Someone asked a while ago what brand the police cycles were...

[CopperCyclist]

... finally yesterday I remembered, and had a closer look! I can't remember who asked, and am to lazy to search the forums to remind myself, as I can't even remember the thread! Anyway...

I can reveal that at my nick, the police bikes are Pashley G Force's. The mech has SRAM dual drive written on it, and the brakes have Tektro Temera written on them.

Having never heard of Pashley, of 'dual drive' or 'temera' (obviously I've heard of SRAM and Tektro!) I have no idea on the quality of these parts. Being the police, I suspect someone will be able to confirm they are a cheap budget option! To be fair they do seem well maintained though

 

[jamsarnie]

Pashley I believe make the PO bikes as well, or at least used to. Built to last*.

*heavy

 

[Cubist]

The ones at my nick are mostly Cubes. Across the division we have something like 15 Cube Acids, two or three Cube Nature/CLS Pros, half a dozen Merida SUB 50s, and a handful of Dawes and Gary Fishers.

A neighbouring division bought a fleet of GT Avalanche from an LBS on my old patch, but he was so rude when I went in and suggested there was more to life than GTs and that I would like to choose the bikes based on spec and price. He was a bit of a crafty bugger and managed to waste half the neighbouring division's budget by insisting all the bikes were fitted with Hope Vision 2 lights. We ended up so far apart in terms of what we thought the cops needed that I decided I'd never go in there again. Tosser!

A colleague of mine first set about building up a fleet for his troops, hence the Meridas. I was next and went to the same dealer just as he was unwrapping a Cube Acid.. the rest is history! The LBS we use now charges us a preferential servicing fee, and even brings his van and tools to us to do the servicing.

 

[Gareth]

Norwich Plod have Smith & Wesson MTBs

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I was going to say the police (City of London, I think) also use Gunn and Moore bikes, but then I remembered they make cricket bats. What I was thinking of was Smith and Wesson, which makes me think of guns, which is presumably what made me think of Gunn and Moore.

And my meandering bike ride today has possibly influenced the above sentence. Because I had a little sit down in Plashet Park watching people playing cricket in the sunshine and having to pinch myself to remember it was February. Though I didn't literally pinch myself...

Yup, I definitely blame the bike ride...

 

[Arjimlad]

My Dad recently told me that in the 70s/80s Giant made the standard police bike which Hampshire used to use, he rode them around Hayling Island when he was stationed there when I was young.

 

[gaz]

The coopers i've seen in london are on specialized and santa cruz bikes

 

[jamsarnie]

The coopers i've seen in london are on specialized and santa cruz bikes

taking about beer at a time like this... tut tut

 

[gaz]

taking about beer at a time like this... tut tut

well, i've had a few

 

[jefmcg]

Richmond & Twickenham (Met) have Smith and Wessons, too. Which the 10 year old inside me thinks is really cool, and wants one.

http://www.cycle-force.co.uk/

 

[ufkacbln]

I always think that the phrase " our local Police are equipped with Smith and Wesson" could be misleading!

 

[lulubel]

Pashley I believe make the PO bikes as well, or at least used to. Built to last*.

*heavy

When I worked for Royal Mail, 10 years or so back, the bikes definitely did weigh a ton and I'm sure they were built to last. It didn't stop one of the posties riding his off a curb with 3 loaded mailbags on it and snapping the frame completely in half.

 

[Red Light]

I always think that the phrase " our local Police are equipped with Smith and Wesson" could be misleading!

...or the incident was attended by the Smith & Wesson rapid response team

 

[Piemaster]

Richmond & Twickenham (Met) have Smith and Wessons, too. Which the 10 year old inside me thinks is really cool, and wants one.

http://www.cycle-force.co.uk/

Some decent looking clothing on there. A little more 'dressy' than most cycle clothing - I could easily wear the shoes on the commute and in the office. Any idea if its generally available?

 

[TheSandwichMonster]

Devon & Cornwall also use Smith & Wesson