More at BV websiteBV wrote:Feds put skids on fixies
3 August 2010. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is cracking down on the fixie craze, warning of serious safety issues and threatening bike shops with fines of more than $1M.
In its latest bulletin the ACCC, which enforces national consumer safety standards for bikes, says retailers could be selling selling fixed gear bikes that do not comply with mandated safety standards, and that could put riders at risk of death or serious injury.
Fixies were being sold without front and rear brakes, according to the ACCC.....
Crackdown on Fixies
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Crackdown on Fixies
Postby il padrone » Thu Aug 05, 2010 5:08 pm
"An unjustified and unethical imposition on a healthy activity."
- Strawburger
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Re: Crackdown on Fixies
Postby Strawburger » Thu Aug 05, 2010 5:17 pm
In all seriousness though, shops should be selling these bikes as bikes for the velodrome and not commuters. The ones i visit do but there are probably some out there that don't. But how is a shop to know what the consumer does once it leaves the shop?
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Re: Crackdown on Fixies
Postby trailgumby » Thu Aug 05, 2010 5:34 pm
I would think any of the many flatbar fixies I see around the CBD would have exposed their retailer to an ACCC action.
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Re: Crackdown on Fixies
Postby Strawburger » Thu Aug 05, 2010 5:37 pm
I don't think i've seen any flatbar fixies without brakes being sold in a shop. I must get out to see more shops!trailgumby wrote:Drop bars or lowered bullhorns perhaps fair enough, but flatbars? Who races on the velodrome with flatbars?
I would think any of the many flatbar fixies I see around the CBD would have exposed their retailer to an ACCC action.
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Re: Crackdown on Fixies
Postby il padrone » Thu Aug 05, 2010 5:58 pm
"An unjustified and unethical imposition on a healthy activity."
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Re: Crackdown on Fixies
Postby Parker » Thu Aug 05, 2010 6:16 pm
Bells.... LMAOTo stamp out the illegal sales the ACCC has asked the public to report any supply of bikes without safety fixtures, such as brakes, reflectors and bells.
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Re: Crackdown on Fixies
Postby Lark2004 » Thu Aug 05, 2010 6:43 pm
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Re: Crackdown on Fixies
Postby il padrone » Thu Aug 05, 2010 7:04 pm
"An unjustified and unethical imposition on a healthy activity."
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Re: Crackdown on Fixies
Postby Vivifyer » Thu Aug 05, 2010 7:06 pm
Agree though, riding fixed with no brakes in the city is a bit silly, mostly because of cars, and peds that dont look.
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Re: Crackdown on Fixies
Postby TheSkyMovesSideways » Thu Aug 05, 2010 7:22 pm
Well, that makes almost all mountain bikes illegal.ACCC wrote:Brake friction pads are securely attached to the backing plate or holder and, when applied, touch only the wheel rim.
What the hell is a guard of the upper junction of the chain and chain wheel?ACCC wrote:Protective guards
• For children’s bicycles (with a wheel base of 640–765 mm)—a guard encloses the chain wheel and the upper run of the chain.
• For all other bicycles—the upper junction of the chain and chain wheel has a guard that can only be removed using a tool.
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Re: Crackdown on Fixies
Postby mikesbytes » Thu Aug 05, 2010 7:37 pm
• At least two brakes are fitted, one on the front wheel and the other on the back.
Is a fixed wheel considered to be a brake?
• Hand brakes are accessible to a rider in the normal riding position.
What is a normal riding position
• The right lever connects to the front brake and the left lever to the rear brake.
What about lefties
• Brake friction pads are securely attached to the backing plate or holder and, when applied, touch only the wheel rim.
So bikes with disk brakes are illegal
• For bicycles with cantilever brakes—a safety device is fitted to prevent the stirrup cable from touching the tyre.
????
• For children’s bicycles (with a wheel base of 640–765 mm)—a back-pedal brake is fitted.
Some of the really small childrens bikes are actually fixies. LOL
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Re: Crackdown on Fixies
Postby Parker » Thu Aug 05, 2010 8:14 pm
If its not a big issue, why am I required by law to have one?Lark2004 wrote:I have bells on all my bikes... it's not a big issue really, is it
I'm a minimalist at heart and a bell on my bike would just look, not so minimalist
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Re: Crackdown on Fixies
Postby familyguy » Thu Aug 05, 2010 8:35 pm
No light bracket? Computer mount? Pump? Cage? Valve caps?Parker wrote:If its not a big issue, why am I required by law to have one?Lark2004 wrote:I have bells on all my bikes... it's not a big issue really, is it
I'm a minimalist at heart and a bell on my bike would just look, not so minimalist
Arent bikes meant to be supplied with wheel reflectors as well? And a rear red reflector? There's another angle they can exploit. But if its just sales of bikes with said items, they're all very easily removed. Maybe you can put a picture of a brake on a spoke card...
Better not let Harold get wind of this ACCC action...he'll have a field day.
Jim
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Re: Crackdown on Fixies
Postby Parker » Thu Aug 05, 2010 8:43 pm
I never ride when its dark, computer is mounted on stem and matches, no pump I carry CO2 in my jersey, and 1 cage...familyguy wrote:No light bracket? Computer mount? Pump? Cage? Valve caps?Parker wrote:If its not a big issue, why am I required by law to have one?Lark2004 wrote:I have bells on all my bikes... it's not a big issue really, is it
I'm a minimalist at heart and a bell on my bike would just look, not so minimalist
Say What do you need valve caps for?
