RoadMike

I'm planning on doing my first USAC sanctioned stage race in the beginning June and it has a short TT on the second day. I happen to own a Softride PowerWing tri bike. The frame is a non traditional design that is illegal for UCI racing. I was thinking about bringing it for the TT but I am unsure of the legality of such a bike. Can I TT on such a contraption legally in a USAC race?

Here's pic if you are unfamiliar with the type of bike.

David Broon 

I'm pretty sure no. I believe USAC follows UCI rules, but I may be wrong.

jsutkeepspining

unless you're racing a big time race you'll be fine. nationals is the noly race i've been to that enforces uci rules.

Monkeyclaw

I agree, but you may want to e-mail the promoter just to be sure. A few small things like the seat and bars being too far forward are easily overlooked. A missing seat tube, not so much.

Hermes

The refs are supposed to know the rules and it gets down to enforcement and application of rules across the board to apply to everyone racing that day. So it is easy to overlook aerobars extending over the 75 cm limit or seat setbacks because to measure that properly requires the test jig and or more time. However, a missing seat tube is easily spotted and applied to all racers that day.

Tech Director

You will be fine. UCI bike regulations are only enforced at the following: UCI events, events that select 17-18, U23 and Elite riders for international competition or national teams, National Championships (for age 17 and older riders) and NRC races. If it is not one of these you will be racing under USAC bike regs, which are pretty basic. For a review of those go to usacycling.org and download a PDF of the 2013 rulebook. The bike regs and info above is found on Page 37-38 under rule 1I (Bicycles).

Racer Ex 

Wasn't there a stipulation that a promoter could designate a USAC event as UCI compliant in their flyer and require bikes to be UCI legal? It might have been an old reg but I recall this discussion at a race where they were weighing bikes...

asgelle

What do you make of the fact that in addition to the OP not knowing the rules, all four of the previous responses incorrectly stated or implied that UCI rules apply to all USAC events? The rule book spells things out clearly, yet there are still many racers who are ignorant of or don't understand the rules regarding UCI equipment. This question and incorrect answer comes up constantly.

rkwaki

A lot of times I think it is just the nerves of new racers.
If the OP was a P/1 rider I'd just his ass (or if it was hammy) but I think a lot of times "newer" racers look to the interwebs for answers rather than read the rulebook front to back.

rkwaki

As I am not racing this year are they actually looking at lawyer tabs this year (this one may hit more riders than expected)

MDcatV

there's no harm in asking questions, we all know that there are rules, and there are interpretations and enforcement of them. sometimes the two are distinctly different, at all levels of this sport and any other.

Creakyknees

+1 for "what ever happened to racers actually being expected to read and understand the rules?"

Also: get off my lawn.

RoadMike

Ok I won't say I read the rule book front to back but I did get on the USAC website and check what they had there but it seemed to direct me to the UCI standards. Thanks, I will email the race director and see what he has to say. Seems like the safest course of action.

Tech Director

The website is going to send you to the UCI rules because it is geared towards National Championships, etc. The rulebook is going to be your reference for anything that does not meet the criteria I listed above.

Everyone who rides amateur events needs to turn off everything they read on Cyclingnews about lawyer tabs, seat angle, bike weight etc. It does not apply to you unless you meet one of the criteria above. I measured bike for the Pro Men and Gila this weekend - you should have seen the amateurs coming over freaking out - and then the look of relief when we told them not to worry as it didn't apply to them.

As trivia, USAC was going to start using the UCI standards for all events...until there was a howl of protest from all of the masters/amateurs/juniors who had thousands invested in equipment which was going to become obsolete.

globecanvas

Absolutely true. Tech Director is giving great technical advice, but my non-technical advice would be not to show up with only the weird bike. If you have a less weird bike with you as plan B, you will at least get to race if some official decides to interpret the rules in his own special way.

rkwaki

Good point but if I am not mistaken NRC/NCC/USA Crit events are enforcing the tabs rule.
Kinda like PED testing though isn't it?

Monkeyclaw

Crap, when did they start testing for those???

Tech Director

Yes they are - or can do so. They meet the guidelines I listed above which is also clearly outlined in the rulebook. And if it matters I have yet to see an official actually check them. And the rule isn't that you have to have them, it is that your cant modify the bike by filing them off!

And agree that, despite much effort, there is still inconsistency amongst officials. That is why it pays to at least read and have an understanding of the rules. No need to memorize, but why not take a quick look and keep the PDF on your iPad? I don't like to DQ/relegate/fine riders but sometimes am forced to for the simple reason that they didn't bother to learn the rules.

rkwaki

Agreed and well put.
That is what I was getting at earlier, my experience has been new riders worry about so many things BUT neglect to understand the rules. Understanding that this is a hobby for most I can appreciate your stance as I have a healthy respect (and fear) of the officials as it can be a tough job.

Racer Ex 

I had an email from Shawn Farrell that over rode what one local official was telling us about Masters Track Nats. When I showed it to him he told me that nobody told him so he was going to keep saying what he was saying.