CIN Podcast: Up to standard – bikes, safety & independent testing

Are cycle market standards where they need to be for the modern world? That’s one of the big questions posed within the latest CIN Podcast.

Regular host Sean Lally speaks with the vastly experienced Mark Barfield from Velometier – a former Technical Manager at UCI who has also worked with British Cycling and British Triathlon.

In light of some high profile recalls and horrendous pro crashes and mechanical failures, the topic of safety has been given more of an airing lately, leading to searching questions being asked of the industry. Discussions CIN has had behind closed doors have occasionally touched on cycle product standards not perhaps being as stringent as in other sectors. And in recent months, a study by Bayes Business School and Dublin City University found there is a profound safety problem at the highest level of the sport.

Does ISO 4210 remain relevant?

In terms of current bike standards, Mark Barfield notes that ISO 4210, the principle standard behind most products ridden today, pre-dates the use of some materials now commonly used in the industry and racing, having primarily been designed for steel bicycles. Therefore, is that still a relevant standard for the industry? Where would the driving force for updating that safety standard be? Well, that would be the industry itself, along with the sport…

The complexity of creating new, well-thought through standards

Having been on the inside of meetings and discussions on standards, Barfield explains how difficult it can be to address standards and make changes. While no one in the industry wants unsafe product, industry-wide consensus on moving forward with changes is complex. If one company is creating product in a particular way and that then becomes a standard, then other companies will have some ground to make up by adjusting to that standard and will be at a commercial deficit.

Barfield also notes the pace of change and innovation in the industry has rocketed: “The bike has become increasingly complicated… The job for the technician in the shop now is much more difficult. It’s electronics, it’s hydraulics, it is understanding the nature of that composite frame and how that interacts with its various components. In 1986 [when I started working in bike shops] we didn’t have a torque key in that workshop, we didn’t need one. These days you can’t touch a bike without having that because of the nature of the material we are working with. The job is much more challenging.”

Cautioning against knee jerk changes to standards – not least in relation to eBikes – Barfield also emphasises that new safety standards must be done well.

All these points and more come up for discussion in this Cycling Industry News podcast, which can be heard via Soundcloud.

Mark Barfield can be contacted at [email protected]

CIN also welcomes comments on the topic, via [email protected].