Strange message on my answering machine yesterday; Lt. Col. (retd.) Larrington saying he'd seen an article in "The Times" stating that bells were to become compulsory on all bicycles as of Saturday. Did he? Are they? I couldn't find any mention of it among the Thunderer's webby neurons, but would have imagined that were it /actually/ the case, it might have merited at least a passing mention in here...
On Tue, 27 Apr 2004 10:21:10 +0100, Dave Larrington <[email hidden]>
Quoted message said:
...necessary on a bicycle?
Strange message on my answering machine yesterday; Lt. Col. (retd.) Larrington saying he'd seen an article in "The Times" stating that bells were to become compulsory on all bicycles as of Saturday. Did he? Are they? I couldn't find any mention of it among the Thunderer's webby neurons, but would have imagined that were it /actually/ the case, it might have merited at least a passing mention in here...
It's when the law requiring most new bicycles to be fitted with a bell comes in. It was mentioned some time ago. It doesn't affect existing bicycles and it doesn't require you to keep the bell attached if you buy a new bike.
"Dave Larrington" <[email hidden]> wrote: ( ...necessary on a bicycle? ) ( Strange message on my answering machine yesterday; Lt. Col. (retd.) ) Larrington saying he'd seen an article in "The Times" stating that bells ( were to become compulsory on all bicycles as of Saturday. Did he? Are ) they? I couldn't find any mention of it among the Thunderer's webby ( neurons, but would have imagined that were it /actually/ the case, it might ) have merited at least a passing mention in here...
Has it not recently been about to become necessary for one to be fitted at the point of sale for new bikes? AFAIK you can take it off as soon as you've bought the bike, though.
Strange message on my answering machine yesterday; Lt. Col. (retd.) Larrington saying he'd seen an article in "The Times" stating that bells were to become compulsory on all bicycles as of Saturday. Did he? Are they? I couldn't find any mention of it among the Thunderer's webby neurons, but would have imagined that were it /actually/ the case, it might have merited at least a passing mention in here...
Wasn't it always the case that bikes had to be equipped with some sort of audible warning device which includes voice!! I don't know where I read this but I've thought this the case for years.
I think this was mentioned in Cycling Plus a month or so ago. All NEW bikes must be supplied with a bell, if I'm not wrong, in the same manner as front/rear reflectors.
All new bikes supplied complete, IIRC. Which means if the bike is supplied without pedals fitted then it also doesn't need to have a bell fitted.
-- Danny Colyer (the UK company has been laughed out of my reply address) <url:http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/> "He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine
I think this was mentioned in Cycling Plus a month or so ago. All NEW bikes must be supplied with a bell, if I'm not wrong, in the same manner as front/rear reflectors.
All new bikes supplied complete, IIRC. Which means if the bike is supplied without pedals fitted then it also doesn't need to have a bell fitted.
That's actually an interesting point. Would unicycles be covered by the legislation?
Years ago I fitted a bell to the front grab rail on the saddle of my DM Ringmaster. It worked well, was easy to use while riding (although using it may have looked a little obscene), but I gave up after breaking a couple of bells during UPD's.
I currently have a bulb horn mounted to the seat post of my Coker. I daresay I could mount a bell there, but I'd have a job reaching it.
Anyway, I found the relevant legislation: <url:http://www.l- egislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2003/20031101.htm>
The SI clearly refers only to 2-wheelers. But I was wrong about it applying only to bicycles supplied complete. Tandems and most recumbents are exempt.
-- Danny Colyer (the UK company has been laughed out of my reply address) <url:http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/> "He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine
Danny Colyer [email hidden] opined the following...
Quoted message said:
John Hearns said:
I think this was mentioned in Cycling Plus a month or so ago. All NEW bikes must be supplied with a bell, if I'm not wrong, in the same manner as front/rear reflectors.
All new bikes supplied complete, IIRC. Which means if the bike is supplied without pedals fitted then it also doesn't need to have a bell fitted.
Does this also apply to reflectors? If so, why in god's name did EBC insist on supplying my OCR with irritating front and rear reflectors. The front one clattered on the gear cables which made cobbles fun! That and the ones on the wheels which pull the wheels round until they're at the bottom. If you're going to insist on putting reflectors on wheels, they should at least be paired symmetrically.
