No grips? You're nicked son

My friend and colleague Jakub got stopped by the police yesterday when they were doing 'safety checks' on bikes at Hyde Park corner.
The copper looked at Jake and his low-pro Colnago and told him he was breaking the law because:

1. He wasn't wearing a helmet.
   
2. His bike didn't have front and rear reflectors.
   
3. His bike didn't have a bell on it.
   
4. His bars didn't have any grips on them.
   
   

Not unreasonably, but probably unwisely, Jake told the copper he was a liar. The copper then threatened to arrest him for breach of the peace. Jake told the copper he was sorry, he wasn't a liar, he was a great man. Even with Jake's Czech accent the sarcasm must have been pretty obvious but luckily that was the end of it and Jake carried on his way.
Most wonderfully of all the police man said nothing about Jake having no front brake on his bike.

So there you go; get some grips or get some grief. Jakub may well be on the bridges ride tomorrow so if you are there you'll get a chance to see the most illegal bike in London.

There's a lesson for us all there. Get a grip.

hang on, there's no law for wearing helmets, is there?

was this officer part of the new elite Hipster Police?

hang on, there's no law for wearing helmets, is there?

No Ed.

or having grips

or a bell..

You MUST

• ensure your brakes are efficient
  
• at night, use lit front and rear lights and have a red rear reflector
  
  

thats all

hang on, there's no law for wearing helmets, is there?

There's no law on any of it Ed.
And RPM, really, hipster? They weren't critiquing the tightness of his jeans.

hang on, there's no law for wearing helmets, is there?

No, Ed, there isn't. That was part of the point.
chunners

And RPM, really, hipster? They weren't critiquing the tightness of his jeans.

thin end of t'wedge, lad.

mark thee thy words, innit

1. He wasn't wearing a helmet.
   
2. His bike didn't have front and rear reflectors.
   
3. His bike didn't have a bell on it.
   
4. His bars didn't have any grips on them.
   
   

bullshit from the police apart from possibly the reflectors
http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=4071

however i would argue with the police and point out that nobody has been prosecuted for not having a reflector and that the european directive allowing equivalent european standards to be applied to all member states should be adhered to regarding front and rear lights.

if i was riding a lugged bike i would also mention this:
**
** "Age brings privileges. To name but two: cycles manufactured before October 1990 can have any kind of white front lamp that is visible from a reasonable distance, and pre-October 1985 cycles don’t need pedal reflectors."

it would be up to them to prove that your freshly painted bike isn't a lovingly restored 1980's english lightweight.

it wouldn't bother me being arrested. i would point out to officer involved that he would be laughed at by the magistrate if it ever went to court.

thin end of t'wedge, lad.

mark thee thy words, innit

Don't thee tha thas until tha thas thee tha.
If you're attempting Yorkshire - Barnsley accent FTW. Sounds like Chinese if you say it quickly..

it wouldn't bother me being arrested. i would point out to officer involved that he would be laughed at by the magistrate if it ever went to court.

for breach of the peace ?

if you are there you'll get a chance to see the most illegal bike in London.

That's it.. Cunster's going brakeless and lightless. Offensive and illegal.

Bike safety checks? I tried to tell some cunt tonight his light (at the top of his backpack) was invisible when he leaned forward. As I rode past and started to speak to no reaction, I noticed the headphones. Fuck him.. Darwin will sort him out.

Don't thee tha thas until tha thas thee tha.
If you're attempting Yorkshire - Barnsley accent FTW. Sounds like Chinese if you say it quickly..

I was doing York town centre

You coming on Bridges ride YorkshirePM?

Had one of those 'white light on the rear' riders in front of me for a bit on a ride into town this evening. Was a bit like that BBC2 ident, with the road going forwards and backwards...

There is currently a shrine at the Shell garage up the road from me. Loads of kids laying flowers, hanging around with sad faces. A 12-year-old boy hit a van there and died last Friday. Like the deceased, none of the mourners had any lights on their bikes.
Darwin Awards?

You coming on Bridges ride YorkshirePM?

No I'll be oop north!

(manchester velo)

Think the reflectors are only a legal req when you sell a bike... 2 brakes is the normal one, but a back fixed should count as one... The bell i'm not sure possibly under london byelaws but don't think it's a general thing.... Was in NY And heard of police stopping people going over the Wburg bridge and pulling people for similar stupid supposed violations.... Clearly not enough stabbings/doughnuts to keep them busy...!

Darwin will sort him out.

He's taking his bike on holiday?

No I'll be oop north!
(manchester velo)

So you filled the slave position? Or were you already booked in?

He's taking his bike on holiday?

If he had to move to Darwin, he'd kill himself. Like I said, Darwin would sort him out.

So you filled the slave position? Or were you already booked in?

pre booked ftw. can't get enough of manchester!

I preferred Vodafone Arena.. only 1hr to get there from home.. fucking Manchester!
When's this fucking London 'drome gonna be finished?

Hmm...

I was pretty sure that it was illegal to sell a bike without the pre-requisite bell and reflecters, but owning a bike without them wasn't such a big deal.

Will, you must have seen the thread on moving target about the HGV/Cyclist safty days, yeah? Reckon this was a part of that? Funnily enough, the first thing Selimski said when he saw it was that he was going to ahve to put his break back on....

Yeh, I was hoping this thread would develop like this. This was for Hippy and RPM (with love, of course)