In the GCT Amateur Penalty thread a poster said that it was a violation of USAT Rule 3.4(f) to cut the sharp corners off of your bike number. I have been trimming the extra blank space off of my bike race numbers for years (while still leaving a white border and the entire, clear number) and I have never been penalized for this, even in big races like the GCT. I’ve seen pros trim their bike numbers, too. Here is the entirety of rule 3.4(f):
“Race Numbers. Participants shall plainly display their race numbers at all times, and shall maintain the race number in an unaltered, unobstructed and readable state at the start and finish gates, in the transition areas, and on the course. Any violation of this Section shall result in a variable time penalty.”
Yes, I am a lawyer, but it seems to me that so long as the actual digits of the number are not unaltered then the “race number” is unaltered and this should not be a rule violation. Has anyone ever been penalized for “trimming” the excess off of their race numbers? What about for folding the material?
it seems to me that so long as the actual digits of the number are not unaltered then the “race number” is unaltered and this should not be a rule violation
Many bib numbers have sponsor logos on them, I’d venture to say most these days. The sponsors generally pay good money or front substantial in-kind materiel (maybe the numbers themselves, maybe a lot more) to have those logos visible, therefore the race organizers, with the support of the sanctioning body, require that the bib remain unaltered. Makes sense to me. Minimizing the number by folding is common in ultras and often such events don’t force the issue even if there’s a logo being obscured, but then most of those events are not particularly commerical ventures. On the other hand I’ve been at small races where they’ve asked as a favor that people display the whole bib since they don’t have much sponsorship to begin with and they want to keep those that have contributed as happy as possible.
At TriAmerica Cleveland last year they issued bike numbers on sticky paper. No sponsor logos or anything, just a black number on white paper. I did the same thing - trimmed the excess white leaving a thin border and the number. Why have that excess flapping in the wind??
I recall the USAT ref saw it and said something to me as I entered transition before the race. But he didn’t penalize me. I realize he’s there to enforce rules, but it seemed like there was a lot more for him to be concerned with than the fact that I trimmed the edges of one of the many numbers I was displaying that morning.
I know this isn’t generally a problem in tri, but if you’ve ever had to do the call at the finish line of a bike race, you soon figure out that the “blank” white space is JUST as important as the actual digits in being able to quickly discern a number (much more difficult as the 3rd and 4th digits change as well).
One thing I got in the habit of doing is to wrinkle up the number so that it acts more as fabric than paper (lays flatter to the body, doesn’t catch wind as much). I had many warnings from refs about doing so – it has to be worked VERY thoroughly in order to avoid “facetting” the number and making it actually MORE difficult to read than if it had been unmutiliated. I still do it, and do it thoroughly, I just don’t let the refs SEE me doing it…
I don’t know about triathlons but if you did that in a bike race, as an official I don’t have to place you because you changed the number. If someone notices at the start line we don’t have to let you start, either. It’s hard enough to pick placings without riders fooling around with the numbers. If you think it’s not altering the number, try to pick a five hundred riders a day from partial numbers visible on the finish line camera.
unless you are removing the name of a sponsor in which case it is legitimate to get penalized, get pen. for this is bullshit when most races are literally plagued by drafting and nothing is done about it…
Then you should go work at ProTour events as you could simply lean back and not place anybody. They all cut the number plates. And I think it could be argued they are not changing the nubmer, just the piece of plastic the number is on. BTW, they do make sure not to cut off the sponsor logo, just the corners. They could claim it is dangerous to leave the sharp corners on it
Ah, but they are not using USCF rules and are using the super expensive high speed camera at the finish line like FinishLynx(sp?) or Tissot. If we had FinishLynx I wouldn’t care about the number thing, either, but we can’t afford that.
For a long time I had a frame that was designed to hold race number on the top tube and I always cut my number and put it on an index card that was cut to fit my frame. I never had a problem except at one race in the early nineties where I had to have the race director approve what I had done before they’d let me rack my bike the day before the event.
I do know of a few friends who got in trouble for covering up companies who were rival’s of their sponsors with sitckers on their race numbers…
I am amazed that the rule was enforced, as I have never seen or heard of it being enforced before. But I have seen plenty of those infractions (inclduing not wearing numbers) at every race I do. And I have heard RD instructions at many races specifically mention that numbers must be worn.
Personally, nothing pisses me off more than to see another athlete “cut corners” against the rules when others are doing things the right way. I have never seen any one get a penalty for not wearing a number, either not in the proper position, or not wearing one at all. I actually lost a podium once to a non-number wearer, when I lost 10 seconds to go back and get my number. And lots of people “forget” or get their number “ripped” somehow.
If everyone has to deal with the flapping of the full-sized number, or deal with wearing one (both of which are inconvenient) than those who “cut corners” are not doing the same thing as everyone else.
