Rumpled

Just saw this other thread on 2011 Proposed Rule Changes

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...d-rule-changes

Here are the actual changes proposed
https://www.txbra.org/organization/fi...0final%201.pdf

A major change that I see is limiting a field to 100 even in CX races. (Unless they allow race announcements to set a higher number - but I don't think that's what they mean) All your stories of the epic 200+ field races will go away. I think this will hurt CX more than help it, as people will be turned away from races.

Here's the actual text from that pdf
UR10.13 1J7 Cyclo-cross default field limit – David Miller and Tom Simonson
This creates a default field limit for cyclo-cross races.
1J7. Maximum Field. Entries shall be accepted in order of receipt by the organizer up to the field limit and subsequent entries shall be returned. The maximum field limit in any youth race or a road event exclusively for category 5 men or Category 4 women shall be 50 riders. The maximum field for a road event that includes category 5 men with other categories shall be 75. For other road events and for cyclo-cross events, if no field limit is given in the official race announcement, a field limit of 100 shall be used.

Also, helmet cams will be banned, juniors can't race on carbon wheels and some other stuff.


All of this will be voted on by the trustees on 11-6.
That's this Saturday!

Andy_K 

Actually, I think most of the stories of 200+ field races are coming from Oregon, and we ignore UCI and USAC rules anyway. So, we're generally free to have races with 200+ juniors with helmet cams and carbon wheels on their unicycles if we want to.

Rutnick

there were 140+ field sizes at UCI3 in Louisville. Helmet cameras were banned.

velocycling

I think Andy is right. If CX continues to grow this will only encourage more promoters not to be USAC. They will follow PDX example.

Rutnick

or just split the field and have two races.

thenomad

Why are helmet cams banned? Even tiny little bullet ones?
No instant replay?

mzeffex 

There are several explanations in the road racing forum.

To name a couple:

So people aren't too caught up in footage to care about the race, potentially endangering others.

You crash, land on the camera at an angle, which could push the helmet to one side exposing forehead, side of head, etc.

Rumpled

If you peruse the other BF thread I refernced, the proposal to ban helmet cams is that CPSC doesn't test with helmet cams. It's cosidered a modification and that's not allowed. Same will be with visors and mirrors that weren't original.

As far as adding races to a day - I think many places already have pretty full days.

Andy_K 

So handlebar mounted cameras are OK? I like the videos from those better anyway.

PacersGuy

...so, if a field limit of 'unlimited' or '500' is given, then the 100 rider limit does not apply?

Rumpled

I don't know if that's what they intend or not.
The other way would be if they don's say put a field limit of 50 ; then it would be 100.

Andy_K 

I think the rule limiting juniors' equipment is a really good idea. I talked my neice's boyfriend into coming out and trying CX earlier this year, and he was out there in a T-shirt, shorts and sneakers racing an old steel mountain bike that's older than he is and weighs nearly as much as he does against a bunch of other guys in full team kit riding high-end carbon bikes. I'd hate to have to tell him to come back when he's a middle-aged guy with more money than fitness, but that seems to be where the sport grows today.

ljrichar

I think it's good. A race on a short course w/ 100+ sounds like a cf to me, not epic.

ridethatbike

Two points: Fitness trumps all technological "advantages" that carbon/tubulars can ever gain you. Tech is the final 3%, not the base 97% of talent, technique, and fitness.

That being said, I do see your point. I remember my first race (at the ripe old age of 33) when I showed up with a pretty decent cx bike, but was surrounded by cat3/4 road racers in skinsuits. Beginner's category my ass.

As for equipment, I didn't realize so many types of carbon wheels existed. If you think that's bad, don't ever race triathlon then if that gets you frustrated. Nearly everyone has bike equipment that is multiple categories over their actual talent level. In spite of this, 45 year olds who drop 4k a piece on cx bikes drive the industry a hell of a lot more than juniors. You have to acknowledge who butters your bread, regardless of their "value" to the sport. Just whip their arse while riding your 22 pound steel steed.

In regards to your niece's boyfriend, just remember that curiosity gets us to our first race, and competition and the will to improve keeps us coming back. I doubt difference of equipment/apparel will stick out in his mind as much as the taste of lung butter and doing something so hard that we question our sanity.

SpongeDad

Junior equipment rules in cross don't mean much - sure there are top guys on CF here, but there are just as many really good riders on AL or steel w/105 components.

I do agree with the limits for things like time trials, where you can buy several minutes over a standard road bike. That's enough to keep you out of contention. At most, I'd allow clip on aerobars and goofy helmets, which are pretty cheap (especially the bars, as you could argue that jrs need to learn how to race in the proper position).

Rumpled

Word in the other thread is that helmet cam and jr equipment bans failed.
CX does now have a default field limit of 100. Don't know if promoters can go higher or not. I'm guessing not.

mazdaspeed

Are flat bars still banned? If so, why?

Rumpled

Flat bars aren't banned. Just forward facing or upward facing in all but TT's.

Sourpuss Magee

That's funny. I shared that exact experience this year. I also wish they would have a separate category for us working full-time jobs.