Originally Posted by tetonrider

problem with the mercx stuff is the INTENT is great, but the practice sucks.

it's supposed to either (a) limit the financial costs of participating or (b) make it easier for people to travel/carpool. people assume it levels the playing field.

well...it still winds up being an arms race. some folks will bring an aero frame, aero road bars, deep front, disc rear, skinsuit, ... hell, some people might even have an adjusted position on the road bike.

it just totally backfires.

it also then penalizes the people that have the gear--1 less chance to use the toys.

i get the mercx thing in, say, cat 5 or 4, but when you get to p12 the limitation is silly, IMO. if you don't have that toy, maybe you stage hunt and don't contest the TT. in fact, conserving in the TT maybe makes a stage win more likely.