Big Plastic Disc...

[theclaud]

Surely this can't be a good idea? I was on a charity ride at the weekend and the organisers insisted everybody start the race with one of these:



Its purpose was merely marketing, and having put up with 8 miles of flapping, I ditched it at the first checkpoint, and I was surprised that more people didn't do the same. Anyway, though my motive in binning the thing was mainly irritation at its plasticky pointlessness, it seemed to me that it might present a hazard of various kinds - not only did I see plenty of them coming loose, but it was rather windy and it looked like the sort of thing that might affect handling to no small degree - a bit of an issue on Welsh mountainsides. Are these things common in charity events, and should a serious question be raised about their safety? I await the opinions of folk more knowledgeable in these matters...

 

[MartinC]

It's crazy. Anyone who puts something like that in their front wheel shouldn't be let out on their own. Ask the opinion of anyone who's scrutineered bikes for a race - no-one would pass a bike with one of those on. Having anything loose and insecure flapping in the front wheel is a danger - especially when riding in a group where you can take others out too. If the organisers were encouraging people to do this they'd have be toast if anyone sued after an accident - it's frightening incompetence.

But I expect it's OK 'cos they made them wear helmets.

 

[Smokin Joe]

I wouldn't want one in a crosswind. Bonkers idea and downright dangerous.

 

[Davidc]

I wonder if their PL insurers knew about it?

 

[661-Pete]

Never heard of such a thing. I've taken part in our local charity ride, lots of times, and all we get for our efforts is a T-shirt (still got a drawer full of them )! Why don't you write to the charity concerned (just looked up the website, I see it's a children's hospice) expressing your concern? I'm sure they'll be reasonable.

 

[GilesM]

Not something I'd want on my front wheel if there were any strong cross winds, and something I'd want even less on the front wheel of somebody close by who wasn't used to riding in a group, and even if there is no safety risk, then they should be removed just for looking crap.

 

[dodgy]

Ridiculous, I'd point blank refuse.

 

[stevieboy378]

I'd accept it gratefully, promising to fit it to the wheel for the duration. Then, at the first opportunity I'd bin it, and later claim that it had fallen off . . . .

 

[theclaud]

Thanks all. I think I will mention it to them.

They advised helmet use (even referring to helmets as "this essential piece of safety equipment", but didn't insist on it. I didn't have one on. I did actually crash on this ride - not as a result of the disc, and not in any way in which headgear would have made any difference, but thanks to the usual insane hazards of Sustrans routes. Apparently it's a good idea to have a sort of mini cattle grid (nothing to do with livestock) with large flat metal struts that are treacherously slippy when wet (which is most of the time) right underneath those barriers that narrow at handlebar height...

 

[RedBike]

I did a sportive 3yrs ago now where I was advised to fasten a timing chip to my chainstay with zip ties.

During the ride I clipped the timing chip with the heal of my shoe knocking it into the wheel. The result was 3 snapped spokes and a long walk to the next checkpoint.

The most annoying bit was the organisers still charged me ~£20/£25 for my lost timing chip!

 

[theclaud]

[QUOTE 1177504"]
They would have been better handing out t-shirts, good PR and a momento for the day to keep. Those plastic things look like in a word - shoot. And TBH I don't think I would have rode with them on my bike if I was taking part.
[/quote]

I've written to them about the plastic thingies. I managed, with some effort, to avoid the word "shoot", but that was the drift. When I said "insisted", I overstated the case a bit - they expected everyone to have one, but I don't think they'd disqualify you for refusing. They did give out t-shirts - unfortunately they are a bit shoot as well, the sizing apparently being based on the notion that everyone is a tall and rather portly male. Still, bike rags always come in handy...

 

[theclaud]

This is the reply about the discs:

Many thanks for your feedback, we take all comments on board when preparing for each new event.

With regard to the bike disks, their main purpose is to ensure that our riders are highly visible to our marshals, other participants, other trail and road users during the event. They are purchased from a company who specialise in high visibility safety products and a securing sticker is included. Yours is the first safety concern which has been expressed in the 8 years which we have been using them, so there isn’t any intention to change this but we will, of course, monitor feedback, to see if it a recurrent concern for participants.

 

[stevieboy378]

This is the reply about the discs:

Many thanks for your feedback, we take all comments on board when preparing for each new event.

With regard to the bike disks, their main purpose is to ensure that our riders are highly visible to our marshals, other participants, other trail and road users during the event. They are purchased from a company who specialise in high visibility safety products and a securing sticker is included. Yours is the first safety concern which has been expressed in the 8 years which we have been using them, so there isn’t any intention to change this but we will, of course, monitor feedback, to see if it a recurrent concern for participants.

thats the most kindly worded "F**k Off" letter I've read in a while . . . .

 

[661-Pete]

If I may say so, that reply looks utterly preposterous! What this 'company that specialises in high visibility safety products' actually produces, is anyone's guess. Perhaps it's yellow jackets for forklift operators. Whatever, they may have no knowledge of attaching things to bikes...

What sort of ride was this: was it competitive or just a 'fun ride'?

As I said, I've gone on several of the local charity do's, the annual Burgess Hill Bike Ride to be explicit. This is very much in the 'fun ride' category, no competitiveness, beginners welcome (there are three alternate distances, 10, 20 and 40 miles). The routes are fully marshalled and I don't think the marshals have any problems seeing the participating cyclists and directing them the right way. Most of the participants are wearing the T-shirt anyway. They organise a 'broom wagon' to sweep up the stragglers and deal with mechanicals etc. They've been doing it for years and I don't think they've lost anyone yet...

If perchance I happen to pass a marshalled junction on an occasion when I'm not on the organised ride, I just call to the marshals and explain - a bit of common courtesy that stops them getting worried when I ignore their directions!

But these guys who organised your event, are probably set in their ways. Good luck!

 

[awfulquiet]

Surely this can't be a good idea? I was on a charity ride at the weekend and the organisers insisted everybody start the race with one of these:

What happened if anyone told them to do something physically impossible with their wheel inserts?