Lookout Cross - Nov. 27, 2011
Saturday, March 31, 2012
I love the UCI!
THIS IS NOT AN APRIL FOOLS JOKE.
The UCI is continuing its crackdown on non-standard and modified equipment, with a number of common modifications deemed illegal for 2012, including filing off fork dropout safety tabs.
A 63-page UCI document titled, “Check of the equipment and position in competition,” details the changes for 2012, which also includes regulations requiring hydration packs to be worn on the back (rather than the front) beginning April 1, banning shoe covers in track racing as of October 1, and requiring socks to be shorter than the mid-point between the ankle and the knee, effective immediately. According to the UCI, the rules regarding hydration packs are intended to prevent riders from gaining aerodynamic advantage by placing a hydration pack on their stomach. The sock rule is likely intended to prevent the use of compression wear.
Most relevant to professional racing, though, are the rules barring component modification in competition. The document states that all of the following are illegal:
“Modifying the length of the saddle, adapting approved wheels, removing the dropout safety tab, adding tape to handlebars to meet the 3:1 rule, covering holes or screws with tape (except for the valve of disc wheels) or transforming any component of the bicycle.”
The rule barring the removal of fork dropout safety tabs, commonly referred to as “lawyer tabs,” could have a dramatic impact on racing. Professional teams remove these tabs, which are designed to keep the front wheel in the dropouts even if the quick release opens, to enable fast wheel changes. Leaving the tabs on requires most skewers to be unscrewed in order to remove the wheel, adding precious seconds to a wheel change and making it more difficult for a rider to rejoin the peloton.
The UCI has long maintained rules against modifying equipment, but has largely avoided enforcing them. Though the rule clarification is now official, the lawyer tab rule hasn’t been executed yet.
“We have not run into any issues yet with the UCI about lawyer tabs,” BMC head mechanic Ian Sherburne said via an email to VeloNews. “For all the obvious reasons, ours have been always filed off. It will be an interesting race the first time they decide to enforce that rule.”
UCI technical coordinator Julien Carron noted that the rule will be enforced after a transition and education period, wherein teams and their mechanics will have time to bring their bikes into compliance.
“The rule is clear and was created to improve the safety of the riders,” Carron explained. “Moreover, removing the tabs cancels the warranty of the fork in case of crash. The enforcement of this rule will follow after an information and transition period.”
If the rule is enforced this year, team mechanics will have to put new forks on their race bikes that include the stock tabs. To retain fast wheel changes, they may have to resort to redesigned quick releases that open far enough to clear the tabs.
The UCI is continuing its crackdown on non-standard and modified equipment, with a number of common modifications deemed illegal for 2012, including filing off fork dropout safety tabs.
A 63-page UCI document titled, “Check of the equipment and position in competition,” details the changes for 2012, which also includes regulations requiring hydration packs to be worn on the back (rather than the front) beginning April 1, banning shoe covers in track racing as of October 1, and requiring socks to be shorter than the mid-point between the ankle and the knee, effective immediately. According to the UCI, the rules regarding hydration packs are intended to prevent riders from gaining aerodynamic advantage by placing a hydration pack on their stomach. The sock rule is likely intended to prevent the use of compression wear.
Most relevant to professional racing, though, are the rules barring component modification in competition. The document states that all of the following are illegal:
“Modifying the length of the saddle, adapting approved wheels, removing the dropout safety tab, adding tape to handlebars to meet the 3:1 rule, covering holes or screws with tape (except for the valve of disc wheels) or transforming any component of the bicycle.”
The rule barring the removal of fork dropout safety tabs, commonly referred to as “lawyer tabs,” could have a dramatic impact on racing. Professional teams remove these tabs, which are designed to keep the front wheel in the dropouts even if the quick release opens, to enable fast wheel changes. Leaving the tabs on requires most skewers to be unscrewed in order to remove the wheel, adding precious seconds to a wheel change and making it more difficult for a rider to rejoin the peloton.
The UCI has long maintained rules against modifying equipment, but has largely avoided enforcing them. Though the rule clarification is now official, the lawyer tab rule hasn’t been executed yet.
