Originally Posted by globecanvas (Post 17865445)

Let the handwringing commence. Traveling next week for a 3-crit weekend and I can only bring one set of wheels. It's too far out for the forecast to be reliable of course, but the extended forecast is currently for rain all weekend.

If not raining I'd absolutely bring 60mm carbon tubulars. If the forecast holds, I'm not sure what to bring. My training wheels are your standard velocity A23 24/28 on decent hubs, neither light nor aero (not heavy wheels, but not light). I've never actually ridden the carbon tubulars in the rain but I assume braking would be horrible to nonexistent.

Originally Posted by shovelhd (Post 17875632)

One shot or recurring? Wheel box for one shot stuff. Hardshell bike travel case or wheel case for recurring use.

Originally Posted by Ygduf (Post 17860966)

says the guy who puts his kid in an altitude tent.

Originally Posted by globecanvas (Post 17861430)

I have to step in to defend shovelhd, who is not the kind of guy who "makes up rules to enforce."

You know the rules. 1G6b: official's responsibility to ensure that "numbers are in good condition and properly placed." 1J7b: "Numbers may not be folded, trimmed, or otherwise defaced."

The rules do not address crinkling numbers or pins, but requires them to be properly placed and not defaced. If an official chooses to interpret an unpinned number as improperly placed, or interpret a crinkled number as defaced, that is the official's prerogative. As shovelhd has said in the past, the reason every possible permutation of behavior is not explicitly allowed or forbidden is specifically to give officials the ability to exercise judgement. A number that is attached as a crinkled wad is defaced and unreadable, so it would be absurd for the racer to protest that crinkling is not specifically disallowed. A number that is attached with one paper clip would not be properly placed, so it would be absurd for the racer to protest that paper clips are not specifically disallowed.

Gray-area behavior, like a number that is somewhat crinkled but mostly readable, will be interpreted different ways by different officials. So it goes. Most racers choose to avoid gray-area behavior for that reason.

Originally Posted by Doge (Post 17877863)

...while I am not a cycling official I read these rules - USAC, UCI over and over because I have to...and I have a passion for officiating.

Originally Posted by grolby (Post 17881967)

I read this as "I have a passion for rules-lawyering with officials." Not exactly a well-regarded practice.

Originally Posted by Doge (Post 17882185)

We'll its not. At race venues I don't talk to the officials that are working a race I have interest in. I let them do their job - right or wrong. That rules and application vary, finding where they vary affects the little changes. Some incorrect officiating has ruined kids trips. Last year at nationals a juniors TT bike in the shoot (already checked) is seen by an official that says the seat has to be level and changes the kids seat 5 min before start. Kid's race is ruined. Out current team (before we were on it) had the officials reject the nose cones on the SHIVs and have them cut off. So they were - and used. Next year disallowed because they were modified. Lots of other small examples in a sport where making it to the next opportunity is determined by small amounts of time.

Originally Posted by shovelhd (Post 17878332)

...
At last week's state championships, a rider was DQ'd for folding his number. Not crinkling, folding. He was warned not to fold the week before by one of the officials who had worked both races, but he stubbornly refused and showed up next week with a folded number, so it was dealt with.

Originally Posted by shovelhd (Post 17883327)

I would do whatever the Chief Referee wanted me to do. I am not a UCI official. Not even close.

Once again you totally miss the point for the sake of argument.

Originally Posted by shovelhd (Post 17588036)

Puppy Doge shows up at the line without pins at the corners and I pull him. Period. End of story.

Originally Posted by Grumpy McTrumpy (Post 17588929)

I remember when our local rep relayed the info that USAC was going to require pins on four corners (a few years ago).

Originally Posted by shovelhd (Post 17883327)

Once again you totally miss the point for the sake of argument.

Originally Posted by Doge (Post 17883365)

What was your point and what point am I missing?

Originally Posted by shovelhd (Post 17878332)

At last week's state championships, a rider was DQ'd for folding his number. Not crinkling, folding.

Originally Posted by shovelhd (Post 17878332)

If you are a fan of officiating, as you say, then you'd understand the position of the officials. But you don't. You continue to quote rules verbatim without acknowledging how they are interpreted. That's your perogative. It puts perspective on your complaints about officials.

At last week's state championships, a rider was DQ'd for folding his number. Not crinkling, folding. He was warned not to fold the week before by one of the officials who had worked both races, but he stubbornly refused and showed up next week with a folded number, so it was dealt with.

Originally Posted by mike868y (Post 17883667)

On the folding numbers bit - is there any usac regulations on number size. As a small guy some race numbers are so damn big they cover just about my entire back.

I used to fold my collegiate numbers but then again collegiate = no rules.

Originally Posted by Enthalpic (Post 17883487)

Do you guys give our many fines? I only ask because at the last stage race things that normally would have only earned a warning or DQ are now also getting you a fine.

$35 + relegation or DQ for yellow line, $25 for missed sign-in, $100 for unseemingly behavior.