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M_V
The bars are Nitto 809aa.
What happened was that I ended up stopped at the lights pointing north just before the set of lights to cross the road between Liverpool st station and the police station, I was behind a cab and in front of the police.
Lights went green and we moved away, the cab in front suddenly applied it's brakes and I skidded as not to crash (yes it was an intentional over the top sik whips kid). We all continued on and as we were approaching the next lights they turned amber but I decided it fine for me to continue through and didn't expect the police to go through also. I looked back and noticed they had gone through the red and put their lights and sirens on.
I pulled over.
Here it became fairly amusing but I didn't want to get a fine or be searched so nodded and agreed after a while of playing dumb - officer points at handlebars and asks what's missing - I reply "a bell? That would be a nice addition actually, yeah" this question repeats and I give dumb responses such as a speedo, mudguards, a basket etc.
The officer goes on to mention Charlie Aliston's case but couldn't tell me his name or much detail of it other than a woman dying because the bicycle didn't have brakes. They go on to ask where people purchase such bikes, they very amusingly tell me that if I changed my rear sprocket to one that means you can roll and put a back brake on then that would be legal, they tell me they're cyclists as well - ugh.
I play along with all of this as to avoid the fine, they even took a photo of the bike and have it on their database now along with my details.
Just as they're walking away I mumble and get their attention only so I can tell them that they had actually informed me wrong and that they should brush up on their knowledge, I tell them what the law is as far as I'm aware re brakes and reflectors etc. They got fairly annoyed and then asked how I independently brake the front wheel.
They told me not to ride the bike as it was illegal and that I should get a train home or leave it at a friend's etc.
Cheeky fuckers drove off northbound, did a u turn to come back to the station but fortunately I was walking the bike north on the pavement as they drove back past me, fairly sure had I been riding then I would've been pulled again and fined.