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Forget Safety Pins, Attach Your Numbers with racedots Magnets Instead

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Race Dots Number Magnets (2)

Tired of ruining your expensive kit with the holes of a thousand safety pins every time you race? So was Jason Berry, so he set out to do something to fix it.

The solution? Magnets. Powerful rare-earth magnets encased in polished, nickel plated copper housings. The two piece design clamps down over your number and your jersey keeping it in place and not damaging anything in the process. Sound like something your race bag could use? See how to get your hands on some after the break.

As the founder and inventor, Jason Berry has seen his fair share of pinned race numbers as a film maker and cyclist and runner himself. Holding fast at 60 mph on a motorcycle it seems like racedots will certainly do the trick.

Race Dots Number Magnets (1) Race Dots Number Magnets (3)

Really the only down side of racedots seems to be that you have to get to the back side of the jersey to hold the back of the magnet in place. This could be a small annoyance with a skinsuit, but if you’re tired of damaging your precious kit with safety pins it is probably worth it. You can slide the racedots once they’re attached so this should make them easier to install. Prototyping went through many stages, with the acrylic dome on the top of the racedot finalized to add just a bit of depth to the racedot, while improving the visibility of the logo underneath. There are also reflective logos available to provide additional safety.

Currently offered through an indiegogo campaign, racedots are available starting at $20 for a pack of 5 with an estimated delivery of February 2014.

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Nick L Allergy
Nick L Allergy
10 years ago

So anyone with a nickel allergy is out of luck here then.

Tom
Tom
10 years ago

This is a great idea. I dislike putting pins in my jersey, and I’m sure we have all done it, you put the numbers facing in the wrong direction and cranky commissaire gets picky, this is much easier to reverse. What is the weight of these? Not for weight weenie reasons, but hopefully there is no “sagging” with a heavier magnet. Very interested!

Benn Stover
Benn Stover
10 years ago

How much do they weigh? jk.. This is RAD!

asdf
asdf
10 years ago

So rare earth magnents from Harbor Freight and some washers. Got it. Thanks.

Robo
Robo
10 years ago

Yes!! Brilliant idea. I got a fancy schmancy race kit last season and the first time I went to pin a number on, I stared at it for a minute like, “oh..yeah….damn.” Eventually, you get over it but what excites me most is when I mis-pin a number and gotta do it all over again. Or when I’m lucky enough to have my girlfriend with my to pin my number on with my jersey already on and I get stabbed right in the side.

Gunnstein
Gunnstein
10 years ago

@Nick L Allergy: Not only that, but rubbing nickel against the skin increases the chance of developing allergy, if you didn’t have it to begin with. Sweaty skin probably makes it worse.

Matthew
Matthew
10 years ago

Good idea. For $20 bucks I’d definitely give them a shot. The website doesn’t work, though.

Loki
Loki
10 years ago

Textile and shellac will keep the nickel off your back

ms6073
ms6073
10 years ago

Why not simply use some 3mm rare earth dot magnets or super neodymium disc magnets?For the past 3-years, I have been using ‘Killer Red’ double sided tape during cross season, which except for high humidity days, eliminated the need for pins but tape sometimes left residue.

wheelguy
wheelguy
10 years ago

Cool idea. Sadly, I admit the first thing I thought of when a saw the picture was “how much does that weigh?” Guess I’ve become a shameless weight-weenie racer boy….

Charlie Best
Charlie Best
10 years ago

Probably won’t be allowed to sell those in USA or Canada. Google “Buckyballs” if you want to know why.

Ck
Ck
10 years ago

In for a set. Some of my favorite jerseys that I can’t replace are getting torn from this problem. And base layers should prevent any skin rubbing for those fearing nickel allergies.

Ck
Ck
10 years ago

@Charlie Best. Buckyballs were marketed and sold as a toy, which is why they were banned because of the choking hazard. There are plenty of retailers selling small neodymium magnets that are roughly the same size as Racedots and have been for a long time.

satisFACTORYrider
satisFACTORYrider
10 years ago

this reminds me exactly of 15mm thru axles.

Brandon
Brandon
10 years ago

May not work so well for CX racing. One spill and every dot rips off, your number is left behind, and your Race Dots are never to be seen again….

Tom
Tom
10 years ago

The only thing I don’t like is the product branding and the customization options. It adds sort of a hokey appeal to it. I wish it was just a simple logo brushed into the finish of the “dome”.

