Every part on a bicycle is safety critical

Summary

It’s common to hear horror stories about component failures that won't just leave you stranded, but can directly lead to injury, or, in rare cases, even worse. I often hear people warn against messing around with “safety-critical components” such as steerer tubes and handlebars, but that it’s fine to buy cheap copies of other, less-critical, parts. Now, I don’t want to sound like an anxious, fear-mongering, panphobe, but I’m increasingly of the opinion that every part on a modern bicycle is safety-critical. More simply, I think many of us, whether you’re a rider, mechanic, designer, or manufacturer, should be taking product safety more seriously. This edition of Threaded breaks the mold of tool geekery and mechanic insights. Rather, my goal is to get you thinking more broadly about your equipment and servicing choices. It’s a public service announcement that’s been on my mind for far too long. Unfortunately, much of this article is based on personal experience or firsthand reports.In other words, like many mechanics, I’ve Seen Some Shit. Everything can be scary Bicycles are marvellous inventions that, for many of us, serve a purpose that extends well beyond efficient transport. However, the simplicity and minimalism that make bicycles so special also demand respect. We’re increasingly in a time where individuals without prior experience are encouraged to take on a new task or a skill through the assistance of a YouTube buddy or Reddit thread. There’s a lot of joy in that, sometimes money to be saved, but I fear many have become numb to or even ignorant of the risks such an approach may present.I'm not here to gate-geek who should and shouldn't work on bikes, but I do feel that too many people are taking on installation and service tasks, laughing it off as "just a bicycle", without consideration or knowledge of what's at stake. Far too many people will ride their bike into the ground, waiting for something to play up before getting it serviced. My advice is to consi...