While I support the fact that triathlon does not follow UCI rules for TT bikes (mostly because of the reach limitations), I wish the front end aerobar fairings on the bikes of Laidlow, Lange, Ditlev, and others were not allowed. The shapes allowed are beyond molded extensions, and are now one-piece fairings that only few can receive/afford.
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I agree. There should be a UCI+ rule list
UCI+ is the UCI regulations +
more relaxed fit options like more reach, saddle positionâŚ
additional approved equipment list such as hydration systems
cockpits must be factory supplied, pre-approved by UCI+, available to everyone
3rd party kits cockpit available to everyone and UCI+ approved
If I canât order it on Amazon, not UCI+ approvedâŚI know the idea needs more refinement
That cockpit of Samâs, with all the hoopla around it probably cost 10s of thousands of dollars, all to be thrown out the window by poor pacing/equipment combinations that were somewhat predictable.
edit : the UCI+ committee is staffed with competent people rather than bureaucratic dinosaurs, so UCI+ resembles UCI, only in name
Especially after the duct tape ban that prevents my BTA hydration from working with PDâs non round ASC bars.
Tangentially off topic but if there is merit in allowing disc wheels to be banned (dealing with the Pros here) at a race in Hawaiâi or elsewhere then the depth of rim which is deemed âsafeâ (the rationale for banning disc wheels aiui) needs to be limited (at ?85mm). The 180s are ridiculous.
The Canyon front ends (Laidlow and Ditlev) are âthe sameâ as the prototype used by Philipp in her World Championships win.
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When does an aerobar set-up become a fairing? I get it that, thatâs what the whole position and the arms where they end up being supported physically by the bars - a virtual fairing if you will, but now these aero-bar 3.0 set ups, plus the bottle positioning fore and aft are also creating a âfairingâ as well!
[quote=âmarcag, post:2, topic:1282345â]
If I canât order it on Amazon, not UCI+ approvedâŚI know the idea needs more refinement[/quote]
Agree 100%. Off the shelf, non-proprietary components anyone can purchase, at a reasonable price (whatever that is).
$10K+ bicycles that require another $2K+ in proprietary parts (for fitting), is shear madness and only hurts the sport.
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It is unfortunate there is no reliable source showing the true value of some of the stuff being flogged.
So no Speedbar?
the Speedbar started as a UCI compliant setup with 2 âpolesâ extended from the basebar, NOT one piece that shields the front of the bike. Iâm not aware of what theyâre currently offering. When I think of of speedbar, I think of Campenaertâs hour record.
Worth re-reading the absurdly ambiguous rule the Ironman events are governed by, and trying to figure out on your own whatâs allowed:
Protective screens, fuselages, fairings, or any other devices or materials (including duct tape) added or blended into the structure with the intent to reduce (or having the effect of reducing) resistance to air penetration are prohibited. Aerodynamic assemblies and protuberances on the head tube or elsewhere are prohibited;
Seems like that should cover some aero bars? When does an aero ski go from a bar to a fairing? Is any shape thatâs not round âblended into the structure to reduce resisitance to air penetrationâ?
Furthermore, and Iâve said this before, the wording âresistance to air penetrationâ is incredibly problematic. Anything mounted behind the rider or portions of the frame do not strictly âreduce resistance to air penetrationâ. They reduce the turbulent wake behind the ride to reduce low pressure suction drag. I have no idea why they decided to go faux-science-poetic instead of enforceable rule with their language. By the exact language of their rule this thing would be perfectly legal:
Theyâre custom right? @marcag said you have to be able to purchase on Amazon.
The only thing that the âavailable to everyoneâ rule creates is that it creates an extra loophole for manufacturers to jump through. Theyâll just put it on their website with a rediculous price attached - remember Adam Hansen making his own shoes and putting them online for $10k?
Want the aerobars used by Ditlev and Laidlow publicly available? Canyon will just put them on sale for $15k until theyâre ready to mass produce whatever these are and be done with it.
âInquire here for bespoke optionsâ
So, IAAF has the rule. What did Nike do? They had 500 pairs that they gave away at Olympic trials.
Nike et al. âRead the rules twice. Once to see what they say, again to see how you can get around themâ
I commented on the Kona race day thread, but Ditlevâs behind the seat triple bottle set up was effectively this. Back in 1991, Thierry Marie won the TdF Prologue on this set up which the UCI banned. The pros filling the wake behind their butt with all kinds of pseudo fake âuseful contraptionsâ is just a guise for an arms race
Who knows any details about the aero straps that Laidlow used during the race on his legs? Ditlev also wore them although different brand.
With two of the most aero-nerds out there deciding not to wear aerocalfs but those stripes, I guess the aero gains are almost similar with better cooling benefits
Itâs not an entirely new concept. The Danish TTT team did something similar in 2021 Olympics.
Would guess being able to uses them in a none wetsuit swim was a bigger factor than cooling effect.
Samâs had little Ironman logos on them, which I thought was pretty funny.
Magnus had one come close, and flapping around. So likely cost him more than it saved.
2 Likes
Yeah that was funny, he didnât have it during the run.
First time I saw it was when Kipchoge wore it for the sub2
Its only so long before someone empties that out and turns it into a hydration reservoir. Oh, wait - And weâre back now full circle.
