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So
Trying to sort out barriers
Trying to stop unsafe bottle throwing dropping
No descending on the top tube
On Facebook this last one was met by lots of negative comments. It seems sensible to me. IMHO it doesn't make the racing better, just less safe. Do you think some one try and hit UCI min' weight with a dropper post?
The last one will mean they fit dropper posts (lets face it, mountain biking tech has always been years ahead of roadie tech) 🙂
Moronic. It's not dangerous. You know what is dangerous? Camera motos who behave like dicks. Downhill sprints with a turn in them. Unless you're hands on tops and top tube descending (which is only one on straight roads even in the peloton, except by a few daredevils who know the road) you still have loads of control. If you can't safely top tube descend you really need to go and practice riding your bike.
Why do I care? I enjoy top tube descending, it's faster (categorically), and it separates good descenders from poor descenders making for more interesting racing. Good descending is exciting, and top tube descending is rarely if ever the cause of accidents (see: UCI forcing riders to continue in shitty conditions because they want money, riders having to strike stages)
Imagine the 2019 TDF if we knew that alaphillipe couldn't put minutes into his opponents down a hill? Shortening aside, it would have completely changed the dynamic of the race.
Imagine you told riders they couldn't get out of the saddle to sprint because "it was
unsafe". It would change the nature of racing and sprints would become more boring to watch. Obviously this wouldn't happen, because the average overweight tv watcher still has to get out of his saddle to pedal up his local 3%.
So I guess I'm on the fence about it, y'know?
The dropper post debate had me thinking. At face value the likelihood of seeing droppers in the world tour must now be pretty high, but... just imagine all of the different standards! Pretty much every aero frame has its own propitiatory aero post, will this mean there’ll now be dozens of different aero droppers? The mind boggles.
Roadies hate enforced change. There are the Parish Council of the cycling world
looks like the Nibali(3) will be the way to go..... keeping as narrow as possible
Aero, bluetooth droppers.
The problem is that all of that pro shit like descending on the top tube, draping your forearms over the bars, chucking water bottles etc gets copied by amateurs in club races. Even kids on circuit races will try it.
The number of times I've been involved in marshalling/commissairing races where riders have had to be told repeatedly - don't do that.
It's fine on a closed road in the sunshine when you're a pro riding 60+hrs a week alongside teammates/competitors that you know well and race with all year.
When you're a UK 3rd Cat on a crappy back lane road race on an open road, it does not make you faster, it makes you a ****.
Besides, the UCI have to improve safety and they're doing a lot to address that. This could just be summed up as "ride your bike properly".
I've been surprised that I haven't seen a road dropper yet, they would only need to be fully up or down so needn't be too complex or heavy. It would also only be necessary on mountain routes where riders might not choose an aero bike anyway.
Barriers have been an issue for a long time and surely can't be that difficult to improve
Im looking forward to seeing how they define this. If dont actually touch the top tube will that be legal? If so good luck trying to workout whether its a bum on tube or a close hover!!!!
It’s fine on a closed road in the sunshine when you’re a pro riding 60+hrs a week alongside teammates/competitors that you know well and race with all year.
When you’re a UK 3rd Cat on a crappy back lane road race on an open road, it does not make you faster, it makes you a ****.
Is that not true for most of what happens on closed roads by pros? Try and copy their line, positions, techniques, and speed as an amateur on an open road in the UK and you’ll end up toast.
At face value the likelihood of seeing droppers in the world tour must now be pretty high
Bindun.
https://www.velonews.com/gear/spotted-astana-rides-special-height-adjust-posts-at-tour/
No descending on the top tube
Has there been any research into this? I guess so but years ago someone did drag tests on motorcycles and strangely enough bum in the air head down had less drag than head in the same position and arse on a low seat
Im looking forward to seeing how they define this. If dont actually touch the top tube will that be legal? If so good luck trying to workout whether its a bum on tube or a close hover!!!!
Second 'saddle'-prong pointing forwards from near the base of the seat-tube. 🙂