Latest UCI Dictats

[Pross]

So the latest grand plan from the UCI to make racing safer is to restrict gears to a mere 54x11 (most of us that raced on maybe 53 x 12 maximum are probably struggling with the idea of a gear that size!). Dan Bigham has done a lot of research (that I suspect the UCI skipped) and concluded that riders will be maxed out for between 0.1 and 0.01% of a race and that the only affect it will have on safety is to detract from discussing issues that may actually help (he suggests helmets tested for race speeds rather than the nimble to the shops tests they currently have to go through as an example).

First test event will be Tour of Guangxi in October. I’m not exactly expecting to see riders comically spinning their legs at 200rpm plus.

 

[cyberknight]

Its also linked to tyre size so if you run a 30 mm tyre your overall gear inches are over the new limit for gearing in 54x11, to really increase safety they should be looking more at why the risks are there from sponsorship pressure as the teams get no income from tv rights etc and the relegation system forcing riders to risk more in the scrabble for points .

 

[cyberknight]

https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/uc...h-huge-implications-for-sram-sponsored-teams/

 

[Pross]

I don’t understand why it would be so hard for SRAM to simply create an 11 up cassette for their teams to use. They’ve had a fair few months to come up with something and it must be a better solution that using the limit screws on the rear mech. It’s like being back in my days of junior racing!

 

[Jameshow]

Are pros really racing on 30mm tyres?
25mm is have guessed 28mm perhaps.
30mm+ In PR??

 

[Pross]

30 and 32 are apparently the most common sizes now.

 

[Alex321]

Are pros really racing on 30mm tyres?
25mm is have guessed 28mm perhaps.
30mm+ In PR??

For the Tour de France, most are on nominal 28mm (but when measured with the rim widths they are using, usually coming out at an actual 30mm). Some are using nominal 30mm, with a few even going to 32mm.

In other races, with rougher roads or gravel sections, 30/32 are the most common sizes in use.

 

[Lanterne Rogue]

Are pros really racing on 30mm tyres?
25mm is have guessed 28mm perhaps.
30mm+ In PR??

I recall seeing a few years ago a bit of analysis suggesting the combined shape of tyre + rim of skinnier tires was less aerodynamically pleasing than fatter tyres even if the frontal cross section was worse. The whole thing is utter witchcraft, and won't ever make sense until the UCI make it illegal to pray to the elder gods.

 

[Jameshow]

I recall seeing a few years ago a bit of analysis suggesting the combined shape of tyre + rim of skinnier tires was less aerodynamically pleasing than fatter tyres even if the frontal cross section was worse. The whole thing is utter witchcraft, and won't ever make sense until the UCI make it illegal to pray to the elder gods.

I thought it was a balloon tyre on a skinny rim was bad. Matched tyre and rim best?

 

[M.R.M]

No skinnier tyres are still mostly more aero, but the larger volume tyres grant so much better rolling resistance that it more than makes up for the difference.