veloboy971

Does anyone have experience with how positioning is checked at National Championship events? I just raced Collegiate Road Nationals and they did absolutely no checking of bikes there, however I am planning on racing the U23 Championship in a little under a month and am concerned as I know for a fact that my TT bike is not going to pass (the nose of the saddle is at least inline if not forward to the bottom bracket) and I don't think the nose of the saddle on my road bike is 5 cm behind the bottom bracket. I have read in certain articles that you can take a test and that if you pass it you are allowed to race in an "illegal" position, what are these tests? I am 5'5''-5'6'' so my femurs are not that long and I'm concerned that if I start screwing with my saddle for-aft position to make it "legal" it is going to greatly compromise power output and possibly cause other problems.

Racer Ex 

It's called a morphological exemption, which if you meet the requirements, allows you an exception to one of the measurements, but not more than one.

The USA Cycling and UCI websites both have the information you'll need.

ericm979

This might be a start: https://www.usacycling.org/forms/uci...egulations.pdf
see bottom of page 5 etc.

veloboy971

Thanks!

brianappleby

If you carefully chop off the nose of your saddle, and glue the remaining cover portion back in place, you can buy yourself a few cm's. The key is to do it cleanly enough so that it doesn't look like you did it yourself.

spinwax

Of course read the other info posted in this thread, but you may want to check out the ISM Adamo saddles (like Chris Horner rides on his TT). They are designed to be way set back compared to a standard saddle. It would solve your problem. Oh, and they are weird looking, but are pretty darn comfy.

save10

you could get one of those snub nosed ISM saddles

Cleave

Hi,

The saddle that helped me with a legal saddle position is the Fizik Ares. I've been using it almost 2 years now and the nose is exactly 5 cm behind the bottom bracket centerline.

spinwax

I am on it as well, but I rarely suggest it due to the fact very few people can actually handle sitting on it for more than a few minutes. I love it and can ride my TT for hours.

king-tony

As mentioned above the Adamo might help. Also, they typically have the jig setup at packet pick-up the day before so you can check it and see what modifications you will need to make.

veloboy971

I'm gonna play with it for a bit before and see if I can find a way to get similar to the position I've put a lot if miles into with it still being legal. I looked at it again and my saddle isn't too badly illegal, so I should be able to make it right without a lot if pain.

Hermes

Besides the saddle position there are other things to consider. The distance from the center line of the crank to the tip of the aerobar cannot exceed 80 cm. When they put the bike into the jig, it checks the saddle position and the aerobar position. If the bars are < 75 cm and the seat is 5 cm back then you are okay. If the bars are between 75 and 80 cm, you have to get on the bike and they measure the elbow angle and may provide an exemption. They then weigh the bike. It must weigh 6.8 Kg or greater. You are supposed to also have your helmet with you and they will remove any electronic devices except those that are under the seat. Theoretically, they can check the helmet for an approved sticker.

Last year USA cycling and UCI waved the 3:1 rule but stated it would be applied this year for masters. I do not know what they will enforce for elites.

The USA cycling ref at LA Velodrome told me that they plan to enforce the no electronics rule this year at the track for pursuit events. However, we are allowed to have a coach on the track who can call out lap times.

I have been through technical inspection many times at masters track nationals and worlds. It is easy but they are very serious about the dimensions and weight. And it gets down to who is running the show. At the Superdrome last year, the ref only wanted to see me on the bike once since my aerobars were between 75 and 80 cm. At Worlds, they looked at me and said, it was obvious I would pass.

Good luck.