TT equipment: How radical should be permissible?

[Armchair Cyclist]

Posts above this have been moved from the Uijtdebroecks thread and the "UCI loller thread" to avoid too much diversion in the former, to avoid forked discussion, and to make the discussion more widely visible.

 

[Netserk]

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

So if the front of it was transparent, it should be allowed for ITTs where it'd be faster? As long as it was safe, that is.

EDIT: As an example, do you think it should be allowed for the hour-record on the track?

 

[Netserk]

Neat to have this conversation in its own thread, it has indeed been spread over several threads.

 

[RedheadDane]

So if the front of it was transparent, it should be allowed for ITTs where it'd be faster? As long as it was safe, that is.

EDIT: As an example, do you think it should be allowed for the hour-record on the track?

See-through plastic weighs less?
It would weigh less on the track?

There's no need to worry about helmets looking like that, because it would be too heavy, reducing speed.

If there should be a limit, it should be "helmets are to be worn on the head, not the entire body".

 

[Berniece]

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.

You didn't really answer any of my questions.

1. Why was the Specialized helmet approved 2 years ago, and now can't be used starting in April?
2. Isn't the Giro helmet being disallowed at the end of this season, also after it was first approved?

 

[Netserk]

See-through plastic weighs less?
It would weigh less on the track?

There's no need to worry about helmets looking like that, because it would be too heavy, reducing speed.

If there should be a limit, it should be "helmets are to be worn on the head, not the entire body".

The weight is not an issue for flat routes, and certainly not on the track. It's much faster than a bike.

Hour record - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Berniece]

I would think this is part of the UCI loller thread because they are being ridiculous

 

[Netserk]

You didn't really answer any of my questions.

1. Why was the Specialized helmet approved 2 years ago, and now can't be used starting in April?
2. Isn't the Giro helmet being disallowed at the end of this season, also after it was first approved?

1. They haven't published the reason for why it was approved back in 2022. After a more careful review, they have found that it is against the rules. As such, riders won't be allowed to use it after the Itzulia ITT.
2. No. So far, they have only decided to investigate the helmets and to review the rules in question. They acknowledge that the helmets are completely within the current rule-set.

 

[Berniece]

1. They haven't published the reason for why it was approved back in 2022. After a more careful review, they have found that it is against the rules. As such, riders won't be allowed to use it after the Itzulia ITT.
2. No. So far, they have only decided to investigate the helmets and to review the rules in question. They acknowledge that the helmets are completely within the current rule-set.

1. This doesn’t make any sense at all, and is extremely unprofessional.
2. Ok, thanks for clarifying

 

[joseph89]

Wonder if the UCI will now ban the wings on the sides of Ineos kask visors

 

[frisenfruitig]

As is often the case, I don't understand the point of the rules the UCI comes up with. I wonder if they ever think "what problem are we solving by imposing these rules?", if there even is in fact a thought process involved of course.

 

[roundabout]

You didn't really answer any of my questions.

1. Why was the Specialized helmet approved 2 years ago, and now can't be used starting in April?
2. Isn't the Giro helmet being disallowed at the end of this season, also after it was first approved?

Do you think the Specialized helmet sock has always been within the rule 1.3.033?

 

[bNator]

I would think this is part of the UCI loller thread because they are being ridiculous

As you can see from other posts in this thread, not everyone agree with you. And then we would again have the topic in two threads: UCI loller thread and “thank god for the UCI, they are so good” thread😁

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Innovation is fine, and welcome. As long as it has something for all cyclists....not a few small %. Then it becomes a waste of time, money & resources......
I'd actually ban most of the TT tech, as it's not relevant for enough people. Aero road bikes, and aero road helmets are more than good enough....

If I was going to be really radical, I'd go down the motorsport route; teams have to nominate the use of ONE model of bike for the whole season, for all races. For example, the WRC has to use the same car for a smooth Tarmac event, as well as a rough, rocky gravel event......If they were cycling, it would be a GT car for the Monte, and a buggy for the Safari......

Think of the cost, space saved by having only one bike in the factory......

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Neat to have this conversation in its own thread, it has indeed been spread over several threads.

I'm not going to try to bring in the posts about it in the P-N and T-A threads (nor from the Evenepoel pages and wherever else it may have appeared): it has probably run its course there, and if something of great value was said there, people can quote it here.

 

[Brullnux]

I think there is an underlying element that is quite important: what should cycling be about?

Personally, I don't like large/unequal gains being made via technical innovations. It should be a sport about physical ability and tactic/strategy, at its core. Allowing extreme TT designs is just another way to favour big/rich teams, and one that (unlike training methods and nutrition) can actually be limited.

 

[Berniece]

Do you think the Specialized helmet sock has always been within the rule 1.3.033?

I think that when you approve something once you shouldn't suddenly revert that.

 

[Netserk]

I think that if you make a mistake, you should seek to correct it. And by the time it took them, I don't think there was anything sudden about it.

 

[Berniece]

I think that if you make a mistake, you should seek to correct it. And by the time it took them, I don't think there was anything sudden about it.

It's only extra R&D and marketing costs that can be thrown in the bin for Specialized

 

[roundabout]

I think that when you approve something once you shouldn't suddenly revert that.

That doesn't really answer the question.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Likely similar situation as with swimsuits. A bit of gray area allows for innovation, observing on how all records get broken, something has to be done about it or it will only get worse. Technology and not the athlete winning.

From technological point of view i wouldn't mind it, though. Said that it wouldn't sit right with me, knowing somebody won the Tour, only due to being able to afford a full body and bike aero shell.

So yeah, maximum dimensions of the TT helmet to be set as a rule and to innovate inside those limitations. That should resolve it. No active components allowed.

 

[Berniece]

That doesn't really answer the question.

That's true. I don't think it complies with that specific rule, but if you make an exception the first time, I think it's silly to then revert it.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Acting on some new circumstance in my opinion is the right way to do it. Sock in my opinion got banned only due to Visma TT helmet being next in the line.

 

[Volderke]

Has there ever been a serious crash with head trauma in the ITT pre-helmet era?
If not, why not ban helmets for ITT? Problem solved

 

[RedheadDane]

As long as helmets clearly looks like helmets, I'm cool with it.
So, all good.