irrespective of what may or may not have been edited out, there's no way 10 coppers are needed to inspect pusbikes for roadworthiness. even if some or all of the cyclists were carrying drugs  or had outstanding warrants what probable cause would plod have had to identify them and search them? does not having a bell mean you can be searched? Yep, the first coppers may have called for back up, probably got sick of sarcastic barbs about how rediculous their enforcement was, at least with ten of them they could cry on each others shoulders, the poor kittens.
i guess the cyclists should count their blessings, none of them got tazered. this time

paul.

relax, it's a cycling sub-culture - they ride fixed gear bikes (no freewheel) and wear normal clothes so they don't look like lycra idiots (me!) they are closer to motorcyclists than you realise....the reason why they ride at that time is there is less traffic (and it's part of an organised event that occurs simultaneously throughout the world) and they enjoy chatting and modifying the bikes as much as riding them...

would you respond to a bike bell?

better to not have one and use your voice and brain than a high pitch ding which really can't do anything!

the whole fixed gear thing is a very cool genre of riding - it's not normal - but that's what makes it so interesting, it takes incredible skill too.

Quote from: Spider on September 14, 2009, 12:55:38 AM
would you respond to a bike bell?

better to not have one and use your voice and brain than a high pitch ding which really can't do anything!

Actually, I find banging on the side of the car that is trying to run you off the road works quite well.  Just need to make sure you can still steer.

Quote from: Serious Groper on September 13, 2009, 06:36:24 PM
Unless there is a newspaper article that states the specifics shown on this clip, i think you guys jumped the gun a little.

The riders all look dodgey to me.

*Who decides to cycle at night?
*Who forms a decent sized group to go cycling at night?
*They are not harcore riders - casual clothes, bikes are crap so why are they out?
*Was there reported instances on this group already?
*Cops were pinging them for numerous things. You heard a couple of them were getting done for no bells.... ok ....so what are the others getting done for then?

10 cops don't just rock up to harrass cyclists for not having bells. 10 cops turn up because riders have outstanding warrants, drug arrests, backup required etc. They would have had good reason to have 10 Police present as the extra officers would have been called in from the initial officers.

I could be wrong but that is what i picked up from watching that clip.

thats the biggest load of bullsht assumptions I have seen in a while. just amazing.

Quote from: kursed on September 14, 2009, 07:20:41 PM
thats the biggest load of bullsht assumptions I have seen in a while. just amazing.

tell us what you really mean kursed! oh and you spelt bullshit wrong, it's BULLSHIT!


paul.

Ooooh eeerrr!! I feel some incoming on the way?? 

Heeeheehehee. 

I have to agree Kursed.

When I cycle couriered in London, most of the best riders had the crappiest bikes.
That aside, this gathering looked like the Courier Races run all around the world.

As Spider said riding at night means there is less traffic and less risk of getting cleaned up by Nann on the way to the library.
I do like riding at night on my Monster so my pushie is no different.

I've met a couple of those guys, and they are just your average early 20s lads.  Enjoy a beer and a laugh with mates.  It's fair to say that there was likely to be some pretty awesome and radical riding that night, and that there would have been some funny stories by the end of the race.

There wouldn't have been assaults, graffiti, arson, murder, theft, or anything else to justify that kind of police presence...

ok guys i know im reminiscing about the way life use to be, but see no cops in sight here, aaahhh the good old days

YOUTH GROUP: Forever Young


as yes this is a fav of mine

Yes how did we ever survive such uncouth times (and with all that hair!)   

Thanks Jukie   

sometime i which we could just turn back time. and yes the hair

Quote from: kursed on September 14, 2009, 07:20:41 PM
thats the biggest load of bullsht assumptions I have seen in a while. just amazing.

It was just some of my thoughts, i don't know why it warranted such a harsh response 

It's called not taking things on face value and asking questions. Obviously you have never experienced that yourself....

Did you happen to switch your head with your ass or are you always this stupid and rude?

BTW before you open your mouth and blast me with your putrid flem, i have several cops, prison, defense personal in the family. So yeah, i tend to not take things on face value unless i personally trust the source or was there myself to witness.

"They are not harcore riders - casual clothes, bikes are crap"
ASSUMPTION

"10 cops don't just rock up to harrass cyclists for not having bells. "
ASSUMPTION

"10 cops turn up because riders have outstanding warrants"
ASSUMPTION

"drug arrests"
ASSUMPTION

"backup required"
ASSUMPTION

case and point.

Sorry if I got your heckles up, but your post was still full of assumptions, and I think mostly, bullshit. I ride pushies and motos a lot, and just about all the stuff you said I find contrary to everything I have experienced in riding culture.

Ahhh but my friend it is a massive assumption to watch the video and accept you have the entire story and what it shows is the entire truth.

My assumptions are:

1) Why 10 Police would show up (a reasonable assumption).
2) It looks dodgy to me. This assumption i made because the full story was not shown and also point 1 (a reasonable assumption).

The other points i made are questioning the validity of what we saw in the video. I'm just throwing things out there for people to consider before making a decision. A little Devils Advocate is required before i could make a call either way.

The organiser could have prevented this from happening if they notified the local Police to advise them a large group ride at night was going to be held (or did i miss them mention that?). It shouldn't be required however most causes/charity events do it to prevent this exact scenario from happening.

All it takes is 1 Resident who sees a large group of people gathering and freaks out. They call the Police who know of nothing going on at that location so they respond. It's a downward spiral from there. Residents will make up complete lies if it means getting Police there ASAP. 

FWIW i have done my fair share of cycling and racing (velodrome) over the years so i am not against cyclists 

we don't like it when people make assumptions about us as motorcycle riders....so we shouldn't do it to others.

A lot of what SG describes as suspicious activities, well.....they aren't illegal....so why should they bring the police?

forming a group wasn't illegal in this country (Iraq, Germany is 1930/40s perhaps) last time I checked and neither was riding at night.

Single speeders (some would be couriers - that's where the bike became popular - and your velodrome too SG!!!) are some seriously smooth cyclists.

if it was in response to a call, the 1st officers would have cancelled...not let another 16 arrive.