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annirak
Veteran
- Location
- Cambridge, UK
Experimental technology in road cycling
- Thread starter annirak
- Start date
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Vapin' Joe
Formerly known as Smokin Joe
- Location
- Bare headed cyclist, Smoker
The bike pictured is Boardman's track bike from somewhere round '92 or '93 and it is still on the banned list, despite it proving faster than a conventional machine. He also rode a geared TT bike of the same construction.
byegad
Legendary Member
- Location
- NE England
And Mochet's recumbents were banned in the 1930s. Given they 'don't climb well' and are a fad*, why ban them?
*I was told this by an 'expert' while outside the Tan Hill Inn. I did ask him if he could explain how I, an overweight, only slightly fit 60+ yr old, had ridden it there, but got no reply.
*I was told this by an 'expert' while outside the Tan Hill Inn. I did ask him if he could explain how I, an overweight, only slightly fit 60+ yr old, had ridden it there, but got no reply.
Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
There's a story from the Tour de France circa 1910 which saw the absurd situation that the competitors, who were not allowed to use the un-corinthian techno-centric things called "gears" struggled to ascend hills that the spectators, on their geared bikes, found easy.
byegad
Legendary Member
- Location
- NE England
Just about sums up the UCI!
MacB
Lover of things that come in 3's
- Location
- Farnborough, Hampshire
Behave, when having a moan there are no time limitations
nickyboy
Norven Mankey
- Location
- You want hills? We got hills
How about the weight restriction? Yes I know the safety argument but consider the absurdity that you or I can buy a bike off the shelf (and thus meets safety standards) that is lighter than the UCI racing minimum
Vapin' Joe
Formerly known as Smokin Joe
- Location
- Bare headed cyclist, Smoker
The attitude of a century ago still prevails to a large extent, though to be fair under Cookson things are beginning to change for the better.
OP
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annirak
Veteran
- Location
- Cambridge, UK
Why, exactly, are recumbent still banned? And what about fairings? What is the sense in banning those they use technology to make the bike and rider aerodynamic. Ah, so those advancements make the sport more techno-centric?
I can think of one piece of technology that's used by every team to major the rider more aerodynamic. Drop bars. And in time trial sections, tt bars. So, why are fairings and recumbents banned?
I can think of one piece of technology that's used by every team to major the rider more aerodynamic. Drop bars. And in time trial sections, tt bars. So, why are fairings and recumbents banned?
Citius
Guest
This is a joke, right? Recumbents mixing with conventional bikes in a fast moving bunch. What could possibly go wrong.
Citius
Guest
The weight restriction is a bit of an irrelevance anyway. But as with lots of other stuff, the objective is not to stifle development (because as you say, lighter bikes are already available, so it hasn't prevented that), it is to control cost and R&D to manufacturers and teams.
Piemaster
Guru
- Location
- UK City of Culture
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annirak
Veteran
- Location
- Cambridge, UK
I don't know, you're the one who wants evidence every time the topic of wheel upgrades comes up. Apply your own standards to this discussion. Where is the evidence that upright and recumbent in the same peloton is a problem?
Frankly, I don't think it would be a problem for long. Recumbent bikes should out perform upright pretty handily on anything other than long climbs.
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