Legal Requirements for Braking systems on Trikes/Recumbent Trikes

Hi

Not such a regular here these days but still lurking :-)

Anyway need some advice - currently looking at getting back on the road in
one of these
http://www.bike-on.com/newhandcycles/XLTPro.htm

but am investigating being able to swap wheels between 650c and 24" wheels
with fat tyres for those sustrans trails with the kids days.

In theory the only problem with this is the ability to match the brakes up.
These types of bikes usually have two brakes both on the front wheel to
comply (presumably) with rules on numbers of braking systems. Now I know a
bike has to have two braking systems to be road legal but does anyone know
if the same rules apply to a trike ? I'm proposing to fit a cable operated
disc brake to the front wheel but need to decide how to work the second
brake.

Any Ideas ?

Russ

Greetings Russ!

Stop lurking and post more often :-)

The proposed new trike looks suitably business-like.

Would the nice people at Trice be able to offer information, I wonder, even
though you aren't buying one of their bents. They do seem to be an approachable
bunch.

Cheers, helen s


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to get correct one remove dependency on fame & fortune
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Russ wrote:

: In theory the only problem with this is the ability to match the brakes up.
: These types of bikes usually have two brakes both on the front wheel to
: comply (presumably) with rules on numbers of braking systems. Now I know a
: bike has to have two braking systems to be road legal but does anyone know
: if the same rules apply to a trike ?

A upright trike nearly always has two brakes, both on the front wheel,
and each pulled by a different lever so as to comply with the "two
independant braking systems" requirement.

Some recumbent trikes which have the two wheels at the front just have
disks/drums on the two front wheels run off one lever and either a
token "parking" brake on the rear (Windchetach) or nothing at all.
Though of course the former is a little dodgy and the latter is strictly
speaking illeagal.

Arthur

--
Arthur Clune http://www.clune.org
"Technolibertarians make a philosophy out of a personality defect"
- Paulina Borsook

"Russ" wrote in message ...
Hi

Not such a regular here these days but still lurking :-)

Anyway need some advice - currently looking at getting back on the road in
one of these
http://www.bike-on.com/newhandcycles/XLTPro.htm

Nice looking machine.

but am investigating being able to swap wheels between 650c and 24" wheels
with fat tyres for those sustrans trails with the kids days.

In theory the only problem with this is the ability to match the brakes up.
These types of bikes usually have two brakes both on the front wheel to
comply (presumably) with rules on numbers of braking systems. Now I know a
bike has to have two braking systems to be road legal but does anyone know
if the same rules apply to a trike ? I'm proposing to fit a cable operated
disc brake to the front wheel but need to decide how to work the second
brake.

My tandem trike was built with three brakes - a canti and a caliper on
the front wheel, and an Arai drum on one of the rear axles. When I
got it it had been modified so it has just a V brake on the front and
the drum on the rear.

This is a bit marginal, but fitting brakes on a conventional trike is
a bit of conundrum.

Presumably the brakes on the rear wheels are rim brakes of some sort.
Can you get drums fitted instead - inboard perhaps.

Not sure of the legal position. Have you tried the Tricycle
Association website http://www.tricycle-association.org.uk/. I
believe beards are no longer compulsory.


Tim, googling from work.

On Wed, 3 Mar 2004 00:14:30 -0000, "Russ"
wrote:

These types of bikes usually have two brakes both on the front wheel to
comply (presumably) with rules on numbers of braking systems. Now I know a
bike has to have two braking systems to be road legal but does anyone know
if the same rules apply to a trike ? I'm proposing to fit a cable operated
disc brake to the front wheel but need to decide how to work the second
brake.


I'm not sure if "pedal cycle" means BIcycle or polycycle, likely the
latter. If so, legality the same.

Anyway, it's your funeral.
--
Comm again, Mike.