Sy Reene

I think would be quite interesting if there was such a thing as weight handicapped bike racing, with perhaps different weight classes.. Ie. every entrant has to, for example, be at a total bike+rider weight of say small range 200-210 lbs. How would TDF results differ from what we've seen?

chasm54

Typically, many amateur racers are weight handicapped by being too fat for the sport.

Bandera

It would be very different since professional road racers, or competitive amateurs, would not qualify w/o attaching a bowling ball or two to the bike.
TDF? Did you mean Tour de Fat instead of Tour de France?

-Bandera

Sy Reene

Bowling balls are not aero. I'm sure they should develop an aero weighted device that fits under top tube. Don't read this as a way to get fat people into competitive ranks of cycling.. more of a way to level the playing field so that eg. 6'2" 185lb riders (by no means necessarily "fat") could compete on a level playing field

rpenmanparker 

If you are thinking analogously to horse racing, you aren't understanding the important difference. Weight handicapping in horse racing is based on the rider's weight, but the horse is doing the work. The horse's weight isn't controlled. In bike racing the rider is doing the work. Weight, at least among bike racers, is largely related to muscle mass. It wouldn't be fair to force a light rider to carry dead weight while a heavier rider was carrying muscle mass just so they could weigh the same. The heavier rider would always have the advantage even on climbs. You could reasonable demand that all BIKES weigh the same, and that is just about what the UCI minimum weight actually accomplishes. No, it is not a sensible idea.

mcours2006

What would be the point? The weight of the bike might vary by one or two points, if that. If you're a fat rider, then ride more to lose some weight. There's your incentive.

RShantz

What about giving an advantage to the really light guys on flat stages? For some reason people forget that on flat stages is mainly about gross watts, not w/kg.

svtmike

No thanks.

The complex interactions between terrain, weather conditions, and individual rider strengths and weaknesses are an essential element of the Grand Tours and the classics.

kc0bbq

Making Fabian Cancellara win in the mountains, too.

mcours2006

In a sport like rowing, however, you do have two different weight classes--LW and HW, where the cut-off is 165 lbs. The bigger guys have an inherent advantage because they can produce more power relative to the drag produced by the extra weight. Cycling, however, invariably involves a lot of climbing in which gravity, and hence your weight, becomes a much bigger factor. That, and the fact that a race in rowing is typically less than seven minutes.

Bandera

How about making riders >165lbs wear a parachute in the Time Trials as a handicap vs. the wee-weight climber types?

-Bandera

chasm54

Yes, this. Obviously the 180lb rider with a light bike would enjoy a huge advantage over the probably less powerful 150lb rider with a bike that was 30lbs heavier.

PepeM

Alias is that you?

Sy Reene

Perhaps weight classes then. As it seems obvious that body weight isn't directly proportional to muscle mass (we have bones too), and that pro cycling results show (except for an outlier here or there) the success ratio of sub 150lb riders far outweighs (pun intended) >150lb riders. Wouldn't it be interesting to see how the physical strength and athleticism of someone like Usain Bolt (207 lbs; 6'5") might translate into cycling success?

Bandera

There is a cycling venue and events for the big & strong, and it does not have mountains to climb........
None of the trackies that I know carry any extra fat.

Road, track or 'Cross success goes only to the fit & fleet.


-Bandera

svtmike

There are cycling disciplines where the monsters rule -- like track sprints. The Grand Tours simply aren't in their wheelhouse. Bolt wouldn't win as many uphill running events -- his dominance is partially due to the homogeneity of the venues in track.

PepeM

That's only true for mountains. Did you know there are more races than the Tour de France?

kc0bbq

You seem to be conflating one type of specialist (grand tour GC riders) with all types of racers. Froome isn't out there dominating the Classics.

PepeM

Nine times world champion at 200+ lbs.

DinoShepherd

Some races, like CX, have a Clydesdale category. Times are usually not so far off. It is by wieight , not if you are a fat body, so not a huge difference.

You want to even up local cycling? It's not age or weight. All you needs to do is ask a few questions at registration.

. Do your have a real job?
. Are you married?
. Do you travel for work?
. Do you have kids?
. Do you see yours kids and are active in their lives?
And finally..
.Did you win the genetic lottery and have parents who are olympic champions or some such thing thing?

That should Do it.

Homebrew01

No wonder I sucked at racing.

Machka 

Are you familiar with how the TDF works ... since you mention it as an example of a place for these weight classifications?

Have you watched a few of the Grand Tours? Did you understand what was going on?

Sy Reene

Sure.. Do you understand how there might be a change in the dynamics of the stodgy Grand Tours with an introduction of weight classes?
Imagine wrestling or boxing without weight classifications.. boring.

Bandera

So that's why Golf is So Boring:No Weight Classes.......


-Bandera

milkbaby

Road cycling has a lot more important factors than rider weight. A random short list of grand tour winners and their weights: Miguel Indurain 176 pounds, Jan Ullrich 176, Lance Armstrong 165, Eddy Merckx 163, Bernard Hinault 137, Alberto Contador 137, Marco Pantani 126.