TheSpud said:
Oh i agree, things get limited / banned. And i'm not saying that the gains from EPO aren't big, but i don't think technological gains should be dismissed either especially if they can result in a rider using less energy for the same speed output.
Dear Spud,
You are over-optimistic if you are betting on speed from technological gains over this period.
There has been a lot of time and money invested, but much of that effort is to compensate for and optimize against increasingly stringent UCI regulations.
There were faster designs and faster positions that have been banned.
Here is some of the history:
2007 Changes
3:1 ratio rule introduced, Landis praying mantis position banned
2009 Changes
3:1 rule updated to include non-frame parts, citing handlebars, saddle tubes and pedal arms in particular (various forks and aero bars no longer legal)
2010 Changes
Prototype designs must be released as commercial (no more in-race testing or one-off handbuilt machines)
Stricter implementation of 3:1 rule effectively bans Cancellara’s Specialized Shiv
2012 changes
No helmet covers (Cavendish, Greipel)
No shoe covers for indoor tracks
Bont shoes banned
No Camelback on the chest a la Frank Schleck
Socks must be < mid calf (no more Wiggo socks)
Check for bike motors – no more Spartacus engines
No compression clothing
No mesh-closing surfaces, plain textile / open mesh fabric only
2013 changes
Aero water bottles banned (must be > 4 cm wide < 10 cm long), must be mounted within the main triangle (no more Luis Leon Sanchez configuration),
There must be a space between the bottle and the frame - P5 original bottle banned
Seat must be horizontal – no more Lance lip at the rear for better biomechanics
2014 Changes
Gear levers now measured from their ends / tips. No longer measured from their pivot point. This effectively reduced the length of the aero bars.
Height difference between arm rests and highest and lowest point of the extension limited to 10 cm. This is a further restriction of the ‘praying mantis’ position
Equipment cannot be modified to comply with 3:1 ratio
Equipment cannot be modified to hide frame or handlebar bolts (i.e. no tape over bike parts, no crank/chainring covers)
Dave.