"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Collegiate Rule Changes

Ok, so the proposed rule changes have come out, and I'm not sure how to feel.

https://www.usacycling.org/news/user/story.php?id=4527

Most of them are pretty boring and standard things that I don't really care about. But then we get down to Rule 7.


Rule Change Resolution 7: Aero Equipment

Rule 7J is added to the rule book, bumping the rules following down a letter (Rule 7J will become 7K, 7K will become 7L, etc).

7J. Equipment

7J1. Bicycles
(a) Bicycles used in competition in all Collegiate Road Events must conform
with the current UCI and USAC regulations for mass-start legal bicycles.

(b) No handlebar extensions, including "aero bars," or other forms of bars
offering forearm support shall be allowed.

7J2. Wheels

(a) Wheels used in competition in all Collegiate Road Events must conform
with UCI mass-start legal regulations. The UCI maintains a website with the
information of approved wheels.

7J3. Helmets
(a) Helmets worn at Collegiate Road Events must meet both UCI and USAC regulations
for mass-start legal, and be worn in accordance with USAC rules.

The way I'm reading this, you have to use a mass-start legal bike for EVERY collegiate event, including ITT and TTT events.

I think I understand the purpose (lower the costs, don't allow "speed buying" etc); but come on, you can't even use clip-on bars? I guess it's once less thing I have to take with me and work on getting fit on, but it still seems a bit ridiculous to me.

Not to mention my teammate with the P3C, disc rear, and TT helmet isn't going to be happy.

What is everyone's thoughts here?

Wow. That sucks if that is the case.

Now that I think of it, banning aero bars will probably actually cause crashes, as people try to ride on the "invisible aero bars".

I think its just saying road races, not TT's. That's how I read it. It could also just be mis-worded and might be changed.

Call up springs and get a clarification and voice your opinion.

I think its just saying road races, not TT's. That's how I read it. It could also just be mis-worded and might be changed.

Call up springs and get a clarification and voice your opinion.

Everyone else who has seen it (including directors who are in charge) are saying it means ALL races, including TT.


This was posted to the ECCC earlier tonight, and its rather drastic, so
you'll probably want to make sure everyone is well aware.

You can read it for yourself, but basically it says:

~Absolutely no handlebar extensions.

~No helmets that aren't mass-start approved

~No Wheels that aren't UCI approved (No discs, no tri spokes, and some
others)

~This is for all categories, including Mens A

*In summary: TT races will use UCI AND USAC Mass Start gear only.

Here is the USAC rules.
https://www.usacycling.org/news/user/story.php?id=4527

Here is some info that was compiled by ECCC that's current as of last year.
http://collegiatecycling.org/eccc/wiki/uploads/Policy/2009-eccc-aero-...
erview.pdf

But think of it this way.less bikes to have to haul around.



It's definitely about ALL races. ECCC did something similar last season (for all but the Men/Women A riders).


And I've already posted to the google group, and we'll be sending team comments to our director as soon as people send them to me.

Wow, I'm not sure how I like this rule. It's going to benefit me as a rider without a TT bike, disc wheel, or trispoke, but I know a few/lots of people and teams who have dropped some serious cash on that stuff and aren't going to get 1/2 the use out of it without collegiate TT's every weekend.

who the hell proposed that? i bet it was those D2 teams...

I raced in the ECCC last year and I thought their take on this issue made more sense: no aero equipment except the As. Keeps it fun for most folks, and keeps is realistic for the kids at the top of the sport who are going to be doing the real thing (http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XDF3n6J726I/Sqcgefu1S4I/AAAAAAAABJg/Lq5TkxVVbi4/s1600-h/ToU+TT.png) very soon

I agree with this. I would imagine that there are very few people in A's who don't own at least clip-on aero bars.

You have got to be kidding me...

Well, that means I don't have to get on my TT bike until like April now, instead of January. Always a bright side...

Considering the fact that I just dropped $2k+ on a TT bike to be competitive this year I am going to be very unhappy if this holds up for TTT. My guess is that TTT/ITT in A's will be some sort of exception. If you look at the photos from Nationals almost everyone if not everyone is on aero bars and most of the good squads have dedicated TT rigs. I guess we'll see how it pans out in the next few weeks.

Is ECCC the only conference running E's?

My Crystal ball reveals that next year they will make everyone ride on platform pedals and flat bars with the bars above the saddle.

That way, anyone will be able to enjoy the sport.

I sent an email to one of the Board of Trustees to try to get clarification of the rule. Also reading through the rules I noticed that the BOT should have made an effort to notify conferences of the proposed rule changes between Sept 1 and 15 to seek feedback. Did any of you get notification of feedback wanted? I know that the WCCC was not contacted through our group and I would like to see if anyone was. If not I am planning on submitting another rule change for clarification and permission for aero bars at the very least in TTT and ITT based upon the lack of feedback being sought. Let me know if you're in support.

