Saint Piran Pro Cycling Statement re: LaPierre
Statement on behalf of Saint Piran Ltd
We note Raleigh’s apparent denial that they have received reports of faults with the LaPierre bikes from any professional cycling team. Saint Piran’s lawyers, have in fact written to Raleigh on 22nd April 2022 and have since been in correspondence with Raleigh (UK) Ltd’s own lawyers. The dispute is ongoing.
The Saint Piran men’s and women’s teams were using a total of 60 LaPierre bikes being the 2021 Aircode and Xeluis models (LaPierre has since introduced 2022 replacement models). Since September 2021, the team has suffered problems with headsets on the bikes regularly working loose and with frame and fork failures. There have been 23 separate episodes, namely:
7 x replacement of forks
Replaced frames
14 x marked steerer columns, concerned as being potentially susceptible to failure
Following liaison with Raleigh/LaPierre, efforts have were made to achieve a solution to the problems including the replacement of stems and the installation of stem shims - sadly further problems occurred following these alterations.
Saint Piran, whilst appreciating the efforts that LaPierre/Raleigh made, took the decision to stop their use of the bikes. The team/its sponsor has sourced alternative bikes for the riders and in doing so has incurred costs, well in excess of £100,000 both in purchasing those replacements and in addressing the issues it encountered whilst the bikes were being used.
There have been suggestions from Raleigh’s representatives that the issues might have arisen through incorrect assembly by Saint Piran’s mechanics – that is entirely rejected. The team arranged an independent report to assess the likely cause of the issues, which identified causes other than the mechanics assembly of the bikes. That report was shared with Raleigh and is challenged by them. Raleigh have offered a further independent inspection, but that has not yet been progressed.
The team has sought financial assistance from Raleigh, but that has not been forthcoming