| I attended a seminar a several of weeks ago and | | | | carbon forks is that they are extremely light and make |
| was walking past the exhibitors tables when a broken | | | | bikes handle better. Even though they make the ride |
| bicycle fork caught my eye. I ride my road bike 2 to 5 | | | | more comfortable they unfortunately will collapse |
| days a week during the summer and into the fall this | | | | when stress is placed on a carbon fork past the yield |
| grabbed my attention. I stopped and began speaking | | | | point. This stress can be from many things including |
| with Erin Higinbotham, a licensed engineer from | | | | running into a curb or hitting a pothole. I was told that it |
| Robson Forensic. These expert witnesses testify in | | | | can also occur over time just from wear and tear. It |
| many types of accident cases, including what I was | | | | was explained that the resin is strong but it is a wrap. |
| interested in at that moment, a broken front carbon | | | | This wrap can lose its integrity easier than a steel fork. |
| fork on a road bike. | | | | I ride a Lemond Zurich that is part carbon, including the |
| Being an avid cyclist my curiosity got me and I asked | | | | fork. After this exhibit I went home and immediately |
| what happened. This particular case involved a man | | | | examined my fork to make sure I didn't see any signs |
| who became paralyzed after a bike crash. Witnesses | | | | of stress. Fortunately everything looked okay. I am not |
| related that the biker was suddenly, for no apparent | | | | an alarmist by nature, but safety is very important to |
| reason, catapulted from his bike and landed on his | | | | me. I urge cyclists to examine their equipment regularly |
| head. The biker did nothing to cause the accident and it | | | | or have a qualified technician look at it to make sure |
| was discovered that only the front fork of the bike | | | | there are no structural problems with your bike. I ride |
| appeared to be damaged. Robson determined that the | | | | the roads of Jefferson and Oldham County regularly. |
| crash was caused by a sudden defect in the fork of | | | | These roads are dangerous enough for bikers. Bicycle |
| the bicycle. The failure of the fork caused the bike to | | | | accidents can occur due to inattentive drivers of cars |
| come to an abrupt stop and catapult the biker off of | | | | and trucks. Bicycle safety has to be a priority. We |
| the bike. | | | | need to do everything we can to be safe and |
| Testing of carbon forks has shown that they can fail | | | | minimize the chance of an accident and make |
| under stress past their yield point. The popularity of the | | | | Kentucky roads safe. |