“We have not run into any issues yet with the UCI about lawyer tabs,” BMC head mechanic Ian Sherburne said via an email to VeloNews. “For all the obvious reasons, ours have been always filed off. It will be an interesting race the first time they decide to enforce that rule.”
UCI technical coordinator Julien Carron noted that the rule will be enforced after a transition and education period, wherein teams and their mechanics will have time to bring their bikes into compliance.
“The rule is clear and was created to improve the safety of the riders,” Carron explained. “Moreover, removing the tabs cancels the warranty of the fork in case of crash. The enforcement of this rule will follow after an information and transition period.”
If the rule is enforced this year, team mechanics will have to put new forks on their race bikes that include the stock tabs. To retain fast wheel changes, they may have to resort to redesigned quick releases that open far enough to clear the tabs.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Let's move on now...
http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/opinion-richard-moore-on-the-career-of-jan-ullrich
Monday, February 6, 2012
Guilty as charged!
The CAS statement:
“The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has rendered its decision in the arbitration between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) & the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and the Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador & the Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC): the CAS has partially upheld the appeals filed by WADA and the UCI and has found Alberto Contador guilty of a doping offence.
“As a consequence, Alberto Contador is sanctioned with a two-year period of ineligibility starting retroactively on 25 January 2011, minus the period of the provisional suspension served in 2010-2011 (5 months and 19 days). The suspension should therefore come to an end on 5 August 2012.”
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Colorado 2011 CX Schedule
Nothing left but States :(
DECEMBER 2011
17-18 Alpha Cross - Colorado CX Championships
DECEMBER 2011
17-18 Alpha Cross - Colorado CX Championships
Saturday, November 19, 2011
USAC/ACA Reintegration
Quite disappointed in the vote, but that's how it works. In the business world, this was nothing other than a 'hostile takeover' - and considering it was all about the MONEY, that's exactly what it was.
So now the UCI (the United Nations of cycling) will have their input, via USAC. Wonderful. Like Yvonne Van Gent of ACA said, "I don't trust them". I'm sad to say I think Yvonne will be right. Get ready to have some dickhead measure the angle of your saddle or the width of your tires - or if you're really special, maybe you can pee in a bottle.
The main proponents and beneficiaries of this whole cluster fuck are going to be the ELITE racers, not the guys in the mere mortal Senior clases such as myself that end up as pack fodder for the really talented guys. Not that I mind it - if I wasn't having fun, I would not be there. If I werent having fun, I wouldn't fork over $30 every Sat and Sun to have my ass kicked. I like the culture, I like the scene and I like being a part of it. I have my motivations, goals and sometimes even success. Yeah, screw the guys who actually have to pay their own way to race, it's more important that those 1%'ers have a great system and payout so they can make a living racing CX. Yeah right. I really don't give a crap about Nationals or National ranking systems. No one cares where I finish a race except me and my team mates, and thats all I expect.
Yup, it's going to be interesting.
So now the UCI (the United Nations of cycling) will have their input, via USAC. Wonderful. Like Yvonne Van Gent of ACA said, "I don't trust them". I'm sad to say I think Yvonne will be right. Get ready to have some dickhead measure the angle of your saddle or the width of your tires - or if you're really special, maybe you can pee in a bottle.
The main proponents and beneficiaries of this whole cluster fuck are going to be the ELITE racers, not the guys in the mere mortal Senior clases such as myself that end up as pack fodder for the really talented guys. Not that I mind it - if I wasn't having fun, I would not be there. If I werent having fun, I wouldn't fork over $30 every Sat and Sun to have my ass kicked. I like the culture, I like the scene and I like being a part of it. I have my motivations, goals and sometimes even success. Yeah, screw the guys who actually have to pay their own way to race, it's more important that those 1%'ers have a great system and payout so they can make a living racing CX. Yeah right. I really don't give a crap about Nationals or National ranking systems. No one cares where I finish a race except me and my team mates, and thats all I expect.
Yup, it's going to be interesting.
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