Because safety is a big concern for bike riders, it is also important to bike manufacturers. This is the case for BMC Switzerland AG, which has designed and built road, mountain and commuter bikes since 1986. Stefan Christ, head of development at BMC, notes the important role that fasteners play in building a durable and safe bike, regardless of model and whether the cyclist is a casual rider or a serious professional.
“Fasteners are critical points in the bike structure and can strongly affect [its] safety when [in] use, [but] bolts are often the components which we find [the] hardest nut to crack,” explains Christ. “[Based on] internal and external stress tests, it is the bolts [that] often cannot withstand extreme loads.”