On this basis, I think I only have one "roadworthy" bike
Yep by the letter of the law most bikes aren't road legal. Right now I'm sat in a bike shop in
NL, there is exactly 1, and only 1 bike in the building that fully complies with the letter of Dutch law for bikes. It also complies with the Vienna convention, and the UK law. It's my bike.
But then there's also not many people sad enough to sit and translate the relevant legislation and make sure thei bike applies. Cos for most people if it's got lights and a brake, that's enough. Apart from anything else most cops don't know what the rules are either...
It still makes me uncomfortable that .NL only requires one brake. Mostly as it's shocking how poor most brakes are. Took me a while to learn that while I can stop in a very short distance, the Muggle behind can't, which changes the way you ride... But I digress.
J