US father’s warning after six-year-old dies after being impaled by his bike’s handlebars

atlaz wrote:

I think in most organised events, in theory no plugs means no participation. Doubt it’s enforced rigorously 

It's in the T&Cs for Ride London and Velo South. Also ban bullhorn and spaghetti bars

atlaz wrote:

I think in most organised events, in theory no plugs means no participation. Doubt it’s enforced rigorously 

And on the news page there's a lovely Cannondale that was used for a hillclimb with no bar tape on the drops and to save extra weight - no bar plugs. Bit silly really.

fenix wrote:

atlaz wrote:

I think in most organised events, in theory no plugs means no participation. Doubt it’s enforced rigorously 

And on the news page there's a lovely Cannondale that was used for a hillclimb with no bar tape on the drops and to save extra weight - no bar plugs. Bit silly really.

Context. I'm pretty sure hillclimbs make their own rules up, making a hillclimber have more than one brake and checking they have bar ends in, smacks of trying to enforce health and safety in the annual Coopers Hill Cheese Roll!

atlaz wrote:

I think in most organised events, in theory no plugs means no participation. Doubt it’s enforced rigorously 

It's a requirement in the BC regs for Road, Track, Mountain Bike, BMX and Speedway. I don't know about rigorous but I have certainly seen riders told that they cannot start until their bar ends are plugged. There's usually someone around with a spare plug, even, on occasion, the commissaire who's just told them they can't start without fixing it.

simon F wrote:

atlaz wrote:

I think in most organised events, in theory no plugs means no participation. Doubt it’s enforced rigorously 

It's a requirement in the BC regs for Road, Track, Mountain Bike, BMX and Speedway. I don't know about rigorous but I have certainly seen riders told that they cannot start until their bar ends are plugged. There's usually someone around with a spare plug, even, on occasion, the commissaire who's just told them they can't start without fixing it.

I've seen people pulled up for it in triathlons a couple of times. I've got it in my head that there's a similar rule in TTs but can't recall seeing anyone pulled for it.

atlaz wrote:

I think in most organised events, in theory no plugs means no participation. Doubt it’s enforced rigorously 

I was a voluneteer at the start of the TCR this year, and that was one of the things that the bike safety check covered. A helpful previous rider (who'd been caught out last year) turned up with a handful of wine corks, most of which were used I think.

atlaz wrote:

I doubt they’re serrated. My guess is the bike gets dropped or crashed a far bit and it’s just the wear and tear from that

That makes more sense. There's no reason that I can think of to have serrated ends of handlebars and it would definitely reduce the life of the grips as well as being more dangerous.

I cringe whenever I see bikes without proper end plugs and sometimes warn the owners depending on whether I think they'd appreciate the interference or not. It's the difference between a nasty bruise or a really serious injury.

hawkinspeter wrote:

Serrated ends of handlebars? That's definitely not right and I reckon the parents should sue the manufacturer if that's the case (not that it'll be much consolation, but it is the U.S.).

Yes, and if it happened in GB, the parents wouldn't do a thing, because you're all so wonderful and above material things.

Idiot.

A440 wrote:

hawkinspeter wrote:

Serrated ends of handlebars? That's definitely not right and I reckon the parents should sue the manufacturer if that's the case (not that it'll be much consolation, but it is the U.S.).

Yes, and if it happened in GB, the parents wouldn't do a thing, because you're all so wonderful and above material things.

Idiot.

When you've been around here a bit longer you'll maybe get the irony.

A440 wrote:

hawkinspeter wrote:

Serrated ends of handlebars? That's definitely not right and I reckon the parents should sue the manufacturer if that's the case (not that it'll be much consolation, but it is the U.S.).

Yes, and if it happened in GB, the parents wouldn't do a thing, because you're all so wonderful and above material things.

Idiot.

Ooooh! Touched a raw nerve, did I?

hawkinspeter wrote:

Serrated ends of handlebars? That's definitely not right and I reckon the parents should sue the manufacturer if that's the case (not that it'll be much consolation, but it is the U.S.).

Of course they are not sold with serrated bars or even without bar ends. This is in use damage.

This tragedy could be avoided with simple maintenance. Some people just need to be educated to consider the possibilities.

Unfortunately these days the state molly cuddles everyone to the point where people have forgotton how to recognise risk for themselves.

It's a sad story but hopfully parents will learn from it. 

bikeman01 wrote:

Unfortunately these days the state molly cuddles everyone to the point where people have forgotton how to recognise risk for themselves.

It's a sad story but hopfully parents will learn from it. 

It's just not like the good old days, when loads more kids were dying of plague or TB. At least you could tell when your kid had them. Stupid nanny state.

Hopfully people learn all the way back to the dark ages.