Reflectors on race bikes
chappers
Posts: 97
in General Chat
Stupid question but my race bike didn't come with reflectors - is this the norm and are they required for the bike to be considered road worthy by race marshals? I'm thinking of fitting them just be on the safe side. Besides it'll be the only bit of red on my bike so by default must be a speed inducing upgrade
0
Comments
Don't worry no reflectors required - although on my first tri my Halfords £60 steel mtb with chunky tyres had spoke reflectors as well!
*Actually, my aged father has a photo of himself racing in his prime, a bit after WWII (late '40s, early '50s) and his bike _does_ actually have a bell on it! 62 minutes for a 25 - with a bell!!!
ISTR that such items are strictly speaking legal requirements for you to ride on the public highway. Pedals typically AIUI come from abroad so sellers in the Uk chuck these reflective things in with fitting instructions in the knoweldge that they have covered themselves and nobody ever fits them!
I have a funny picture in my head of a cervelo P4 with zipp wheels and lots of other bling having to be sold in the UK with a bell on
didds
bike shops are supposed to sell bikes with bellls fitted (i think) but no legal requirement to have them on the bike.
there is a legal requirement to have orange pedal reflectors after dusk, and my spd-sl's even came with a set! didn't fit them though, to save weight .
worth bearing in mind that all these laws were written in the 80's when bike lights were massive battery hungry things or piddly dynamos.
Yes, I always wondered that about Dynamo lights! Doh.
Actually i normally strip everything off the bike possible when racing .. haven't thought about what the official line is .. good point well raised.
I just want the opportunity to get out of the way! Also the dog is rather keen on bikes and I don't want to be responsible for knocking someone off and ruining their shiny red bike and the last time I hit the dog on the bike she just had a big rubber mark down her back leg for ages but next time it could be more expensive
My SPD's didn't come with any kind of reflector strip, nor did my other pedals which are on my commuter. Are they really a requirement?
(sorry I'm still at work and still bored)
Still on the train. Cramped, sore and bored.
Now off to the pub!
It's illegal to sneeze in Newmarket though in case the horses get a cold
and apparently also not to stop your small child looking up the skirts of shop manikins!
Hope the train ride is soon finished Jack
VAM