Today's Consumer: News you can use

BIKE-RELATED RECALLS

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Wednesday announced a series of recalls involving several types of bicycles because of possible structural failures that can cause a rider to lose control and suffer injury.

-- Pacific Cycle LLC of Madison, Wis., is recalling 2,500 Ally Cat tandem bicycle accessories because the hitch connecting the tandem accessory can fail. Pacific told the CPSC it has received one report of the hitch failing, resulting in abrasions to the rider of the tandem.

The recalled part consists of a wheel, seat, pedals and handlebars and attaches to the host bicycle by a hitch. The recall involves model Nos. AC 100, AC 200 or AC 300. The items were sold by L.L.Bean Inc. and independent bicycle retailers, and by Wal-Mart under the Mongoose Ally Cat brand, for between $80 and $130.

Consumers are advised to stop using the accessories and call Pacific at 800-626-2811 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday for a free replacement hitch and instructions. In addition, L.L Bean Inc., which sold these bicycle accessories by catalog, will contact each of their known purchasers to provide the needed replacement parts. For more information, consumers can visit the Pacific Cycle Web site at pacific-cycle.com or the Mongoose Web site at mongoose.com.

Bicycle accessories with nylon or plastic sleeves are not included in the recall.

-- Performance Inc., of Chapel Hill, N.C., is recalling 1,150 wheel rims on Performance Road bicycles because they can crack. Performance told the CPSC it had received two reports of the rims failing but no reports of injuries.

The recalled rims were used on both front and rear wheels of 2001 model R-101 bicycles. The rims were sold between February and October for about $600 for Performance bicycles and between $35 and $130 for bicycle wheels with rims built on. The rims were sold through the company's Web site and by Performance Stores.

Consumers are advised to stop using the bicycles immediately and return the wheels for free replacements. For more information, they can call Performance at 800-553-8324 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the company's Web site at performancebike.com/recall.

-- BikeE Corp. of Corvallis, Ore., is recalling 700 recumbent tandem bicycles because the steerer tube on the front forks can separate. BikeE told the CPSC it had received three reports of the tube separating but no reports of injuries.

The recalled bikes were made last year and this year. They have two handlebars and two seats, which are in a lowered, horizontal riding position. The recall involves E2 models with serial numbers beginning with a B or T, the latter followed by five numbers and the former followed by a letter, six numbers and a final letter.

The bikes were sold by BikeE dealers between March 2000 and October 2001 for about $2,200.

Consumers are advised to stop using the bicycles and return them to an authorized dealer for a free fork replacement. For more information, they can call BikeE toll-free at 800-231-3136 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or visit the company's Web site at bikee.com.

CARS WARS: EPISODE 2001 -- ATTACK OF THE CLONE OFFERS

Ford Motor Co. bowed to pressure Wednesday and extended its zero-percent financing program for new cars and trucks to Jan. 14, nearly two weeks longer than General Motors' extended buyer incentives.

Effective Nov. 21, 36-month loans on Ford 2001 and 2002 cars and trucks will be interest-free -- excluding the new Thunderbird roadster and Escape small sport-utility vehicle.

Interest rates rise to 0.9 percent for 48-month loans on 2001 vehicles and 3.9 percent for 2002 cars and trucks. Rates for longer-term five-year loans are 3.9 percent for 2001 vehicles and 5.9 percent for 2001 vehicles.

Both Ford and Chrysler matched

It was GM who kicked off the no- and low-interest offers on Sept. 20 after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, and Ford and Chrysler soon followed suit. The incentives have been a huge success with sales jumping more than 30 percent for GM and Ford in October.

But the deals have been expensive for auto companies, costing more than $2,000 per vehicle, and industry analysts said Ford may be losing money on every car it sells. Still, the No. 2 automaker had to keep pace with the competition.

GM has extended its financing deals twice, now through Jan. 2. Ford and Chrysler earlier also extended their financing programs until mid-November. They'd been scheduled to expire Oct. 31.

Chrysler has not announced a second extension but has said it will remain competitive with the other automakers.

HOME INJURIES DURING THE HOLIDAYS

The holidays bring a general hustle and bustle of things to do -- shopping, decorating family get-togethers -- so much that we often become careless when it comes to preventing home injuries. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 8,700 people each year are treated in the emergency room for injuries directly related to the holidays, most of which could have been prevented.

"Around the holidays, many people let their guard down for safety when, in fact, they should be even more cautious," cautions David Oliver, president and executive director of Lowe's Home Safety Council.

During the holidays, everyone likes to give a hand when preparing the home for guests. As helpful as it might be to have young children pitch in, parents still need to be wary of potential household hazards introduced during the holidays.

Dr. David Levine of the Cook County Hospital's emergency room in Chicago reports that injuries, especially child-related ones, rise during the holidays. "We tend to see a lot of choking cases around the holidays," says Levine. "Children are enticed by sparkly, glittery ornaments and put them in their mouths. We also see a lot of poisonings to children and animals if they eat mistletoe and holly berries."

The liquid, bubbling lights are another major home safety hazard. The doctor says kids drink it, thinking it's fruit juice. "The liquid itself is a harmful chemical, methylene chloride, which breaks down in the body like carbon monoxide and causes a delayed reaction of carbon monoxide poisoning," says Levine.

Children aren't the only ones visiting the ER during the holidays. Adults also can become careless, especially if they begin to overdo the decoration and holiday planning. "We often treat adults with falling injuries -- people who climb on tables and improperly use stools or chairs to hang decorations around the house," adds Levine.

Households expecting small children or seniors as guests during the holidays should conduct a full home safety inspection. Remember to check for exposed outlet plugs, unlocked cabinets, tripping, falling and choking hazards, as well as install handrails on all staircases. For a complete home safety checklist, visit loweshomesafety.org.