Cycling myths or common-knowledge you'd like to see dispelled

[Ming the Merciless]

Maximum tyre pressure = maximum speed

 

[Chris S]

All bikes legally need orange reflectors on the pedals.

Only if they were manufactured after 1985.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Only if they were manufactured after 1985.

Hence why it’s a myth

 

[Chris S]

Yes - I forgot the thread title!

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Bikes lanes cause traffic

 

[RichardB]

Until 1937, vehicle taxes were earmarked for road expenditure. Then the Home secretary decided that it was ridiculous to earmark income in this way, and the link between vehicle taxes and road maintenance was abolished. Since then (only 83 years, after all, so still quite a novelty to some folk), cyclists who pay income tax have contributed as much to the road network as any red-faced motorist.

What makes them really angry is when you tell them that the Home Secretary responsible for this lefty-trendy-hippy-dippy bit of legislation was that well-known hipster snowflake ... Winston Churchill.

 

[RichardB]

Only if they were manufactured after 1985.

And I think I am right in saying that the law requires these 'legally-required' reflectors to be present at the time of sale by a cycle dealer (not a private sale) but if you remove them 5 minutes after purchase you still have a fully-legal bike.

A full list would be white front and red rear, orange on the pedals (visible from the rear) and something on the wheels visible from the side. Also possibly a bell. Willing to be corrected, but that's how I think it stands. Requirements of sale, not requirements of use.

 

[Chris S]

A full list would be white front and red rear, orange on the pedals (visible from the rear) and something on the wheels visible from the side.

That's another myth - you don't need a white front reflector.

 

[RichardB]

And I think I am right in saying that the law requires these 'legally-required' reflectors to be present at the time of sale by a cycle dealer (not a private sale) but if you remove them 5 minutes after purchase you still have a fully-legal bike.

A full list would be white front and red rear, orange on the pedals (visible from the rear) and something on the wheels visible from the side. Also possibly a bell. Willing to be corrected, but that's how I think it stands. Requirements of sale, not requirements of use.

Useful summary here, which others may know but I had forgotten. Interesting that the safety regs don't apply to recumbents as the saddle height exempts them, under an exemption intended to exclude pavement cycles intended for toddlers.

https://www.cyclinguk.org/cyclists-library/regulations/safety-regulations

 

[HLaB]

You positively must have a gravel bike

I've not got one so it must be true

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

You absolutely positively gotta have a carbon bike.

I fecking haven't got to go carbon I can assure you!. 100% steel and staying that way.

 

[snorri]

Cyclists get punctures most weeks.

 

[Oldhippy]

Can't remember when I last had a puncture, many years though.

 

[snorri]

Can't remember when I last had a puncture, many years though.

I wouldn't worry, I haven't heard any mention of the Puncture Fairy for a while, possibly struck down by Covid.

 

[slowmotion]

£350 cycling glasses will add 4% to your average speed and make you irresistible to the opposite sex.