I've been using bicycles as my main mode of transport since I could walk, one of the side effects of being born in the Netherlands and living there until about

I've been using bicycles as my main mode of transport since I could walk, one of the side effects of being born in the Netherlands and living there until about 25 years ago. I mostly use steel-frame bicycles but I do have an aluminium-framed racer, now about 45 years old. During those years I've experienced (among others): 3 frame failures of which 2 caused by broken tubes, 1 by failing solder joints - bikes with lugs are soldered, not welded. 2 front fork failures, 1 of which caused me to roll over the handle bars at high speed. 1 front drum brake failure which caused the front wheel to lock, rolling up the front fork like the lid of a sardines can and me to fly off at high speed 1 broken crank axle 1 broken crank 1 rear derailleur failure which caused the rear wheel to lock up, sending me flying Several handle bar raiser failures Thus far no broken bones, all the failed frames were replaced at no cost, the other failures I've fixed myself - I always maintain my own bikes, did that since I was about 14 (now 59). I also maintain our cars, motorbikes and other vehicles (tractors) which does give me some insight in the frequency of failures due to structural weaknesses in these categories. Bicycles do experience far more failures due to such causes than any of the other categories, most likely due to their lighter construction as well as a possible lack of quality control - those frame failures, especially the one involving the failure of the solder joint at the rear risers should have been discovered before the (BSA-branded, manufactured by Raleigh) frame left the assembly line. Does that mean I want the government to get involved, mandating regular inspections? Certainly not, one of the big appeals of riding bicycles is the lack of any government involvement and I'd like to keep it that way.