The One Hour Record

VeloFlash

The UCI minimum weight only applies to bicycles in mass start road races.

Every currently marketed road racing bike would be under the minimum weight if you stripped it of brakes, levers, derailleurs, 8 or 9 cogs, a chain wheel, cable, freewheel mechanism and shortened the chain.

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VF

"Remember, even if you win the rat race, you are still a rat"

bikeguy

Veloflash, I became interested in the UCI technical specifications for track/road/mass start races after you said track bikes are permitted to be under 6.8 kg. This is not the case.

See the pdf download which you can get from www.uci.ch the official UCI site. Section 1.3.019 clearly states that all bicycles competing in road and track races of any type can't weigh less then 6.8 kilograms. However, I think the rule was changed to the current weight in 2000, not sure what the rules were before that.

-Bikeguy

VeloFlash

I was not able to find the tech specs on the UCI site prior to submitting my post. I relied on precedent and another web site that used the phrase "mass start road races."

I was competing at our national track championships and the commissaires were over zealous in enforcing the tech specs and rules. Bikes were checked and measured, all computers, pickups, cables and magnets had to be removed for mass start races, etc. However, weight was not part of the enforcement. If it was, all bikes would have had to attach some sort of ballast to meet the 6.8kg minimum.

I still have not been able to find the UCI tech specs but I note on our local tech specs that all bikes have a minimum of 6.8kg. So I stand corrected.

Maybe track officialdom is aware that this rule as it applies to track bikes is unfair and unjust and therefore unenforceable.

The most popular elite international track bike is the BT (Bike Technologies). It is advertised as of ultra lightweight monocoque construction.

"By using airfoil shaped tubing and contouring in a monocoque construction BT is able to produce an ultra lightweight frame."

Have not seen those bikes in Olympics, World Cup & World Championships with weights attached or excluded from competition.

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VF

"Remember, even if you win the rat race, you are still a rat"

daniels

Just took another look for the magazine again today. Its the Spring 2004 issue for those of you playing at home, page 116. Last paragraph:

"An interesting point to note is that while Boardman's bike was required to be above the UCI's 6.8kg weight limit, Merckx's 5.7kg bike was illegal under the new regulations!"

Interesting.

bikeguy

I'm also interested in the rules because I want to familiarize myself with them before I compete this spring/summer. I've been sick (and still am) so I have a bit of time to kill. :-)

Veloflash, according to the UCI the weight limit (and rules regarding seat tube angle, position of and length of aerobars etc., aerodynamics and fairings) is to uphold the supremacy of man over machine, in other words, it's supposed to be a competition between men not machines. In practice, the difference in price between the regular bikes and really light and aerodynamic (as far as permitted by the UCI rules) bikes effectively does make it a competition of machines to some extent (and the wealth of the racer) in my opinion. In the case of the hour record, Merckx's lighter bike really wouldn't make much difference because it wouldn't have a huge impact on rolling resistance which is a small part of the total power output. Going up a mountain in an uphill TT though, it would make a difference as well as in a short sprint on the track.

About the bike inspection Veloflash, I guess since it's impossible (and a pain in the ass) to check everything so it's up to the officials at each race to decide what they want to check.

-Bikeguy

taras0000

All you need is a simple spring scale similar to the ones in a grocery store

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Taras

531Aussie

This is a great site:

http://www.bikecult.com/bikecultboo...ecordsHour.html

ed073

(mental image of some dude rolling his Giant into the local Safeway to weigh it next to the tomatoes and shallots....)

he he he!!!

taras0000

6.8 kilos of shallots and tomatoes. Perfect fuel for the hour.

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Taras

ed073

Gold!!

"Sorry sir....your vegetables have come in under the UCI minimum weight limit. Please add 2 kipfler potatoes....?"

taras0000

"Can I at least use my coupon redeemable for a savings of 50 seconds?"

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Taras

VeloFlash

"About the bike inspection Veloflash, I guess since it's impossible (and a pain in the ass) to check everything so it's up to the officials at each race to decide what they want to check."

Most departures from the rules are obvious from a visual inspection. The measuring tape may be required in some cases only to quantify the breach.

For juniors the officials will always check if they are running gears that do not exceed the maximum roll out for their age category.

There is also the interpretation of the rules, particularly in regard to safety. Experienced track riders do not run with lock rings on their cog. I have heard of events where officials insisted that all bikes be inspected for lock rings. That would have caused problems for about 90% of riders - to find or borrow a lock ring.

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VF

"Remember, even if you win the rat race, you are still a rat"

gntlmn

Here's an interesting piece on the Merckx hour record saga, told by the guy who put together his bike.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/sponsors...go/?id=colnago5

Another item of conversation, while we're talking about very small differences, is the clothing worn. Between 1972, when Merckx set his mark, and 1999, when Boardman set his, clothing changed greatly. I wonder if we might get a few posts on this. I doubt that Merckx had the better aerodynamics, at least as far as clothing goes.

ed073

Silk skinsuit, leather helmet.

Boadman used a lycra skinsuit and a bucket lid, no teardrop allowed.