Wondering why nobody rode a TT bike or used an aero helmet? Regulations or “too hilly”? (doesn’t look THAT hilly)
a lot of races rule 1 bike only to save cost to the teams. much less stuff to transport
I think it’s a great rule, but then again I’m big fan of homogenizing equipment to keep cost down and the playing field even. then it’s only drugs + physiology + team tactics.
yeah im torn on it
on the one hand it would be nice to not have to deal with crack pipes on discs and worry about delicate tires
but then part of the fun of cycling is the silly technical stuff
I think it’s a great rule, but then again I’m big fan of homogenizing equipment to keep cost down and the playing field even. then it’s only drugs + physiology + team tactics.
1500ft + in 11 miles… That is a LOT of climbing!
TT bikes & aero gear not allowed, nothing new for this race. If you don’t think it’s that hilly just look at the results.
I think it’s a great rule, but then again I’m big fan of homogenizing equipment to keep cost down and the playing field even. then it’s only drugs + physiology + team tactics.
NASBIKE?
Even in Indycar they had to free up the rules bacause nobody is interested in a spec series (except NASCAR, but Bud light does that to you).
http://www.racecar-engineering.com/news/racing-tech/sam-take-a-view-on-the-new-indycar/
And the result:
http://www.racecar-engineering.com/news/racing-tech/2012-dallara-indycar-revealed/
Sexy.
Equipment restrictions work here.
http://www.iusf.indiana.edu/little500/rider_info/little500-bikes.html
Ken
There is no engine limiter in cycling.
They only seem to limit gear in a few of these early races that are far afield of the rest of the calendar. As jackmott said, it lowers the cost to participate, so helps young races get established on the calendar and also levels things a bit, as there are usually some small budget teams in the mix that you won’t see at the Giro or TdF. As much as I love all the tech gear, I find the racing just as interesting, and it’s an excuse to learn and teach my kids about someplace new.
a lot of races rule 1 bike only to save cost to the teams. much less stuff to transport
Spot on…it has nothing to do with creating a level playing field or anything else. They are trying to keep the transportation costs as low as possible to attract the best teams they can.
but then part of the fun of cycling is the silly technical stuff
Ummm, no. Unless you just forgot the pink font.
;^)
Equipment restrictions work here.
http://www.iusf.indiana.edu/...little500-bikes.html
Ken
It’s not the bikes that make it interesting to the spectators, it’s the party…
My point was to illustrate that the equipment restrictions work by “somewhat” leveling the playing field. Which, imo, adds to the spectacle.
On another note, I instituted a gear restriction (50/16 84.4" or 47/15 84.6") for Intro Racing Night at the Major Taylor Velodrome back in 2004, which while not always popular, lead to the best competition, and quality of rider that upgraded.
Ken
The trick is to allow cycling tech to evolve while keeping the playing field even and not being a massive tech investment. If we really cared about tech we’d be riding 10lb fully faired recumbents.
Ergonomic, maintenance and mechanical improvements like clincher tires, STIs, dual-pivot brakes, outboard bottom brackets, quick releases, these all make riding safer and less of a pain in the ass.
Speed improvements like Aero wheels? Aero frames? Ultra lightweight parts? Hmmmm.
And then you have stuff that falls between the two like aerobars and beam bikes, where there are comfort and performance benefits.
However, looking at the pro peloton now, aero road frames haven’t made a huge impact, and people are basically riding mid-depth carbon wheels mostly, so maybe there isn’t going to be much of change here until all the electronic shifting stuff plays out.
There is no engine limiter in cycling.
Certainly not in Spain.
.
spec zipp 404 firecrests and S3 road frames for everybody!
Here is my biased opinion*:
Feeder series: The lower you go, the more limits there should be.
Beginner: Alloy frame and wheels - bike must not cost more than 1000 Euros - No tubulars - 1 team car - 2 triangles frame shape.
TT = Clip ons on standard bike.
Minimum weight 9 Kilos
Amateur: Alloy wheels - bike must NOT cost more than 2000 Euros - 1 team car - 2 triangles frame shape.
TT = Clip ons + Aero helmet on standard bike.
Minimum weight 8 Kilos
Advanced amateurs: Bikes must not cost more than 2500 Euros - 1 team car.
TT = TT bike must not cost more than 2500 Euros.
Minimum weight 7,5 Kilos
Elite: Bikes must not cost more than 4000 Euros - 2 team cars.
TT = TT bike must not cost more than 4000 Euros.
Minimum weight 6,8 Kilos
Pro: No limit.
TT: No limit
Minimum weight 6,8 Kilos
The basic idea is to get people to spend more on training and more people to start competing. Manufacturer make less profit per bike, but sell more of them. And every time you go UP a category, most people will change up.
Remember that even if the limit is 1000 Euros, once you add in the spare bike and wheels, you are still looking at a fair bit of cash…
Invoices must be provided and will be checked if a claim is done by another team.
Frame geometry rules must not be advantageous to a certain body type (as the present ones are).
As long as the rider and the wheels are in the “right” place, freedom to experiment (so we can have “trick” frames to do Ironman’s on).
Safety checks on the ability of the bikes to brake, absorb hits (some carbon + cork combos are stupid dangerous - yet used - some frames snap if you hit a curb to hard).
3/1 Rule (the UCI got that one right).
Disk brakes allowed.
The cost limit does not include “safety parts”: brake cable, housings, pads, tyres or innertubes. BUT restriction if someone start using silk tubulars in a feeder series…
No Radios.
Jersey difference rules (N°1 team get to chose then N°2 etc - to stop the SKY, GARMIN, LEOPARD fiasco…).
No car in the peleton, if the rider wants something he or a team mate goes back to the car.
A lot of the UCI rules makes sense (fairings, structural rules, gearing for juniors etc) and should be carried over as is. It’s not because the UCI is run by old men that have seen too many “Spartacus” reruns that they always get it wrong.
And yeah, reinstate Obree’s records - until then, they are a bunch old men that have seen too many “Spartacus” reruns.
G
*I was hit by the UCI’s hour record temper tandrum. What a bunch of tossers.
rules like that have unintended consequences
for example, lots of recreational riders will already have illegal bike they bought for fun, and might never enter the sport because they don’t want to bother buying ANOTHER bike just to try a bike race
then you have to buy a new bike every time you cat up, expensive =)
.
Yeah, but it’s more geared for parents or students getting their first bike or wanting to compete.
But even if you bought a pretty expensive bike, odds on that the wheels and saddle that came with it would fit even in the lowest cat. And then you get for 150/200 euros a 2 year old second hand bike that when sold fitted the 1000 Euros rule… Hell, the total expenditure would be less than a Zipp front rim (not even a full wheel), or an Ironman entry fee. And find me one cyclist that would pass the chance to get “another bike” - here you have the perfect spouse excuse “but the rule book said I had to get another bike honey, look, it’s written here. That’s the only way I can remain slim and sexy unlike our fat neighbor Bob, do you want me to look like Bob?”.
Anyhow, I’ve seen a lot of bikes on cyclosportives that are under current UCI limits/setup… And road cars use traction control, ABS, active suspenstions, active diffs that are illegal in most forms of autoracing. That’s another crazy thing, UCI makes up the rules that we end up riding, do road cars comply with FIA standards? Would you race your Volvo saloon beater, or do you get a car that is tuned for that and not meant to take the kids to their piano class? I don’t think that it is an valid argument in this case.
The CAT up is to keep manufacturers happy, but in a way that is not crazy expensive for the rider - who would buy a new bike every two years anyhow.
It would have to be tweaked of course!
G