cold turtle

Saw this on the flyer for a stage race: NO AERO EQUIPMENT ALLOWED (No TT bikes, aero bars, TT helmets or disc wheels allowed. Aero wheels welcome)

I'm used to seeing mass-start legal equipment only, but never seen anyone try to ban TT helmets (other than Merckx-style TTs). Where do they draw the line? Is there an actual definition of TT helmets somewhere?

jdms mvp

for a race here that does merckx TTs , they said. The helmet that you will start a road race or crit with lol

merlinextraligh

In stage races I've done, where they've disallowed aero equipment in the TT, the rule just has been if you wear it in the TT, you've got to wear it in the crit and road race.

TheKillerPenguin

If your helmet makes you look like Sonic the Hedgehog, do not use it.

dz_nuzz

Oh I would totally wear it in the RR and Crit.

TheKillerPenguin

lol, I guess it is no crazier than using a rear disc.

topflightpro

I once saw a person do a mountainous omnium with a rear disc. All three portions: TT, mass-start mountain climb with 10-17% for the last 1k, and RR.

I don't know how well she did, but I know I used every bit of the triple I ran for that event. (I am not a strong climber and that was my second race weekend.)

TheKillerPenguin

There's a guy around here that uses a disc in every race he does. I think he even uses it for cx?!?!

grolby

And MTB. That's [REDACTED]. He's... unique.

TheKillerPenguin

Might wanna retract that name to not do the public name and shame thing. But yeah, he's been using one as long as I can remember.

globecanvas

Name and shame? The guy has multiple national jerseys!

tetonrider

there ARE some discs that weigh less than aero rear wheels.

nowadays someone could put an 11-42 on it with a MTB RD.

tangent: i didn't think the intent was to shame, but personally i find it weird when we're on an anonymous forum (i.e., we're not using OUR real names) and yet some folks casually drop the full names of others. it pops up routinely in race reports.

i know we all have different opinions about our privacy, and it is often easy enough to figure out the name behind the alias, yet i don't recall ever seeing a single person use their full name here while talking about others.

my opinion (not worth much) is that it should be up to that individual whether to spot their full name or not -- even if they are not a member.

grolby

Not meant as shame. He's an interesting guy. Great bike racer. Riding a disc everywhere is unique and a little strange. I don't meant to imply any more than that; I don't know him very well.

grolby

This is a good point. Were it someone else, who wasn't a multiple national champion and who wasn't widely known for the disc wheel quirk (there's at least one video of him out there specifically discussing the disc wheel thing), I'd have hestitated more. Still happy to go back and retract, it just seems odd to be so circumspect about someone so well-known and so readily identifiable.

carpediemracing 

I think (?) there are some helmets not legal for mass start use. They're TT specific, i.e. pointy, which I think precludes them from mass start races. Think the original aero helmets from Giro, for example, or the Bell whatever pointy helmet.

I've been out of the scene for a bit so I don't know what the situation is now.

echappist

wherever the race director wishes to draw the line. As some have posted, some RD would allow TT helmet if you wear said helmet in the other stages as well. Others ban them out right. What you think and what I think are a moot point if it doesn't follow whatever capricious rule the RD drew up. And yes, I actually had this exact exchange with a RD of a stage race a few years back, and i relented in the end. YMMV.

FWIW, the difference between aero road helmet and TT helmets is about the same btwn aero road helmet and regular road helmet

Doge

Having gone through this with junior TTs and collegiate TTs (as recent as Sat). Here is my understanding (without looking it all up).
Other than collegiate, where USAC tries to spell it out, the road bike TT rules are made up by the promoter The rest is up to the local Chief referee. Even on USAC website they post conflicting rules for college and when asked I was told to just follow the rule book. Here are some areas. The scope is for USAC races - not those also under UCI.

-All helmets, legal for one USAC race are legal for other USAC races. USAC requires helmets be worn at all times and they meet ANSI standards (forgot witch).

-Wheels must have 16 metal spokes. That also varies, from 12 or so and I've sen profile added, but in general 16 metal does the trick. There was posting on the USAC site saying collegiate required UCI approved wheels. That is not in the rule book. Note tri-spokes and discs are legal wheels for all USAC races so saying 16 metal cut both of those out.

-Bars must meet USAC mass start requirements is the current understanding. Some referees were saying "no areo" meant the bars needed to be round. Any clip-on or HB extension is out. This is a real vague area with the use of tape and computers. Some computers are being used as extensions. Some bar tops are being padded to better support the IAB position. Both seem to be allowed, but I can see a referee shutting wither one down.

-Frames are not to be TT frames for some races, OK for Collegiate. I asked and was told no, and yes.

-No aero water bottles means the bottle is round. Some frames are faster with a bottle in the triangle and those are disallowed. Most don't use them. I've seen a few camel backs.

My opinion only (being Bike forum and all)
They should require a USAC mass start legal bike with 16 metal spokes - done.
I like the requirement to use the same bike for the other events, but pretty hard to admin.

Spoonrobot 

What a strange thing to post?

Here he is winning cx nats: Curley Dominates Masters Men 60-64 at the 2015 National Championships: Race Report and Full Results - Cyclocross Magazine - Cyclocross News, Races, Bikes, Photos, Videos

I remember I did a double take when I saw him come around with the disc.

TheKillerPenguin

The wording was poor, but what I mean is that I could see a dude not on the forum not being cool with his name being posted.

miyata man

I could see him not being cool with yet another 3 stooges reference he's been suffering through since birth.

Doge

I wish these posts were not public.
When I misspell a name on purpose, someone always corrects it for me. I end up being both vague and irritating in my attempt not to use names. I guess for adults, it is not a big deal, but when I was posting about the minors, I thought it better to leave names off - for the illusion of privacy at least.