Mike Murray
It is my understanding that in wind tunnel testing some people will be
faster with their arms in a more flexed position and some in a more extended
position depending on the shape of the rest of their body. The presumed
reasoning behind the UCI rule (presuming that there is any reasoning) is not
to force a more or less aerodynamic conventional position but to prevent use
of the Obree Superman position. The UCI rules are rather inane since they
do not take into account any rider body measurements. When these
anti-Obree/Superman rules went into effect there was a proposal from USAC to
make allowable bike measurements dependent on measurement of rider's bodies.
This was very logical but ultimately was rejected. I have been told that
the proposal was authored by a old time Oregon bike racer, Randy Shafer.
Mike Murray
-----Original Message-----
From: David Auker [mailto:davauk@hevanet.com]
Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2008 17:12 PM
To: mike.murray@obra.org
Cc: obra@list.obra.org
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Oregonian Sports Front Page
Well, I guess rules is rules, but it seems like a trivial detail. It's
not like it would make her faster...if anything, pointing her arms down
at a greater than level angle seems like it would present more frontal
area, not enhance sleek aerodynamics. But, I'm not qualified to really
assess this!
David
Mike Murray wrote:
> The applicable UCI rule is:
> "1.3.023 For road time trial competitions and for the following track
> competitions: individual and team pursuit,
> kilometre and 500 m, an extension may be added to the steering system.
> The distance between the vertical line passing through the bottom
> bracket axle and the extremity of the handlebar
> may not exceed 75 cm, with the other limits set in article 1.3.022 (B,C,D)
> remaining
> unchanged. A support for the elbows or forearms is permitted (see diagram
> «Structure (1B)»).
> For road time trial competitions, controls or levers fixed to the
handlebar
> extension may extend
> beyond the 75 cm limit as long as they do not constitute a change of use,
> particularly that of providing
> an alternative hand position beyond the 75 cm mark.
>
> For the track and road competitions covered by the first paragraph,
> the distance of 75 cm may be increased to 80 cm to the extent that
> this is required for morphological reasons; «morphological reasons
> » should be taken as meaning anything regarding the size or length of the
> rider's body parts. A
> rider who, for this reason, considers that he needs to make use of a
> distance between 75 and 80
> cm must inform the commissaires' panel at the moment that he presents his
> licence. In such cases
> the commissaires' panel may carry out the following test: ensuring that
the
> angle between the forearm
> and upper arm does not exceed 120° when the rider is in a racing position"
>
> TI expect that the deal was that angle was greater than 120°. The
> word was that it was measured inappropriately for the prologue and
> allowed so she assumed it was correct when she arrived at the TT with
> the same bike. When it was remeasured correctly it was off. Stupid
> rule anyhow. She was not penalized she was just late to the start
> because of the need to fix it.
>
> Mike
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org]
> On Behalf Of David Auker
> Sent: Monday, May 19, 2008 15:39 PM
> To: obra@list.obra.org
> Subject: [OBRA Chat] Oregonian Sports Front Page
>
>
> Jeaannie Longo-Ciprelli photo, out of the saddle in the Mt. Hood
> Cycling
> Classic.
>
http://blog.oregonlive.com/sportsupdates/2008/05/photos_mount_hood_cycling_c
> las.html
> (also at:)
> http://tinyurl.com/4hktq8
> Action photo!
>
> Any insight on the "equipment ruling" (TT handlebars angled down too
> far) that penalized her by a minute? Was she blatantly trying to thwart
> the rules, or is she just a victim of some minor oversight in handlebar
> adjustment? Did she yell at her mechanic?
>
> =David
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