Many of these helmets look like they are designed to cut your spine in half
Many of these helmets look like they are designed to cut your spine in half
ManicJack
BANNED
- Apr 4, 2023
- 1,253
- 1,632
- 5,680
With they way the sport is going now there would probably be forearm plastic surgery as the new marginal gains.
- Jul 10, 2012
- 2,207
- 1,964
- 14,680
I don't agree. Why have a rule book at all if the rules are so vague and capriciously enforced? You either say yes or no when the equipment is debuted and then stick to it.
I don't particularly care if they approve or disapprove of the neck sock but they shouldn't change their decision on a whim.
Also "non essential" is totally arbitrary. How are arm sleeves essential but a neck sleeve is not essential?
- Jul 10, 2012
- 2,207
- 1,964
- 14,680
What historical tradition? Merckx rode TTs on a road bike. Since the 80s, TT bikes have always looked outlandish. I actually thought it looked kind of neat in a ridiculous way in the PN TTT where each team had its uniquely inane but matchy-matchy headgear. It felt like I was watching Wacky Races or medieval jousting. God forbid the teams actually look distinct from one another...
- Apr 3, 2009
- 12,575
- 8,433
- 28,180
Pretty sure the objection isn't that teams look distinct from one another.
It's that they look ridiculous.
- May 5, 2010
- 51,664
- 30,219
- 28,180
- Apr 3, 2009
- 12,575
- 8,433
- 28,180
No, it's not. Didn't say looking ridiculous was against the rules, I said that's the objection.
So? So a lot of the sport is aesthetic for a lot of people. These "helmets" (fairings in reality) offend that sensibility. I'll be happy if they change the rules to get rid of the stupid-looking fairings.
- Jul 10, 2012
- 2,207
- 1,964
- 14,680
There are two kinds of racing cyclist. There are the ones who look ridiculous in the way you're used to, and the ones who look ridiculous in a novel way.
- May 5, 2010
- 51,664
- 30,219
- 28,180
Where would we be if innovation got hindered because it offended people's aesthetical sensitivities? Not a good place, that's for sure.
And I guess the helmets are "fairings" in the sense that they're designed to reduce drag. That's part of the innovation; to be as aero as possible.
BTW, I Image-googled "fairing", and I couldn't find any examples that looked like the helmets you're claiming are fairings.
The only good argument I have seen to ban them is that they might not be entirely safe. That would be a good reason to ban them. Not "they're ugly."
- Apr 3, 2009
- 12,575
- 8,433
- 28,180
While there's truth in that, I think it's pretty clear to a lot of people that lines have been crossed.
We'd be in a place where riders weren't wearing stupid-looking helmets.
Why do teams spend huge money on kit and brand? Aesthetics. Why so much effort on how bikes look? Aesthetics. Cool looking stuff sells. Stupid-looking stuff doesn't.
- Apr 3, 2009
- 12,575
- 8,433
- 28,180
- May 5, 2010
- 51,664
- 30,219
- 28,180
Sometimes, silly-looking stuff makes you faster... which is kinda the main point for cycling teams.
Of course, fans aren't gonna go buy those helmets, so what?
But by all means; continue watching fashion shows. I'll stick to cycling.
- Oct 30, 2023
- 5,306
- 8,183
- 15,180
Maybe I’m off base here with my understanding of facts. But wasn’t the boardman bike banned for this very reason? Maintenance of the sport’s profile in a visual historic sense?
- Apr 3, 2009
- 12,575
- 8,433
- 28,180
Cycling is a beautiful sport, ridden through some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. I enjoy it most days in one form or another. Aesthetics are nothing if not subjective.
- May 5, 2010
- 51,664
- 30,219
- 28,180
It can be. But if it's a choice between aesthetics and speed, speed is gonna take priority.
- Apr 30, 2011
- 47,071
- 29,678
- 28,180
Other kinds of innovation were also allowed at first, like those of Conconi and Ferrari.
No rule-set can foresee what the future may bring, so it can be in place to adapt it.
- Apr 30, 2011
- 47,071
- 29,678
- 28,180
- May 5, 2010
- 51,664
- 30,219
- 28,180
- Apr 30, 2011
- 47,071
- 29,678
- 28,180
Sorry, it sounded like you evoked an absolute principle. If it's on a case-by-case basis, when would you first favour aesthetics over speed?Yeah... because that's totally where things are at...
- Sep 12, 2022
- 8,119
- 9,630
- 17,180
The whole helmet saga is a classic UCI move that will reduce the intrest in the sport and hold back innovation. It's already ridiculous to approve something, and then disallow it, mid-season. But to let companies invest in R&D to then change the rules based on emotions because of public response is just silly. They are always so slow in changing policies, and making decisions, but when a couple of people on twitter make a meme they suddenly are able to respons within a few days.
- Apr 30, 2011
- 47,071
- 29,678
- 28,180
They haven't changed any rules. They haven't even decided to change any rules. They have decided to review the rules.
That's not at all changing the rules based on emotions.
- Sep 12, 2022
- 8,119
- 9,630
- 17,180
So they changed their own interpretation of the rules? Why was the Specialized helmet approved 2 years ago, and now can't be used starting in April? And isn't the Giro helmet being disallowed at the end of this season, also after it was first approved?
- Aug 6, 2014
- 9,848
- 7,055
- 23,180
Would this review be conducted if the public reception was nothing short of overwhelmingly positive? The answer is probably no.
- Apr 30, 2011
- 47,071
- 29,678
- 28,180
They had reviewed the product in question and found that:
And while the initiation of the review of the helmet regulations are likely caused by "emotions" and "populism", I don't think the review itself will be governed by those two factors.
- May 5, 2010
- 51,664
- 30,219
- 28,180
You want me to switch to Danish, so you can understand what I'm writing?
What you posted up there, a big casing covering the entire rider + bike, would likely not be faster, because it would be too heavy. And there would also be the safety issues of riders not being able to see where they're going... I suppose that's the real order of priority, or at least should be:
1. Safety
2. Speed
10. Aesthetics
TRENDING THREADS
-
World Championship 2025: Men’s RR, September 28- Started by Berniece
- Replies: 2K
-
Il Lombardia 2025, monument, October 11- Started by Krzysztof_O
- Replies: 792
-
Teams & Riders The Remco Evenepoel is the next Eddy Merckx thread- Started by DNP-Old
- Replies: 35K
-
-
Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread- Started by Lequack
- Replies: 41K
-
European Championship 2025: Men’s RR, October 5- Started by Berniece
- Replies: 854
-
Teams & Riders The Great Big Cycling Transfers, Extensions, and Rumours Thread
- Started by RedheadDane
- Replies: 13K
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram