev., and Quality Bicycle Products, of Bloomington, Minn. They were sold via various websites, including Quality Bicycle Products, Inc.'s site, www.ridley-bikes.com, from January 2005 to August 2010 at a retail price of $59.
The press release stated that the hazard of the stem originated from the report that "the bicycle handlebar stems can crack or break, posing a fall hazard."
The CPSC - the government agency sought to protecting consumers from products that may possibly cause injury or death - called into action when Quality Bicycle Products, Inc. received a report recently "of a handlebar stem breaking resulting in minor injuries," noted the press release.
A detailed description of the potentially hazardous handlebar was issued, as well: "The recall involves all 4ZA 31.8 threadless bicycle handlebar stems sold as individual aftermarket components. The stems are black and have the word "4ZA Cycling Performance" painted on the carbon extension between the steerer clamp and handlebar clamp. The recalled stems range in extension lengths from 90mm to 130mm, approximately 3.5 to 5 inches."
For those who still own and use the 4ZA Threadless Carbon Bicycle Handlebar Stem, the CPSC, under U.S. federal law, insisted that consumers immediately stop the usage of the handlebars, and contact the retailers from which they purchased the possibly dangerous product and try to get a replacement stem for free. The 4ZA Threadless Carbon Bicycle Handlebar Stem can not be sold or resold by retailers or its distributors as the U.S. government sanctioned the reselling of recalled goods as illegal.
