Advocacy & Safety - Sprocket Man

From the archives of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, I found this old comic book bike safety guide. Looks like it dats back to the 70's. Presented for historical interest.

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/341.pdf

Amazing that 95% of the content is still right on the money.

Paul

Thanks for posting this. I think that I may be SPROKET MAN's mild mannered alter ego.

sprocket man is actually kinda cool *confused* :beer: *goes nuts* wweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

It must be from the late 70s or early 80s because that was when bike helmets started being generally available.

There are a few things that are wrong - front basket problem isnt the height of the weight but the effect a large weight in front of the steering axis on steering stability. Front baskets are fine for light weights. The section on signalling implies that you always ride close to the curb and pull out around parked cars - you should usually ride a staight line outside parked cars. For a left turn you only stay in the R of a L turn lane if it is a 'L only' lane, if it is a 'L or Str' lane you shoud go to the L side of the lane.

Some more things that should be mentioned - in sizing of the bike and length of stem it should mention ease of reach to brakes. In riding against traffic there is greatly increased closing speed and reduced reaction time, also cars coming from driveways only look for traffic in one direction. In braking it should advise that for harder braking the front brake should be used more.

What it says about toe clips is still true although you hardly ever see them now.

I'm feel confidant that Sprocket Man is up to speed on all the latest safety information. I, for one, would love to see Sprocket Man make a comeback.

How about Sprocket Man jerseys?

Sproket Man? Isn't that a song by Elton John?

And I think it's going to be a long long time till sundown brings me home again to find ,I'm not the man i thought was at all Oh no, no no,. I"m a sprocket man ! Sprocket man turning those small cranks around and round. Please feel free to improve upon this add verses etc.If i had the sheet music i could do better.

do they make sprocket man jeresies?

I did a little googling and dug up more info of the orgin and status of Sprocket Man. It seems that Sprocket Man originated in 1975 at Stanford University prior to him becoming immortalized in the CPSC comic book. However, apparently in 2002 he made a comeback at Stanford in a series of comic strips and posters.

Here's a link with the details including a couple posters and strips:

http://transportation.stanford.edu/alt_transportation/Sprocketman.shtml

And, for those who think that Sprocket Man is a fictional character, here's a rare sighting of the Cogged Crusader:

http://www.wuk.at/hochrad/berichte/stanford_2003_eng.php

Check the photo at the bottom of the page.

where do they get them big ass wheeled bikes? cost?

Gotta wonder how much Stanford has to pay that guy to wear that outfit. Gotta wonder as well if anyone from his "real" life ever recognizes him in it. Poor guy; there's an Onion article about him just waiting to be written.

where do they get them big ass wheeled bikes? cost?

http://www.wuk.at/hochrad/index_eng.php

http://www.hiwheel.com/

http://www.victorybicycles.com/

http://www.koolstop.com/mesicek/mesicek.html

http://www.cvrcekm.zde.cz/

damn germans. why can't they write in english? now i can't figure out why anyone would ride such a thing.. or spend $2200 on one.

damn germans. why can't they write in english? now i can't figure out why anyone would ride such a thing.. or spend $2200 on one.

I'd ride one.

In fact, I've always kind of wanted to ride one. The allure is partly to see what it was like to ride a bike in the 1870s.

Think of it as the ultimate fixie. Not only are you connected directly to the bike, but you are connected directly to the wheel, with no chain to come between. The ride is supposed to be extremely smooth. The gyroscopic effect (I think that's what it is) of a wheel that size allows for great balance at low speeds, but they were made to go fast. The bigger the wheel, the farther you went for each turn of the cranks.

The big problem with the penny farthing was its tendency to tip forward when it encountered an obstacle like a rock or a rut. The rider's legs were trapped under the handlebars. Broken wrists were a common injury on those things. Broken heads were a bigger danger. The invention of the chain drive bicycle allowed for a safer ride. A gear ratio creates the same effect as a large drive wheel.

Why would anyone pay $2K+ for one? Because that is what they cost. They aren't exactly mass produced anymore.

BTW...people say exactly the same thing about you and your bike. "Why would anyone ride one of those darnfool things...or pay that much for one?"

But, to return this thread to its topic...where do I get a Sprocket Man T-shirt? I can't find one online anywhere. Do you think we should try to contact the artist about having jerseys made?

Sproket Man? Isn't that a song by Elton John?

Well, with apologies to the large-bespectacled one:

I packed my panniers up last night.
Six bucks an hour, nine AM.
And I'm gonna look liiiiii-iii-iiiike a total dork by then.

I need a real job so bad, I need a life
It's lonely in this cape,
Doing such a thaaaaa-aaa-aaannkless job.

And I think it's gonna be a long long wait
In these bright red tights I'll never get a date
I'm not the dork that I appear to be
Oh no no no, I'm the Sprocket Man.

Sprocket Man, dorkin' up the streets of Stanford town.

This ain't the kind of suit that picks up girls
In fact it itches like hell
And there's no good waaaa-aaay tooo-ooo take a pee, when you have to.

And all the bike-speak I don't understand.
It's just my job all stinkin' week.
Sprocket maa-aaaa-aaaan, sprocket man.

And I think it's gonna be a long long wait...
.....
Sprocket Man, burnin' up my chance of gettin' laid...

Hilarious! Althouhg I think women like Bicycle shorts so why not tights?