Watch: ‘Lethal’ bikes without front brakes are ‘aggressively promoted’ in the UK

A Spanish cycling company importing “lethal” bikes into Britain used in illegal street racing has been reported to the Government and an advertising watchdog.

Santafixie has been accused of “aggressively promoting” bikes without front brakes as the “perfect choice” for urban cycling even though they are illegal on public roads.

Mateo Briggs, 53 years old, whose wife Kim was killed by a cyclist on a similar fixed-wheel bicycle -where the only brake is applied by pressing the pedals in reverse to lock the rear wheel- has written to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) requesting a review of the Barcelona company’s marketing techniques.

He also wrote to Mark Harper, the Transport Secretary, and Kemi Badenoch, the Business Secretary, explaining that he had repeatedly pleaded with the company to make it clear that bicycles without front brakes It can only be used legally on bicycle tracks.

Briggs, who also campaigns for cyclists who kill to face the same life sentences as murderous motorists, has said UK companies have “withdrawn reckless advertising” of bikes that are illegal on public roads.

‘Ignore the law’

The letter said: “However, there remain a small number of retailers who still choose to ignore the law and promote brakeless bikes in their advertising.

“Perhaps the worst offender is Santafixie, a Spanish retailer selling in the UK with a UK website domain.

“Despite repeated requests, they still routinely promote brakeless fixed-wheel bicycles on their websites and promotional materials; aggressively promoting them as ‘the best urban bike’ or ‘the perfect choice for urban cycling enthusiasts.’”

Charlie Alliston, who was jailed for 18 months for cycling “wildly and furiously” after hitting Mrs Briggs, 44, in 2016, told a court he did not know his fixed-gear bike, which had no front brake, was illegal on public roads. .

Fixed-wheel bicycles with only a rear brake are not illegal in themselves and can be ridden on trails, but they do require a front brake to be fitted to be legal when ridden on public roads.

The Santafixie UK website promotes a “fixie” bike as the “best city bike” for “exploring cities”.

The Santafixie Raval Matte Black bike is one of those sold with only a rear “coaster” brake – “so if you pull the pedals back, the bike will brake” – and sells for £499.

The website also has an article explaining how illegal alleycat racing has grown in popularity as their “fixed gear bikes have become increasingly popular.”

‘Cycling thugs’

A Telegraph investigation last month revealed how gangs of “cycling thugs” break the rules of the road as they compete for cash prizes on brakeless bikes in street races.

Video footage glorified incidents in which children and elderly pedestrians are knocked down or nearly trapped as cyclists jump red lights and mount pavements in street races in London, Glasgow and Bristol.

Referring to an American street race in which a cyclist died after ignoring a red light, the Santafixie article said: “There is only one rule; The motorcycle must have a fixed gear and no brakes… As you can imagine, it is a dangerous race, very dangerous.

“Everything goes to get there first. Going in the wrong direction, jumping traffic lights, passing within inches of pedestrians and strollers, the risk is high,” she continued.

He described cash prizes and a “legendary after-party” before offering a link to the New York race route.

Promotional material for Santafixie, which refers to London as the “fixie bike capital of the world”, embraces the alleycat subculture by describing its customers as “nomads” who are “metropolitan and frenetic”.

The company sells a variety of bikes, some of which are described as “track bikes” with front and rear brakes.

‘Lunching towards you’

One participant in the London alley cat race wrote that it is a “sweaty mass of arrogance rushing towards you, I can do whatever I want… the rules of the road make no sense to me – I stop for nothing… also because I have brakes… only a single speed one that is practically impossible to slow down. Move”.

Santafixie, which claims to be Europe’s “leading online city bike seller” of fixed-gear and single-speed bikes, did not respond to a request for comment.

A Department for Transport spokeswoman said: “Dangerous cycling puts lives at risk and is completely unacceptable.

“It is already illegal to ride a fixed-wheel bicycle without front and rear brakes on public roads, and the police have the power to prosecute if you break this and many other strict laws.”

The ASA rules state that advertisements cannot promote illegal products or condone dangerous or irresponsible behavior, or encourage others to act in a way that may harm others.