I sent an email to one of the Board of Trustees to try to get clarification of the rule. Also reading through the rules I noticed that the BOT should have made an effort to notify conferences of the proposed rule changes between Sept 1 and 15 to seek feedback. Did any of you get notification of feedback wanted? I know that the WCCC was not contacted through our group and I would like to see if anyone was. If not I am planning on submitting another rule change for clarification and permission for aero bars at the very least in TTT and ITT based upon the lack of feedback being sought. Let me know if you're in support.

ACCC was never informed until last night. But they're asking for our comments, so maybe there's still time?

Considering the fact that I just dropped $2k+ on a TT bike to be competitive this year I am going to be very unhappy if this holds up for TTT. My guess is that TTT/ITT in A's will be some sort of exception. If you look at the photos from Nationals almost everyone if not everyone is on aero bars and most of the good squads have dedicated TT rigs. I guess we'll see how it pans out in the next few weeks.

Is ECCC the only conference running E's?

It won't. They're saying that one of the main reasons for the rule is because of the travel expenses to nationals (that means As).

It won't. They're saying that one of the main reasons for the rule is because of the travel expenses to nationals (that means As).

Thats BS. The team i was on fun-raised enough to purchase 4 sets of Aero equipment and a trailer (with space leased out to other teams) for nationals. If I were a nationals qualified rider, travel expenses wouldn't stop me from bringing the proper equipment.

Can't they make this D2 only rule or something?

It won't. They're saying that one of the main reasons for the rule is because of the travel expenses to nationals (that means As).

Interesting that they cite travel expenses as the reason to restrict equipment use. It seems to me that the fact that the teams showing up to nationals are all bringing their TT bikes and full aero setups that cost of transportation and equipment is not an issue. If they were truly worried about transportation cost they should work to bring back the free bike vouchers on United, not restrict our gear choice.

I hope you take the time to offer feedback. I know I will.

Bikes need to be UCI mass-start legal!? That's insane. Guess I need to look into getting that anatomical exemption after all. :rolleyes:

Bikes need to be UCI mass-start legal!? That's insane. Guess I need to look into getting that anatomical exemption after all. :rolleyes:

I doubt anyone will be checking for that stuff (except at nationals).

Jeffrey Hansen, USAC Collegiate Director, confirmed for me this morning that the rule applies to all events, TTT and ITT included. I would encourage all of you to voice your opinions to him via email and also to the NCCA Board of Trustees who approved the ruling. If you need those email addresses PM me.

Yeah.

Did he mention anything about their apparent ignoring of this particular rule that applies to them?


The Board of Trustees will endeavor to publish to each Conference
between September 1 and September 15 all proposals submitted prior to
July 1.

emailed them, expressed my disapproval.

Yeah.

Did he mention anything about their apparent ignoring of this particular rule that applies to them?

Nope but I kindly mentioned it in my response. I found that one of the most frustrating parts of this ruling.

I know I'm going to get bashed for this but I actually agree with it at the collegiate level. Our local school(UNR) is on the outskirts of the WCCC(I think) and while we have some great riders it is just too expensive for them to travel to a lot of the races which can be 8 hours away. If you stack a couple kids in a car and then try to bring TT and Road bike there just isn't enough room.

I know I'm going to get bashed for this but I actually agree with it at the collegiate level. Our local school(UNR) is on the outskirts of the WCCC(I think) and while we have some great riders it is just too expensive for them to travel to a lot of the races which can be 8 hours away. If you stack a couple kids in a car and then try to bring TT and Road bike there just isn't enough room.

I agree that maybe outlawing TT bikes was the way to go.

My problem is with outlawing clip-on bars as well, on an otherwise mass-start legal bike. The expense and space argument just doesn't hold for clip-ons.

I've decided I'm OK with the rule too. This is collegiate racing, the last bastion of true intro racing in the US. Lowering costs and leveling the playing field while doing so can only be a positive thing.

In the B's and C's this year, it was always the couple guys with the full TT setups that came and crushed everyone. It wasn't because they were stronger, it was because they had all the right equipment in a field where half the guys didn't even have clip-ons. I'd rather they all just go at it Merckx style.

Time to start rounding up rear 1080's for Nationals...

I've decided I'm OK with the rule too. This is collegiate racing, the last bastion of true intro racing in the US. Lowering costs and leveling the playing field while doing so can only be a positive thing.

In the B's and C's this year, it was always the couple guys with the full TT setups that came and crushed everyone. It wasn't because they were stronger, it was because they had all the right equipment in a field where half the guys didn't even have clip-ons. I'd rather they all just go at it Merckx style.

Time to start rounding up rear 1080's for Nationals...

If we're gonna go all out (which I wouldn't mind) why not just have box section wheels too? They're cheaper and more durable. Or maybe allow something as deep as 20mm.

The expense argument doesn't hold nearly as well when you're still going to allow things like 1080s. They're not exactly cheap, and give a significant advantage.

I'm looking forward to TT more this year though, I think I'll enjoy Merckx style TT, since I can't afford the aero goodies yet.

I do wish they'd allow aero bars, just because they're more comfortable while being faster, but I guess it doesn't really matter as long as it's fair.

Concocting plans for putting drop bars on my TT bike as we speak... I could have a really fast position, way faster than just hopping on my road bike.

