In the news

You could give them points on their cycling license and when they reach a certain number of points (12 or so) the cyclist has to come up with a vague excuse about needing their bike to keep their job/family/etc and be allowed to continue to ride it anyway.

That'd teach them.

Ha!

LBC have sent a crack team of undercover reporters to go sniffing round bike shops to find Fixed-Wheel Death Chariots.

Just overheard in Evans one staff member telling another that if customers are buying a fixed gear, they have to sign a waiver to say that they agree that they intend only to use it on the track.
Fair enough that they're covering themselves really but the whole things gone mad

We all knew it would. Good way to get the focus off Brexit though isn't it.

Mercian frames always did that...

All frames have a drilled crown for brake fitment unless specifically required without, but we will need a written letter of confirmation that it is for track use only.

The difference is surely that Evans would never sell brakless, so will be requiring the letter even for totally road legal fixeds. Probably mostly with two hand brakes.

I thought it was illegal to sell a bike without brakes unless specifically for track so I suspect this has been in place for years in many shops. The staff member was informing the other chap as if it was a new thing, a change in policy so I suspect it is for other fixed bikes. I don't think evans particularly sell "track" bikes. Its evans...

Right. So this isn't something I've missed.

Actually most here think that just because an offense is old with a name that sounds a bit funny, doesn't prevent it from being perfectly usable.

I remember seeing a Bianchi Pista in Evans with Brakless™ and a sticker on the top tube. That was a while ago though, do they just fit everything with 2 brakes now?

I don't think evans particularly sell "track" bikes. Its evans...

They sell Hoy Track bikes, and other brands too I think. Having a branch attached to the National Cycling Centre they'd be missing a trick if they didn't.

Online they sell BMC track bikes with no front fork drilling

my recent Cinelli Gazzetta OTP came with front and rear brakes pre fitted, even though only fixed rear hub

I bought a brakeless Fuji Track from them in about 2011

Correct (according to the web images) - https://www.evanscycles.com/bikes/track-bikes_c
Presumably there are similar issues around bmx - though I think they get an exemption based on saddle height (635mm max)

Even with a brake?

Okay they sell track bikes, that's not the point I was making...

Sounded like it, I don't work at evans so I don't know

I was just in Runners Need and I overheard a clerk tell another clerk that if a customer is getting some new running shoes, they have to sign a waiver saying they won't push pedestrians into oncoming traffic.

That was nearly funny

6.2/10. Silly premise, punchline not exactly timely.

Self-appraised

ffs considering you can buy cars capable of doing twice the speed limit without needing a note from your mum saying you won't ever use 6th gear

Not quite the same. Brakless bikes have no brakes at all times, at all speeds, in all conditions. Fast cars are only fast when driven fast.

Yeah, I know it's not exactly the same - being slightly facetious. I guess I just find the concept of 'performance' cars a bit contrary to how we should be using vehicles on public roads. Maybe it's because I accidentally had a daughter instead of buying a 240z.

Have you bought her a knife yet?

I've noticed when the BBC have been showing this story they use the term 'drive' instead of the 'ride' a bike. 'Alliston was driving a fixed wheel bike at the time'

Thought drive was only used for the operation of a motor vehicle?