Local Bobbies on bikes...

[danphoto]

Nothing wrong with these

Looks to me like standards had slipped by the time that snap was taken. Those may well be Trusty Rallig's (as 'twas pronounced in some parts of Lancashire) but they don't have full chainguards.

And where's their capes (as in blue serge, not as in yellow PVC)?

 

[Vikeonabike]

My favourite subject: Lots of things to consider here. The first one is how importantly the constabulary views the bike as policing tool! If it's important to them and they happen to have keen cyclists high enough up the decision making structure then You tend to get the right bike, uniform, equipment and training for the job. If not, then your in my Constabulary!
The MTB is generally the best bike for the job because they are robust, easy to ride, easy to buy etc. A lot of Police officers and PCSO's haven't ridden bikes in years, so they are generally nervous, self conscious and unfit. MTBs are a good bike for all round use.
Would 29ers with semi slicks be better? Do they need front suspension. How about a cyclo cross bike. What about SPDs. All depends on where you Police and at what level your riding is at. A cyclo Cross bike would be great for me in the flat urban area of East Abglia I work. If I was the Beat bobby for Gaotland up in Yorkshire I may want something a little more robust!

There is the Kudos factor, but most kids on my patch think Claud Butlers are the best thing in the world. What they would make of a Cannondale Badboy with lefty fork, fully marked up with Blues, Twos and Sirens.

If I can't have my Cyclo Cross bike then a rigid 29er on semi slicks would be my next choice!

Emergency Service Cyclist Forum

 

[Arch]

We told the Police not to buy them but they knew better

We had to build one bike up for them because the WPC was so small they couldn't find anything suitable. We had to get written permission to have some proper Police stickers made. Just after it was delivered she was moved elsewhere and it's never been ridden.

Hmm, police liveried bike, never been ridden, small sized...

Not got it hanging around, I suppose?

Would go nicely with my POLITE hi-vis vest...

 

[Alembicbassman]

Why don't we go Miami Style?

http://skateboardingmagazine.com/bl...de-cops-keep-villains-on-straight-and-narrow/

 

[Cyclopathic]

Nothing wrong with these

You laugh but a modern version of the same would be about ideal for their requirements. Mt bikes, especially with suspension are just not the sort of thing for the purpose. A normal town bike would be better. Believe it or not normal bikes are quite capable of dealing with light off road duties should the need arise. I used to go everywhee on my old sit up and beg, Sturmy Archer 3 speed. I thought suspension was only really nescessary for proper off road racing.
I'm sorry but nothing will convince me that the Fuzz have not made a silly and expensive mistake and invested in the wrong kit. It doesn't even look cool because they are so far away from what they should have that they just look slightly foolish. (I know it's not about the look, but still)

 

[Cyclopathic]

We told the Police not to buy them but they knew better

We had to build one bike up for them because the WPC was so small they couldn't find anything suitable. We had to get written permission to have some proper Police stickers made. Just after it was delivered she was moved elsewhere and it's never been ridden.

Got any left?

 

[HLaB]

Aren't the mtb chosen because it suits the use best, riding down stairs if necessary (sure I've seen a youtube clip of them being trained on this), across parkland, etc. Road bikes are quicker but perhaps not the best choice for them

BTW. Our very own forumite Vikeonabike is a cycling officer.

This one

 

[Cyclopathic]

My favourite subject: Lots of things to consider here. The first one is how importantly the constabulary views the bike as policing tool! If it's important to them and they happen to have keen cyclists high enough up the decision making structure then You tend to get the right bike, uniform, equipment and training for the job. If not, then your in my Constabulary!
The MTB is generally the best bike for the job because they are robust, easy to ride, easy to buy etc. A lot of Police officers and PCSO's haven't ridden bikes in years, so they are generally nervous, self conscious and unfit. MTBs are a good bike for all round use.
Would 29ers with semi slicks be better? Do they need front suspension. How about a cyclo cross bike. What about SPDs. All depends on where you Police and at what level your riding is at. A cyclo Cross bike would be great for me in the flat urban area of East Abglia I work. If I was the Beat bobby for Gaotland up in Yorkshire I may want something a little more robust!

