UCI at it again.

[just some guy]

Not sure if any of you have read this.

http://www.bont.com/cycling/products/crono/crono.html

Bont made an aerodynamic cycling shoe - great idea you say - well not the Muppet's at the UCI.

It is forbidden to wear non-essential items of clothing or items designed to influence the performances of a rider such as reducing air resistance or modifying the body of the rider (compression, stretching, support).

But it´s ok to wear an aero helmet skin suit etc etc.

Maybe the tv coverage should be sent in black and white.

whats with these people ?

 

[Ferminal]

http://www.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral/blog-article/123606/Bont-booted-by-UCI

Might be worth reading.

 

[Michele]

Interesting article; I didnt know their ban was based on the website.
It just confirm how silly it is.

On the other side Bont is already trying to get some attention by the ban; I bet many thriathetes will be tempted by some "banned shoes".

 

[abbaskip]

An absolute joke. It wouldn't go close to providing the same type of advantage as an aero helmet. And Aero-helmets are clearly not just used by necessity, otherwise they wouldn't change helmets between road stages and time trials. Ridiculous.

 

[brianf7]

What is it that over boots on the feet have to do with aero wind resistance.
we need them to keep our feet warm and to prevent chillblains in winter racing.
I am certain they dont make any difference to wind resistance.

maybe that is why SIDI have started to make battery heated footbeds
for me I will always turn up with my booties in tact

 

[theyoungest]

Riders are allowed to wear shoe covers, which seem to fit the description "non-essential items of clothing" better than these Bont shoes.

 

[Archibald]

Riders are allowed to wear shoe covers, which seem to fit the description "non-essential items of clothing" better than these Bont shoes.

surely a shoe must be considered an essential item, no?

 

[just some guy]

Video with Bont CEO

 

[R.0.t.O]

Riders are allowed to wear shoe covers, which seem to fit the description "non-essential items of clothing" better than these Bont shoes.

Technically a commissaire can require shoe covers to be removed. They're permitted on the basis of being additional clothing to deal with bad weather conditions. (Yes, I am aware of the stupidity of what I am typing) The commissaire at the start of a UCI timetrial is entitled to say it's not cold enough today to justify wearing that extra layer.

 

[md1975]

The cycling powers that be are ALWAYS redoing rules they write. Remember the SHIV bike? For half a season it was fine, then illegal, then they let I think Contador ride one and another guy from another team couldn't ride almost the same bike...at the exact same race and stage. How is that fair?

Then, in say 2000 the say that the distance between the saddle and any areo bars must be "X" distance, and no farther. Not more than 2yrs go buy and they change that up and make the distance shorter. Lance if you recall had to have some of the USPS/Disco teams TT gear inspected to be sure it met the UCI's approval. Sorry, but while it may give them a minimal(and we are talking .000001 seconds) in a TT or TTT...I do not feel a jersey that is dimpled like a golf ball would be cheating in anyway. Yet the powers that be even look at that.

Areo shoes sounds like something a pro would consider useless unless it was a TT. But an average weekend rider would but in bulk to shave even 1min off a weekend 100mile ride. In the course of a big race ike the TDF, I don't see the shoe helping that much. Winds, rain and heat are still around and it sure wouldn't help climb much faster IMO.

 

[woodie]

Video with Bont CEO

The part that gets me is when he says the UCI told them they could put their case forward but nothing would happen. There seems to be no thought process or investigation at all, someone at the UCI decided they didn't like it, or they were friends with whoever made the complaint and they just banned it.

I'm all for drawing the line somewhere but there needs to be some consistancy so people know whats going on. Bont would've lost a hell of a lot of money on this product and they've had no clear explanation from the UCI apart from 'someone complained'. It's a load of crap really.

The sooner the UCI is replaced the better