Is brakeless illegal in the UK?

you actually need two to comply with ZEE LAW. fixed drivetrain doesnt count as one (I live
in berlin and have a personal experience written up somewhere in the berlin thread).
so yeah, get two brakes. I only use the front anyway but just dont want the hassle.

Its only illegal if you stop at red lights.

No get catched etc..

Or if you get stopped by the body of the pedestrian you have collided with and killed.

Low probability ftw.

So gamble on the win vs potential loss of life?

Nice priorities.

They give our Chaz web access inside or something?

I was at the cycle courier world championship in the then-derelict Docklands back in about '94 I think, and a few NY riders came over, and it was there that I first saw a fixie with no front brake. I was amazed tbh, I'd ridden fixed for years as it was good training for racing, but I'd never even considered riding without a front brake. I still wouldn't.

As an aside, I work in a small LBS in town and we won't work on fixies without brakes, not even a tube replace. We've also noted more than a few fixie riders coming in and having a front brake fitted since the Charlie Alliston incident.

Who are these people that ride brakeless but need a bike shop to fix stuff!

I work in a small LBS in town and we won't work on fixies without brakes, not even a tube replace. We've also noted more than a few fixie riders coming in and having a front brake fitted...

They come to you and ask for a front brake to be fitted but you send them elsewhere since you don't work on bikes with no front brake?

Who are these people that ride brakeless but need a bike shop to fix stuff!

This probably sums up why it ever became an issue. Brakeless is no longer the reserve of the experienced cyclist (who along with learning how to ride smoothly and safely using fixed wheel braking before removing the front brake also learned how to fix their own shit), rather every little runt that's seen Premium Rush or a Lucas Brunelle vid is doing it.

They come to you and ask for a front brake to be fitted but you send them elsewhere since you don't work on bikes with no front brake?

Genius.

!
I was there as a steward - great few days and when 'it was all fields round here' as well.
There was a NY rider on a Muddy Fox Mixte fixed as I recall :)

anyway sorry carry on ...

Lolz. It's all part of our unique business model.

I still have the t-shirt somewhere. It's a bit more snug nowadays but it gets the odd outing.

Who are these people that ride brakeless but need a bike shop to fix stuff!

Presumably those who would need an LBS to fit new brake pads

Just had city police pull me over at Liverpool Street for riding brakeless. Pretty annoying they know about that and actively pull people over for it but then say that a front brake and a freewheel is legal, numpties.
Fortunately I dodged a ticket which would've been £50.

Spend that £50 on a nice brake setup then and you’re all set.

Pretty annoying the police enforcing the law.

Also freewheel and one brake is not legal.

I shall apply similar logic to my car.

it's just been MOT'ed
i can disconnect the rear brakes and hand brake as i don't need them until the car's next MOT.

£50 should get a Dia compe track fork conversion set for a front brake.

Fully aware of this. Waited until I was about to set off to tell them what the law actually is. Didn't bother with the pedal and rear reflectors bit though, didn't wanna be too smarmy.

You sound like exactly the type of person that deserves the fine!

Surely the requirement for pedal and rear reflectors depends on the bike's year of manufacture?

Possibly (according to the Road vehicle Lighting Regulations) even the time of day?

The reflector rule is only that shops have to sell complete bikes with various things like reflectors.

There is no legal requirement to use them, only recommendation in the HC.

I’d like to see some enforcement of the lighting laws, old bill is jokes, so many riders is ffing take take take the peepee but they no get catched. Innit. Where are my pills.