I know this is off topic, but I'd spend more time worrying about holding the IAB during your EMX TT than I would worrying about ears. Of course, disregard if you are already good at holding the IAB.

Of course, aero road helmets are not as fast as full aero helmets, but the loss isn't that big

sorry for ignorance IAB?

 
invisible aero bars

Assuming this is USA Cycling ...

Unless the rule book has changed recently, technically they are not allowed to ban "aero helmets", skinsuits, disk wheels, etc. What they can do is say the bike must conform to "mass start" requirements.

When one promoter had the "no disk" rule, I said, OK so I can use a disk wheel in the road race the next day but not in the "road bike TT" the day before? How does that make any sense. And if you think you can't use a disk in a road race then google Paul Curley.

Eddy style TTs are road bike only as well as other rules.

If it's a USAC sanctioned event, the only rule they can enforce is "mass start legal". I know many think and try to do otherwise, but they are wrong. (as I said, unless they have changed the rule book in recent years. I verified this personally with USAC -- Sean Petty as I recall)

You are indeed correct, but if one wants to race, one has to play nice with the promoter, as at the end of the day, they are the ones who decide whether to allow one to race.

I was warned by one promoter once that if I didn't drop my protest, he'd be happy to refund me the entry fee. Then again, that was when road racing was still quite popular. Declining participation may change that dynamic.

lol, I wonder if we were talking to the same promoter, because I got that too :-)

These "road bike TTs" are kina a mess, since there is no strict dividing line between road and TT equipment (other than aerobars). Skinsuits are used frequently in road races, so are "road aero" helmets like the Vanquish and Evade.

Personally, I'd feel safer if people were on actual aerobars vs. doing IABs.

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I've done quite a few "classic division - Standard/Merckx class" road bike time trials. Generally, the promoters spell out what is legal in their race and everybody adheres to those rules.

For instance....

Standard Road Bike Frame
Standard Drop Bars (no clip-on aero bars)
Standard Road Wheels (32mm rim depth MAX)
NO aero clothing (skin suits, shoe covers, etc....)
NO aero helmets
Hands must stay on bars at all time (no IAB....) or DQ'd

x1000

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This is almost the opposite of helpful. I don't even own a set of wheels less than 50mm, so I would need a special set just to race a retro class. I sort of like the UK rules. Basically any bike with wheel depth limited to 60ish mm. Skinsuit is fine.