Our friends at the UCI are at it again.

A couple of years ago they decided that all bikes used for
the hour record had to be built like Eddy's hour attempt
bikes.  The idea is to compare apples to apples.

They publish the regulations from time to time.  Yesterday
they refreshed the specs and they've added an interesting
new twist to the game:

The bicycle must be accessible to all participants. It must be marketed
(i.e. available for sale on the market) or marketable (i.e. available for
sale directly from the manufacturer, by subscription or through an alternative
distribution network). Prototypes and the use of equipment specially designed
for a particular athlete, event or performance is prohibited. “Special design”
means a bicycle with a technical added value when compared with other
equipment.

Wrong!

Sport should be about the performance of the individual, not
the performance of the equipment.  So I get where they're
coming from.  But where do you draw the line?  What sets
guys like Graeme Obree apart from other competitors is how
they use their brains to enhance their performance.  They
build better bikes and use better positions on the bikes and
that makes them faster, if only until the competition copies
them and catches up.

The UCI has drawn the line at the use of drugs, as well
they should.  Controlled substances are dangerous and
those who use them are dumb.  But using your brain to
build a better bike is just plain smart and it should be
encouraged and promoted as a way to enhance
performance in a safe and sane manner.

The UCI already has rules that govern the general
safety of a bike.  A bike has to weigh at least 6.8 kilos
for example.  Using less material in a bike is dangerous.

I continue to wonder why the cycling world insists on
stuffing itself into one mold.  Other vehicular-based
sports have long since splintered into multiple classes
that allow for people of meager means, for example,
to compete on a flat field.  Cycling could do the same.
And in doing so there would be a place for individuals
who have worked on their conditioning to compete
with others without the requirement of a $20000 bike.

What do you think?

If you want to read the new UCI specs, have a look
at the attached file titled: Technical Regulations for
Bicycles – A Practical Guide To Implementation.

It's a hoot.

Matthew

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