"Danny Colyer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:c6mie5$1t3
Quoted message said:
Anyway, I found the relevant legislation: <url:http://www- .legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2003/20031101.htm>
The SI clearly refers only to 2-wheelers. But I was wrong about it applying only to bicycles supplied complete. Tandems and most recumbents are exempt.
Okay, which bit of a saddle has to be below 635 mm? My seat (okay, not a saddle, I suppose, but I doubt Plod or Regina would accept this prevarication, lawyers would leap on it) is 615mm at it's lowest, but 1120 at the top.
In this case it's not relevant, Lenty was supplied with a bell, but oddly, no front reflector.
On Tue, 27 Apr 2004 21:34:07 GMT, "Frobnitz" <eddie_d@@@blueyonder.ocbackwards.uk> wrote in message <[email hidden]>:
Quoted message said:
Okay, which bit of a saddle has to be below 635 mm?
(3) In these Regulations a reference to the height of the saddle of a bicycle is a reference to the height above the ground of the part of the seating area of the saddle which is furthest from the ground when the vehicle to which the saddle is attached is vertical and the saddle is raised to the fullest extent compatible with safety and any pneumatic tyres on the wheels of the vehicle are fully inflated.
All new bikes supplied complete, IIRC. Which means if the bike is supplied without pedals fitted then it also doesn't need to have a bell fitted.
and Jon Senior wondered:
Quoted message said:
Does this also apply to reflectors?
Such is my understanding. I'm not sure where the legislation is for that, though. It may have been so long ago that it won't be online.
Quoted message said:
If so, why in god's name did EBC insist on supplying my OCR with irritating front and rear reflectors. The front one clattered on the gear cables which made cobbles fun! That and the ones on the wheels which pull the wheels round until they're at the bottom. If you're going to insist on putting reflectors on wheels, they should at least be paired symmetrically.
Eeugh, I hate riding with wheel reflectors. I'm a great fan of reflective tape on spokes and rims, though.
-- Danny Colyer (the UK company has been laughed out of my reply address) <url:http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/> "He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine
"Just zis Guy, you know?" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
On Tue, 27 Apr 2004 21:34:07 GMT, "Frobnitz" <eddie_d@@@blueyonder.ocbackwards.uk> wrote in message <jlAjc.3869$Ma6.29624420@news- text.cableinet.net>:
Quoted message said:
Okay, which bit of a saddle has to be below 635 mm?
(3) In these Regulations a reference to the height of the saddle of a bicycle is a reference to the height above the ground of the part of the seating area of the saddle which is furthest from the ground when the vehicle to which the saddle is attached is vertical and the saddle is raised to the fullest extent compatible with safety and any pneumatic tyres on the wheels of the vehicle are fully inflated.
KUATB!
Sir Humphrey Appleby drafted that bit of legislation, if I'm not mistaken.....
Years ago I fitted a bell to the front grab rail on the saddle of my DM Ringmaster. It worked well, was easy to use while riding (although using it may have looked a little obscene), but I gave up after breaking a couple of bells during UPD's.
As Chuck Berry would have said, you should have been holding on to your ding a ling.
Perhaps you were ;-).
-- Michael MacClancy Random putdown - "They never open their mouths without subtracting from the sum of human knowledge." - Thomas Brackett Reed www.macclancy.demon.co.uk www.macclancy.co.uk
"Jon Senior" <jon_AT_restlesslemon_DOTco_DOT_uk> wrote in message
Quoted message said:
Does this also apply to reflectors? If so, why in god's name did EBC insist on supplying my OCR with irritating front and rear reflectors.
Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 18 and 24 apparently, according to the highway code (rule 46) indicate that a bike MUST (their emphasis) have a red rear reflector, and if manufactured after 1/10/85, amber pedal reflectors. White front reflectors and spoke reflectors are optional, but "help you be seen", which would explain why I don't have a front reflector.
Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 18 and 24 apparently, according to the highway code (rule 46) indicate that a bike MUST (their emphasis) have a red rear reflector, and if manufactured after 1/10/85, amber pedal reflectors. White front reflectors and spoke reflectors are optional, but "help you be seen", which would explain why I don't have a front reflector.
My Tifosi Audax was manufactured after 1/10/85 - last Thursday - and it didn't have amber reflectors on the pedals. They're SPD somethings and I don't think there's a space to put reflectors on at all. How do they get round that? Is this one of the reasons why most 'proper' bikes don't come with pedals by default - you choose your own, they fit them as an 'after service; before you actually pick the bike up? Or is everybody just ignoring a silly bit of law?
