Cycle Inspect and UNSW to delve into how carbon fibre bicycles handle damage

Via a new collaborative research initiative with Associate Professor Soufiane Boufous and Associate Professor Julie Hatfield of UNSW Aviation’s Transport and Road Safety (TARS) Research Centre, Cycle Inspect will be exploring the prevalence and impact of structural damage in carbon fibre bicycles currently in use by the general public.

Thanks to their light weight, durability and high-performance nature, carbon fibre bicycles have been popular for enthusiasts and pros alike. However, the prevalence and impacts of structural issues is not yet known, said Cycle Inspect.

This joint research project, commencing in June, aims to assess the magnitude of the issue and examine experiences of those impacted by some form of structural equipment failure. This initial phase will provide insights that will underpin subsequent rounds of research by Cycle Inspect that will explore the condition of carbon fibre bicycles in ‘real-world’ scenarios.

Dr Soufiane Boufous and Dr Julie Hatfield bring extensive expertise in areas such as injury epidemiology, injury prevention, and psychology in the context of cycling and road safety to this research collaboration. Their previous work has included developing innovative methods of assessing the burden and risk factors of trauma, investigating psychological contributors to risky behaviour, and they have extensive experience in injury surveillance and record linkage of injury data.

“We are thrilled to join forces with Dr Soufiane Boufous, Dr Julie Hatfield and UNSW for this important research initiative,” said Dr Andrew Novak, Data and Research Lead at Cycle Inspect. “By combining our expertise as the industry’s first data-driven training and technology solution for bicycle industry professionals in the area of non-destructive testing (NDT) with UNSW’s in-depth knowledge of injury epidemiology, we hope to raise awareness of the extent of the issue. Ultimately, this research will benefit cyclists around the world, empowering them to make responsible decisions that ensure equipment longevity.”

The findings of this collaborative research project will be published via Cycle Inspect’s website and offered to cycling publications (both consumer and trade) in conjunction with leading academic journals. The insights gained from the research will also inform additional phases of Cycle Inspect’s research, specifically the evaluation of carbon fibre bicycles currently in use by the general public, the analysis of the broader health and financial impacts and risks related to structural failures of carbon fibre bicycle frames and components, and the correlation between various forms of visible and underlying damage (sustained via impact, manufacturing processes) and failure risk.

Cycle Inspect seek to raise awareness of the risks associated to buying, selling, and using damaged or defective equipment; whilst providing bicycle industry professionals (mechanics, repairers, painters, builders etc.) and aligned industries (such as specialty bicycle insurers) with the skills, knowledge, and technology to make informed decisions regarding the safety of their customers.

Cycle Inspect is a data-driven damage and risk assessment solution for bicycle industry pros. It provides standardised training, technology and damage assessment solutions in the critical and in-demand area of non-destructive testing (NDT). There’s more on the Cycle Inspect site and in CI.N’s interview last year.