@Brandon: I feel like they would do a decent job of holding during a spill? rare earth magnets are really strong and the locating sphere should help them stay in place. I could see them shifting the location of the number. If you fell hard enough with pins you would risk ripping your jersey, no? I dunno, as an ameture weekend warrior racer, I’d rather save my kit over loosing a number.

Charlie Best
Charlie Best
10 years ago

@Ck.

Actually, Buckyballs and other rare earth / neodymium magnets are considered dangerous is because if you end up with a pair in adjacent loops of your intestines they can actually tear through gut tissue and cause internal bleeding / peritonitus. Just yesterday there was an article in the news about a non-toy magnet product which may be banned from sale in Canada (google Health Canada Magnet Pen).

I’m not saying this is fair or even reasonable (you can buy such magnets at most hardware stores in Canada), just that the manufacturer of this product may come up some barriers to distributing their product.

Reid
Reid
10 years ago

Gotta say, this is a way better idea than the guy who offered to have you mail him your kit so he could stitch grommets into it before mailing it back. Also, you gotta love the “redemption” music dropping in on-point in the video, but did they ever think about having some infomercial-style, black-and-white B-roll of people having their lives ruined by safety pins?

Alex
Alex
10 years ago

I just use 3M Super 77 spray on adhesive. No flapping in the wind either! Goo Gone gets any extra off that doesn’t come off when you remove your number.

RAB Share
RAB Share
10 years ago

You guys are right, these do sound dangerous. I’m going to play it safe and keep swallowing safety pins instead.

uglyyeti
uglyyeti
10 years ago

I have an aural allergy to Nickelback. They should have outlawed them in Canada before they made it onto the US market.

Tom
Tom
10 years ago

I can’t see videos at work, but as a Canadian, hearing Nickelback may have negatively skewed my favourable opinion of this product.

JayT
JayT
10 years ago

Some race numbers now have timing strips on back. Will the magnets interfere with those ?

Kark
Kark
10 years ago

@RAB Share.

Winning at comments. :highfive:

Wild Bill
Wild Bill
10 years ago

FINALLY

velorider
velorider
10 years ago

I do love the video clips showing shredded kits and fumbling riders just_not_able to wrestle their pins onto the jersey. DOH! I just ripped a huge hole in my jersey AGAIN….whatever can be done? Racing is so hard on my gear and pins are so darned complicated.

These magnets will be endlessly handy for the average rider who occasionally races, and shows up in his Giordana kit that he hopes will last for years and years.

The rest of us racers buy new jerseys every year as sponsors change and honestly could care less about the pin holes since the jersey only needs to last a season anyway.

Oh wait — you know who will like these???? Dentists.

Pro Biker
Pro Biker
10 years ago

Cool idea but a little pricey. I can buy similar magnets for 1/10th the price on ebay.

greg
greg
10 years ago

hey, these comments are mostly positive, and some are pretty funny. in BikeRumorVille, that makes Racedots a winner!

Mindless
Mindless
10 years ago

How about racing mountain bikes and putting your number on your bike.

DtH
DtH
10 years ago

I want to see a weight comparison between these and safety pins.

Bubbrubb
Bubbrubb
10 years ago

Brilliant.
But I’m waiting for the kashima-coated Enduro version

OldSchool
OldSchool
10 years ago

But are they 650B/27.5 compatible?

Seriously, good idea. I ordered.

Dr. Badtouch
Dr. Badtouch
10 years ago

I like that they’re nickel plated! I think I’ll implant a set subdermally and never risk losing my number again. Naked crit champion of the world, HERE I COME!
Oooh, and I’ll also be able to stick notes to myself so I won’t forget to buy milk next time I’m at the store. Man, there are so many REAL WORLD uses for this it’s crazy.

MulletRacer
MulletRacer
10 years ago

Yall are all just a bunch of freds.

James Kim
James Kim
10 years ago

I yelled ‘Brilliant!’ and immediately proceeded to order some.

I just hate pinning myself or other at a race and I will definitely advertise these to my buddies.

Nick
Nick
10 years ago

100-pack of tiny 1/8″ x 1/16″ rare earth magnets that would work the same as this… $8.95 on Amazon Prime.

Myke
Myke
10 years ago

Nick I think the point is the locking system. Good luck getting the same results. You will need all 100 magnets!

Critboy
Critboy
10 years ago

Should make for some interesting bruises when people kiss the pavement.

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