In August, the Kunshan Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau received an official notice from the Secretariat of the National Bicycle Standardization Technical Committee, stating that Engineer Yuan Xingqi from the bureau’s bicycle testing center, representing the China Bicycle Standardization Technical Committee, had proposed amendments to bicycle stability clauses along with the test results. These were adopted by the International Organization for Standardization ISO/TC149. It is reported that this marks the first time China, as the “Kingdom of Bicycles,” has participated in the revision of international bicycle standards.
China is a major bicycle producer, manufacturing over 80 million bicycles annually, accounting for more than 60% of the world’s total production. However, it has long lacked a voice in the formulation of international bicycle standards. In 1996, the ISO organization established the ISO 4210 standard “Bicycle safety requirements” for complete bicycles. Over the years, the bicycle industry has undergone significant changes, with an increasing variety of new models and materials. In 2011, the ISO decided to completely revise this standard. In June 2012, at the ISO bicycle standard revision meeting held in Madison, USA, Engineer Yuan Xingqi from the Kunshan Bicycle Testing Center represented the China Bicycle Standardization Technical Committee. Yuan raised objections to the clause in the standard that required a minimum steering angle of 30° for bicycles. After discussion among the experts present, it was decided that the Chinese side would conduct experimental verification to provide a basis for the amendment.
The bicycle steering angle refers to the range within which the handlebars can turn flexibly to the left and right from the forward-facing position. After receiving the task, the Kunshan Bicycle Testing Center carefully studied the issue and, spending less than 200 yuan, designed a simple angle measurement device. This ingeniously solved the problem of measuring and recording the steering angle. They then arranged for test riders to conduct tests on various road surfaces, obtaining precise data showing that the general steering angle during cycling ranges between 28° and 45°.
China is a major bicycle producer, manufacturing over 80 million bicycles annually, accounting for more than 60% of the world’s total production. However, it has long lacked a voice in the formulation of international bicycle standards. In 1996, the ISO organization established the ISO 4210 standard “Bicycle safety requirements” for complete bicycles. Over the years, the bicycle industry has undergone significant changes, with an increasing variety of new models and materials. In 2011, the ISO decided to completely revise this standard. In June 2012, at the ISO bicycle standard revision meeting held in Madison, USA, Engineer Yuan Xingqi from the Kunshan Bicycle Testing Center represented the China Bicycle Standardization Technical Committee. Yuan raised objections to the clause in the standard that required a minimum steering angle of 30° for bicycles. After discussion among the experts present, it was decided that the Chinese side would conduct experimental verification to provide a basis for the amendment.
The bicycle steering angle refers to the range within which the handlebars can turn flexibly to the left and right from the forward-facing position. After receiving the task, the Kunshan Bicycle Testing Center carefully studied the issue and, spending less than 200 yuan, designed a simple angle measurement device. This ingeniously solved the problem of measuring and recording the steering angle. They then arranged for test riders to conduct tests on various road surfaces, obtaining precise data showing that the general steering angle during cycling ranges between 28° and 45°.
In August last year, the Kunshan Bicycle Testing Center submitted this data and validation report to the ISO Secretariat through the National Bicycle Standardization Committee. On June 21 of this year, at the ISO international bicycle standard review meeting held in Berlin, the attending representatives heard the Chinese bicycle validation report. They unanimously agreed that the data provided by the Chinese side was accurate and the validation process was rigorous and reliable. They decided to adopt China’s suggestions and amend the relevant standard requirements. Yu Shiguang, Secretary-General of the National Bicycle Standardization Technical Committee, highly praised the Kunshan Bicycle Testing Center for enabling the ISO Bicycle Technical Committee to listen to China’s voice for the first time.
The Kunshan Bicycle Testing Center was recognized as a National Key Laboratory by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine in 2008. Currently, the testing center has mastered 165 standards from major importing countries and regions, making it the only professional institution in China capable of conducting tests in accordance with all major importing country and region standards. It has achieved the goal of “local testing, global access.”