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Re: Crackdown on Fixies
Postby brauluver » Thu Aug 05, 2010 8:53 pm
To cap the valves of course!Parker wrote: Say What do you need valve caps for?
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Re: Crackdown on Fixies
Postby Parker » Thu Aug 05, 2010 9:01 pm
Oh sure because they're so important to keeping the air inbrauluver wrote:To cap the valves of course!Parker wrote: Say What do you need valve caps for?
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Re: Crackdown on Fixies
Postby sblack » Thu Aug 05, 2010 9:15 pm
So as long as such bikes are only made available as custom order bikes there is no longer any issue. So how much has to change for a bike to be uniquely constructed to the order of an individual? If I have to specify what pedals I want is that enough?One-of-a-kind bicycles—that is, bicycles that are
uniquely constructed to the order of an individual
consumer.
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Re: Crackdown on Fixies
Postby Mulger bill » Thu Aug 05, 2010 9:46 pm
I'd say that'd do it according to the letter of the law if not the spirit.sblack wrote:Reading the ACCC Bulletin linked to in the article I see one way around the standards. Under bicycles not required to comply with the mandatory standard is:So as long as such bikes are only made available as custom order bikes there is no longer any issue. So how much has to change for a bike to be uniquely constructed to the order of an individual? If I have to specify what pedals I want is that enough?One-of-a-kind bicycles—that is, bicycles that are
uniquely constructed to the order of an individual
consumer.
Yeah, that'd be the reflector bracket.For bicycles with cantilever brakes—a safety device is fitted to prevent the stirrup cable from touching the tyre.
London Boy 29/12/2011
- Mulger bill
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Re: Crackdown on Fixies
Postby Mulger bill » Thu Aug 05, 2010 9:58 pm
Just went right thru the ACCC bulletin...
Anybody see the real scary bit? Forget brakeless fixies...
Bicycles not required to comply with the mandatory standard
• Bicycles with a wheel base of less than 640 mm.
• Bicycles that are designed, promoted and supplied
primarily for use in competition such as track racing.
• One-of-a-kind bicycles—that is, bicycles that are
uniquely constructed to the order of an individual
consumer.
• Bicycles that are designed to be hinged or folded, or
to be taken apart beyond removal of the front wheel,
for ease of storage or portability.
Tandem bicycles.
• Power-assisted bicycles.
• Bicycles showing signs of appreciable wear or
second-hand bicycles.
• Recumbent bicycles.
London Boy 29/12/2011
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Re: Crackdown on Fixies
Postby brauluver » Thu Aug 05, 2010 10:57 pm
Bloody bearded bent riders flouting the laws again.Mulger bill wrote:Hang on just one frickin' moment!
Just went right thru the ACCC bulletin...
Anybody see the real scary bit? Forget brakeless fixies...
• Recumbent bicycles.
It's not brakeless hipsters that are the problem, but middle aged ex hippy types on bents!
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Re: Crackdown on Fixies
Postby Mulger bill » Thu Aug 05, 2010 11:04 pm
Where do I fit in?
Bearded but not bent?
London Boy 29/12/2011
- mikesbytes
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Re: Crackdown on Fixies
Postby mikesbytes » Fri Aug 06, 2010 8:24 am
PennyMulger bill wrote:
Where do I fit in?
Bearded but not bent?
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Re: Crackdown on Fixies
Postby familyguy » Fri Aug 06, 2010 8:50 am
Nothin but quality so far...Parker wrote:
Assemble. Ride around block. Second hand at $1 off. A shop would only need one set of safety devices to swap from bike to bike.Mulger bill wrote:Hang on just one frickin' moment!
• Bicycles showing signs of appreciable wear or
second-hand bicycles.
Jim
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Re: Crackdown on Fixies
Postby h3ndry » Fri Aug 06, 2010 11:20 am
no wait....maybe
oh yeah.....hmm I think I....
Nope sorry. Still don't care.
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Re: Crackdown on Fixies
Postby Nobody » Fri Aug 06, 2010 7:12 pm
No.mikesbytes wrote:The Australian / New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1927:1988 Pedal bicycles — requires:
• At least two brakes are fitted, one on the front wheel and the other on the back.
Is a fixed wheel considered to be a brake?
Whatever the nice Mr Policeman thinks.mikesbytes wrote:• Hand brakes are accessible to a rider in the normal riding position.
What is a normal riding position
Move to the US.mikesbytes wrote:• The right lever connects to the front brake and the left lever to the rear brake.
What about lefties
I think the law is just lagging the new 'cross/commuter/hybrid designs.mikesbytes wrote:• Brake friction pads are securely attached to the backing plate or holder and, when applied, touch only the wheel rim.
So bikes with disk brakes are illegal
Don't know either. Must be an old law though.mikesbytes wrote:• For bicycles with cantilever brakes—a safety device is fitted to prevent the stirrup cable from touching the tyre.
????
All my early kids bikes were fixed...cranks on front wheel.mikesbytes wrote:• For children’s bicycles (with a wheel base of 640–765 mm)—a back-pedal brake is fitted.
Some of the really small childrens bikes are actually fixies. LOL
I've been told by a bike shop that back-pedal brakes are preferred on small bikes because children don't have the hand strength to use rim brakes.
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