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Victor Major, CEO of Velocite, a carbon bike maker founded in 2009 and based in Taiwan, has called on the UCI to further revise its controversial ‘Approved by UCI’ labelling program.
"I agree with standardisation," said Major. "What I do not agree with is the huge expense for pulling some calipers out or reviewing a 3D model. What is also unclear to me is if they will allow remote certifying companies, like SGS for example, to do this test."
The UCI is partnering with Ecole Polytechnique Fédéral de Lausanne of Switzerland to carry out the 3D scanning of supplied frames.
"Allowing SGS to conduct this approval testing would be a sign of goodwill from the UCI," said Major.
"At the moment, on top of the expensive sticker fee, we will also need to send frames to Switzerland for just one approved lab to do the measuring.
"This is a logistical expense and is senseless."
Major said his company has yet to submit to the UCI’s existing wheelset certification program because it is both expensive and anti-innovation.
"The UCI approval process for wheelsets is uninviting and expensive. It would mean freezing the design for at least three years. It may be that we get a wheelset approved, then freeze its development while improved versions of the same wheels continue to be available to racers not having to abide by the UCI rules.
"I am afraid of a similar situation developing with the [frame certification process].
