Edward Kendrick Sr
In New England, we had a high school league with no gearing restrictions, and it was angering to switch over to USCF restricted gears. What made things worse, was that my asthma just doesn't allow me to push as much air as required for 120+ rpm's.
This has helped me develop my personal beliefs, such as "Get your laws (and seat belts) off my body!" Don't dictate gearing restrictions or doctor's appointments. Don't force me to breathe second-hand smoke. Big Brother - back off!
The children "are immune to your consultations."
Have a Happy Valentine's Day,
Ed
----- Original Message ----
From: "Chris Harnish, M.S."
To: obra@list.obra.org
Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2007 2:48:57 PM
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Juniors-If you race out of state read this
David's comments are not uncommon, but are also unfounded. While I do not really buy much of the rationale for junior gearing, I do support its inclusion in the rules because it helps teaching kids how to spin a gear and utilize leg speed over force; why we cannot use functional development for a rationale one can only guess. However, the idea that these kids will be disadvantaged is simply false, because I've seen firsthand from juniors I coached that gearing never affected their performance. In fact, one rider from my 2004 junior team routinely bested much larger and 'powerful' riders using only a 45X12 - FYI, 45X12 will provide a maximum gear at or barely under the UCI limit of 7.9 m. Moreover, I did not let any of my riders switch back and forth between junior and senior gears during the season because they were racing several National and International races. That being said, none of them had trouble picking up results in Senior races and all of my riders moved up
at least one category and one even moved up to a cat 1 racing 1-2 races in New England. The bottom line is that if kids aren't placing in Senior events it isn't their gearing, but their development.
Best Wishes, Chris Harnish, M.S., HFI Exercise Physiologist & Coach ESP Training Systems "Unlocking the secrets to your success!" www.espanswers.com Ph 508.965.3863 Fx 508.457.1712
Interesting rule...I guess I can see the benefits, but it seems pretty harsh making an 18 year old racing in Cat 3 to be handicapped. (I can attest to what happens being under-geared: in a CA road race my chain was not working on the small cog...I was already cutting it a bit close, so this gave me something like 94" or less. In an extended high-speed (big gear) section, having to pedal way faster than everyone else did me in (that means dropped, Roger!).) Anyway, shouldn't the following say: "If the crank arms complete more than a full revolution in this distance, the bike fails." ?? instead of:
The bike is rolled backwards straight towards the other mark until the crank arms have completed a full revolution. If the crank arms do not complete a full revolution in this distance, the bike fails.
I don't know...what do you think....are we lucky in OBRA land to not have this, or should this be a rule? (In the OBRA Rules, I do a "find word" for restriction and limit, but don't see that we levy this on our Juniors) Maybe this should be a Master's rule, too? Another might be to restrict the value of the bike to under $7500 or something... David
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