I've done at least one race where they gave you those twisty pipe cleaners, but I would be extremely surprised if this was used at a big event. Those things can

I've done at least one race where they gave you those twisty pipe cleaners, but I would be extremely surprised if this was used at a big event. Those things can be a bit easier to yank off. With most wrecks it's really hard to have the center of the handlebars impact something in a scraping motion, but I've had a hard wreck in a race sending my bike tumbling through a stream into the side of a hill and the worst damage to the number was getting covered in mud. The number tag was essentially shoveling mud yet stayed perfectly intact. If you look at her finishing picture there isn't even zip-ties left. No number = DNF.