There is the Kudos factor, but most kids on my patch think Claud Butlers are the best thing in the world. What they would make of a Cannondale Badboy with lefty fork, fully marked up with Blues, Twos and Sirens.

If I can't have my Cyclo Cross bike then a rigid 29er on semi slicks would be my next choice!

Emergency Service Cyclist Forum

You make some fair points. I wonder though how much kudos a nervous, self concious and unfit officer could hope to get even with a cool bike. You are right that different bikes will suit different terrains it just seems to me (and I admit I don't have all the facts) that a mtb is not perhaps the most suitable when most of the riding is on the road. There are a number of alternatives before reaching a carbon fibre road bike and it is just my opinion that there perhaps could have been a better choice made.

 

[summerdays]

I don't think the ones around here look nervous and self concious or unfit - why should they.... I would have thought that they would probably volunteer for cycling duties? and as far as I know from speaking to some of them they have had training. It makes them far more approachable and visible in the neighbourhood and they are able to strike up conversations with teenagers. I think having suspension would be preferable if you suddenly needed to go down a couple of steps etc.

Now I'm going to have to go on a lookout to see what bikes they have.

 

[david1701]

one local to me has a nice decent hybrid/mtb with flat bars and mixed tyres, white bike with police stickers and a topeak trunk bag looks good for the task

 

[Jezston]

Saw a group of Police and Ambulance riders out recently, guess they were doing some kind of training. Couldn't work out what make/model the bikes were, but the Police were riding MTBs with Deore branded rear derailleurs, so guessing they aren't exactly BSOs, and the Ambulance guys had 700c hybrids with racks and panniers which seemed fairly appropriate, although their clothing, panniers and FRAMES were totally fluoro yellow which looked revolting.

 

[Cyclopathic]

All things considered though it is still really good to have police around on bikes. I supose as long as they can do what is needed and the officers are comfortable riding them then its a good thing. With reference to Vikeonabikes comments perhaps the individual officers could have more of a say in the sort of bike they use as they are best placed to know their specific requirements and their own capabilities and limitations.

I hope that they stick with the idea because in policing, as in the rest of life, the bike offers an efficient and economical solution to many day to day challenges.

What to call them though. I like wheeler Peelers but it is too cumbersome and not very catchy. Anyone got any better ideas?

 

[Alembicbassman]

Biker Bacon

 

[Vikeonabike]

Piggin' wheelers

 

[Vikeonabike]

You laugh but a modern version of the same would be about ideal for their requirements. Mt bikes, especially with suspension are just not the sort of thing for the purpose. A normal town bike would be better. Believe it or not normal bikes are quite capable of dealing with light off road duties should the need arise. I used to go everywhee on my old sit up and beg, Sturmy Archer 3 speed. I thought suspension was only really nescessary for proper off road racing.
I'm sorry but nothing will convince me that the Fuzz have not made a silly and expensive mistake and invested in the wrong kit. It doesn't even look cool because they are so far away from what they should have that they just look slightly foolish. (I know it's not about the look, but still)

Cyclopathic,
It's horses for courses here. Whilst I agree with you, in some cases where an officer or PCSO is only concerned with tootling a short distance from A - B then a town bike would be ideal. Without being sexist a Pashley Princess would persuade some of our non cycling girlies to go out on a bike. I can spend, on a quiet day 8 hours slowly cycling around on my bike covering anything upto 50 miles. However there are regular times when I have to put the hammer down for 4 or 5 miles to get across my patch by the most direct route possible on a blue light run. A town bike would not be in any shape or form ideal. Yes better than running. I wiegh in at 13 1.5 stone. My body armour, and equipment including the stuff in my panniers (donuts not included I buy my Krispy Kremes fresh) weighs in at another 4 stone plus so the bike I use has to be robus. I'm a lightwieght compared to a lot of cops. So a town bike is not ideal (Dear Pashley, plese ignore if you have spare 3 speed Guv'nor knocking about). That doesn't mean that other avenues should not be explored! As much as I hate to say it, with the improvements in Power assisted bikes, they could be the next step in Police Cycling! Genesis day one ebike