Big Plastic Disc...

[GilesM]

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.

I think the problem was leaving out the word shoot in your original letter.

 

[theclaud]

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

Ha! I have simply thanked them for the reply and asked if they'd mind telling me the name of the company that produces these "high-visibility safety products". If I get an answer I might ask them about the safety of their stupid plastic discs.

 

[MartinC]

Ha! I have simply thanked them for the reply and asked if they'd mind telling me the name of the company that produces these "high-visibility safety products". If I get an answer I might ask them about the safety of their stupid plastic discs.

I'd be tempted to ask them if they (the ride organisers) have taken any advice from a competent body (e.g. CTC or British Cycling) about the safety aspects of getting unskilled users to add a product produced by a company with no relevant expertise to a safety critical part (i.e. the front wheel) of a bicycle. You could also invite them to contact these bodies before you do.

You might mention too that this appears to conflict with Rule 66 of the Highway Code - "You should not carry anything which will affect your balance or may get tangled up with your wheels or chain". Also that reputable companies like SKS design safety features (e.g. safety release for mudguards) into products for this sort of application.

You're right to be concerned and their previous reply is dismissive.

 

[fossyant]

I think the problem was leaving out the word shoot in your original letter.

LOL...........

I'd un-politely tell then to do one is they asked for some crap like that to be attached. Why not a brightly coloured 'number' that attaches to your bars - like most sportives use.....that identifies a rider.

I'd also not be too happy scratching up my nice hubs.

 

[Sam Kennedy]

Ugh they look horrible, quick way to make your bike look £300 cheaper than it actually is.

 

[dellzeqq]

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...

quoi!??? This wasn't on the Taff Trail was it?

 

[threebikesmcginty]

If I remember correctly the method statement for dealing with these sort of discs is:

1 - Remove disc from wheel.
2 - Pour on boiling water to soften disc.
3 - Roll disc into tube.
4 - Insert disc into organiser where the sun doesn't shine.
5 - Ride bicycle.

 

[theclaud]

quoi!??? This wasn't on the Taff Trail was it?

Yup. I think it's called a K-barrier - they are wide enough to cycle through without having to slow to a near stop, if you have narrow shoulders and handlebars, but I hadn't reckoned on any thing quite as idiotic as slippery floor plate. They have a lot of those annoying York Chicane things as well...

 

[philipbh]

Ha! I have simply thanked them for the reply and asked if they'd mind telling me the name of the company that produces these "high-visibility safety products". If I get an answer I might ask them about the safety of their stupid plastic discs.

http://www.reflectives.gbr.cc/70130/info.php?p=11&pno=0&pid=864020&ack=9

If the organisers don't tell you who made the discs - you might try the other way around

Did you guys make the promotional disks I saw....

Obv. other promotional wheel disk manufacturers may be available

 

[ChrisKH]

Ugh they look horrible, quick way to make your bike look £300 cheaper than it actually is.

I can do that just by sitting on one.

 

[theclaud]

http://www.reflectiv...id=864020&ack=9

If the organisers don't tell you who made the discs - you might try the other way around

Did you guys make the promotional disks I saw....

Obv. other promotional wheel disk manufacturers may be available

Ah yes - those are they. I see there is no mention of "safety" and a lot of talk of "promotion". No reply from the organisers...

 

[theclaud]

Update: just got this reply:
I’d rather not disclose the names of our suppliers as we would wish not to be involved in any disputes arising that may lead back to us as a charity.

I’m sure, as CTC Cymru, that you have connections with sustrans and would point out that we have never received concern from them about the discs. As this is the first negative comment we have received in eight years from a competitor about the discs, we would advise that you are better placed to contact sustrans if you would like to discuss your concerns further at this stage.

Thank you

 

[GilesM]

Update: just got this reply:
I’d rather not disclose the names of our suppliers as we would wish not to be involved in any disputes arising that may lead back to us as a charity.

I’m sure, as CTC Cymru, that you have connections with sustrans and would point out that we have never received concern from them about the discs. As this is the first negative comment we have received in eight years from a competitor about the discs, we would advise that you are better placed to contact sustrans if you would like to discuss your concerns further at this stage.

Thank you

That's great, you can't help but smile at such a polite letter telling you to "fcukoff and leave us alone"

 

[theclaud]

That's great, you can't help but smile at such a polite letter telling you to "fcukoff and leave us alone"

I don't intend to give the charity any more grief - I think the product is barmy and potentially dangerous, but I notice that many of the people who started with one on would discard it if was flapping about and threatened to come loose. I don't know what Sustrans have to do with it, unless they've OKed the bloody things - if I contact them it'll be to make a fuss about death-trap slippery metal stuff on their paths. I might pursue the people who make the discs to see what safety assurances they can offer...

 

[rich p]

I don't intend to give the charity any more grief - I think the product is barmy and potentially dangerous, but I notice that many of the people who started with one on would discard it if was flapping about and threatened to come loose. I don't know what Sustrans have to do with it, unless they've OKed the bloody things - if I contact them it'll be to make a fuss about death-trap slippery metal stuff on their paths. I might pursue the people who make the discs to see what safety assurances they can offer...

Get back to work, you lazy-good-for nothing, you've got to pretend to be indispensible this week.

Those discs are the shitey-ist pieces of shite I've seen in a long time.