Standardization News

Subcommittee F08.10's work to date has focused on road and mountain bikes, which are the types of bicycles most likely to be involved in serious accidents. Having produced standards for the most critical elements of these bikes, the subcommittee is now working on children's and hybrid bikes.

According to Patrick Logan, president, K Ridley Technology, Eugene, Ore., and chairman of Subcommittee F08.10, the use of a child's bike on a sidewalk varies greatly from other bicycle uses, such as a road bicycle traveling at high speeds or a full suspension mountain bike going downhill on a rough trail. The conditions call for vehicles with very different endurance and impact requirements, thus creating the need for F2843.

"The strength, endurance and impact requirements set by F2843 for children's bicycles will be particularly useful to manufacturers and designers. Furthermore, adoption of the standard will provide a working balance for safety, cost and performance," says Logan.

Subcommittee F08.10 welcomes participation from all interested parties, particularly manufacturers, designers and test labs. Future work will be addressing competition bikes, such as freestyle and BMX.

CONTACT Technical Information: Patrick Logan, K Ridley Technology • Eugene, Oregon • Phone: 541-913-5093 • E-mail: engineer@kridleytech.com O ASTM Staff: Christine Basile • Phone: 610-832-9728 • E-mail: cbasile@astm.org O Upcoming Meeting: Nov. 16-19 • November Committee Week • San Antonio, Texas