Racy Handlebars May Cause Injury

A new type of bicycle handlebars--designed in a racy inverted-V shape--might make you look like Greg LeMond, but novices should approach these handlebars with caution, say two doctors in Portland, Ore.

The handlebars allow riders to tuck themselves into a more aerodynamic position, with more of their weight over the front of the bike. And that might make it too easy to speed, exposing riders to a higher injury risk, according to Drs. Michael P. Resnick and Ralph Yates.

The doctors, both veteran cyclists, expressed their concerns in a recent letter to the Journal of the American Medical Assn. after Yates crashed while cycling downhill on a bike with aerodynamic handlebars.

“I hit a patch of oil while traveling about 30 miles per hour,” recalled Yates recently. He fractured six facial bones.

His advice: If you’re a novice cyclist, you will be safer without these handlebars. The position is less stable, he explains, than traditional posture. The handlebars also make it more difficult to grab the brakes quickly, Yates adds.

Manufacturers of the race-style handlebars say the doctors’ guidelines make sense. “We don’t recommend people use them in heavy traffic, while going downhill or on rough roads,” says Michael Nyberg, general manager of the bicycle division of Scott USA in Sun Valley.

John Duvall, spokesman for the League of American Wheelmen, offers these ways to reduce injury risk while cycling:

* Don’t use headphones. “You can’t hear traffic approaching, especially vehicles behind you.”

* Wear the helmet correctly. “Some people wear a helmet like a piece of clothing,” he says. They shouldn’t. “Wear the helmet forward so it protects your forehead,” Duvall advises. The chin strap should fit snugly enough so the helmet will stay put in the worst of crashes. Look for a label on the helmet that says it meets or exceeds standards set by the Snell Memorial Foundation or the American National Standards Institute.

* Consider eye protection, either sunglasses or special goggles.

* Have easy access to brakes, whatever type of handlebars you choose. “You should be able to get to the brakes at all times,” Duvall says.

For cyclists who commute to work or school or otherwise do more than ride around the block, the Bicycle Federation of America offers this checklist of necessities: A helmet with a rear-view mirror, bright clothing, a pump-and-patch kit, a water bottle, padded gloves, sturdy tires, a rear rack, a handlebar bag and saddlebags instead of a backpack.