Concocting plans for putting drop bars on my TT bike as we speak... I could have a really fast position, way faster than just hopping on my road bike.

does your TT bike put you in a UCI-legal position though? (1.3.013)

If it passed as a TT bike, it will pass as a bike with drop bars. I won't be messing with the sadde fore-aft, that's already right at 5cm from using the bike at track nats, where they had a jig. The only other problem that I had was the bars were too long, but that's not a problem with drop bars.

I doubt anyone will be checking for that stuff (except at nationals).

Well, yeah, it was a bit of a joke. It occurs to me that Nats is a UCI race (yes?) and was before the rule change; so if I end up going to Nationals at some point (heh, not next year...), I would need to look into getting an exemption for my saddle position anyway, at least if they were checking compliance with those rules. So with that in mind, I in fact don't have any problem with this rule change and actually support it. I just think that specifically requiring bicycles to comply with UCI regulations for all events is stupid. If they have no intent of enforcing it - and they shouldn't, for non-A racers anyway - then it shouldn't be required, period.

I think that the cost cutting argument doesn't hold when you start considering clip ons, but my guess is that they decided that they couldn't allow some aero bars and not others so their solution was to ban all. I think the number of deep section wheels showing up will probably increase significantly as has been pointed out. I am interested to see what they do with all the feedback they get though, and if they do a better job soliciting feedback pre rule changes next year.

Not to hijack the thread, but has anyone heard any information about collegiate road nats for 2010?

Thats BS. The team i was on fun-raised enough to purchase 4 sets of Aero equipment and a trailer (with space leased out to other teams) for nationals. If I were a nationals qualified rider, travel expenses wouldn't stop me from bringing the proper equipment.

Can't they make this D2 only rule or something?

Lol at you thinking that D2 schools have less money than D1 schools.

Thats BS. The team i was on fun-raised enough to purchase 4 sets of Aero equipment and a trailer (with space leased out to other teams) for nationals. If I were a nationals qualified rider, travel expenses wouldn't stop me from bringing the proper equipment.

Can't they make this D2 only rule or something?

methinks you should have spent more time hitting the books and less time fun raising.

Not to hijack the thread, but has anyone heard any information about collegiate road nats for 2010?

USAC still hasn't decided between us (CSU/Fort Collins) and Wisconsin.

USAC still hasn't decided between us (CSU/Fort Collins) and Wisconsin.

Wisconsin FTW.

lol i love how people want this to be just for d2. as if theres a difference in quality. I'm fine with the rule, cycling is already a really expensive sport, add that on top of the cost of just being able to go to school(housing, tuition, books, food etc) i think this is a rule that keeps cyclists on an equal level and prevents the richest students from being the best. I personally know I don't have any money for a TT bike, i was just planning on gritting my teeth and then possibly apologizing to the team later. no big deal IMO. sucks if you just bought TT stuff though.

Really sucks if your conference just decided to make holding a TTT mandatory every race weekend instead of an option and you went out an bought gear.

I wonder if there are numbers out there to compare clip ons vs full TT setups and if the difference is enough to uphold the rule change due to cost.

Don't know why so many of you are getting your panties in a bunch about this. Especially for the lower categories, this is a great rule change: One bike, pedal hard, fastest guy wins. Pretty cool.

For the A categories it's more complicated, that's for sure. You should want to develop the top-tier collegiate athletes into pro's by emulating the same sorts of races. However, how fair is it to let pro's compete against cat 3s if the former is on a sponsored squad with decked out equipment, and the latter is funding himself through college and a cycling hobbie?

We (ACCC) discussed implementing this on our own. VT argued strongly for it, and we (UVA) chipped in too. But we got voted down quite heavily, which sort of suggests to me that this rule change does not have a large groundswell of support among clubs.

Flatballer has a good point about the "imaginary aero bars". That is a bit worrying.

Still, I guess we'll see how it works out. It only affects one or two of our riders and maybe some of our tri crossover guys.

I see a large increase in demand for 36cm bars and 140mm stems in the near future.

Didn't one of the WCCC teams just bought a bunch of TT bikes last year? :innocent:

I see a large increase in demand for 36cm bars and 140mm stems in the near future.

What about the Cane Creek Speed Bars. I've seen them in USAC mass start races...I don't know if UCI rules would ban those too. Or those short aerobars for things like draft-legal tris?

I like this rule.

I wonder if they'll let me use extra tape for my forearms. hahah

Also, I just found out that I'm definitely racing collegiate this year. whoohoo

Personally I would like to see all road racing go to a single definition for a legal bike and not have one for mass start and another for ITT and TTT, but I'm not going to hold my breath or get bent out of shape if it doesn't happen. There is a huge market for "tri" compared to us guys that also might need to ride some time trials on occasion, so it won't hurt the bike makers at all if this happens.

I think the point has been illustrated several times in this thread by the guys saying how it sucks cause they finally broke down or raised the funds to get tt bikes. Some schools simply wont be able to raise the funds for that.

UmneyDurak,
говоришь по-русски?

UmneyDurak,
говоришь по-русски?

Da.

haha...but that's probably the the only thing I can understand

well, I was asking UmneyDurak - because of his nickname...