Clipless on Commuting bike?

Underscore

Stanley222 wrote:

Is it really illegal?

I was under the impression the only reflector you legally had to have was a red rear reflector!?!

Where does it state you need them on your pedals too?!

Look here. Notice that these are required... period... not just if cycling at night.

I use Time ATAC Aliums on my commuter. Hence, I am cycling illegally but I also use ankle reflectors at night... so I am still cycling illegally.

_

EDIT: Oops. Just noticed from a post in a different thread, that an exemption here means that you do not need pedal (or any other) reflectors during the hours of daylight.

geocycle

Anyone know where you can get these (or similar bolt on types) in the UK?

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/ ... px?sc=FRGL

Clever Pun

dondare wrote:

I use Time Atac clipless pedals and they're ideal for commuting. I've never had a "clipless moment".

as do I but I've had a clipless moment as I was 'cutting my teeth' with them

nearly always a slow speed embarrassment... once you've done it once you wont do it again

dondare

Forgive my Laconic humour. I was not really accusing you of ignorance.

From the HC:

"Many of the rules in the Code are legal requirements, and if you disobey these rules you are committing a criminal offence. You may be fined, given penalty points on your licence or be disqualified from driving. In the most serious cases you may be sent to prison. Such rules are identified by the use of the words ‘MUST/MUST NOT’. In addition, the rule includes an abbreviated reference to the legislation which creates the offence. An explanation of the abbreviations can be found in 'The road user and the law'."

"60
At night your cycle MUST have white front and red rear lights lit. It MUST also be fitted with a red rear reflector (and amber pedal reflectors, if manufactured after 1/10/85). White front reflectors and spoke reflectors will also help you to be seen. Flashing lights are permitted but it is recommended that cyclists who are riding in areas without street lighting use a steady front lamp.

[Law RVLR regs 13, 18 & 24)]"

snooks

Just read the link for the pedals, rear and front reflectors, and one thing struck me. As long as the reflectors are marked with the approprite BS number, and over 350mm from the ground, there is no minimum size.

So if you REALLY want to be 100% legal, then you could in theory cut your reflectors up, just leaving the BS no. and stick the front and rear ones to your bike and find a way of sticking the smallest possible amber ones to your pedals.

[sarcasm]I'd hate to ride an illegal bike [/sarcasm]

.

jedster

I keep reading stuff that they are trying to sort the legal issue out. It's annoying really, sure they either scrap it or allow ankle or shoe heel reflectors to substitute. I think laws that don't have broad public support just bring our egal system into disrepute.

beverick

bedraggled wrote:

I use Shimano Combination Pedals with a mountain bike shoe, it is a flat pedal on one side and an SPD on the other, in traffic I unclip and use the flat side.

Ditto for the pedals. Shimano M324's - I use them on both bikes - but use a Nike road-type shoe.

Combi's are also useful if you can't be bothered putting the cycling shoes on for the odd trip to the shops etc.

bob

JHG

beverick wrote:

bedraggled wrote:

I use Shimano Combination Pedals with a mountain bike shoe, it is a flat pedal on one side and an SPD on the other, in traffic I unclip and use the flat side.

Ditto for the pedals. Shimano M324's - I use them on both bikes - but use a Nike road-type shoe.

Combi's are also useful if you can't be bothered putting the cycling shoes on for the odd trip to the shops etc.

bob

That seems to be the best of both worlds

meanwhile

dondare wrote:

Ignorance is no excuse.

I didn't know that!

biondino

Strikes me that the only time you'd ever be done for this is if you'd committed some other road misdemeanour and the fuzz wanted to throw the book at you, especially if the other misdemeanour wasn't provable

dondare

In the days when some of us were still members of the C+ forum site, this issue was raised because some cop was arresting cyclists on precisely this charge. I don't remember the details, I think it was in Anglesey or some other remote corner, and I don't know if any of the prosecutions were successful.

richk

dondare wrote:

Remember that it's illegal to use your bike on the road after dark without the right sort of reflectors on the pedals. Most clipless pedals cannot be fitted with legally compliant reflectors.

Decathlon (if you've got one nearby) do some such as these http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/double-function-pedals-3883519/#

I've got these http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/823-clipless-pedals-3885821/ which also came with clip on reflectors (though not shown)

both these are SPD type.

always_tyred

Someone should submit a FOIA request to the met to find out how many citations have been issued to cyclists without reflectors or a bell in the last 5 years. Or get a life. One or the other.