Originally Posted by
Bob Ross
Century Road Club Association, the organization that hosts all the local licensed criterium and stage races in my neck of the woods, explicitly forbids lights, pumps, or saddle bags on participants' bikes during road races. I just assumed that was standard protocol for all such licensed races.
(Admittedly I have no idea what standard protocol for
off-road races might be.)
Interesting! Looks like mostly crits and hill climbing events? If so, I can understand the rules. Short frenetic races on loops don't really call for tools -- a breakdown just requires the rider to walk back to the start line. Though when I was racing crits (not in your neck of the woods) I don't recall ever seeing such rules -- but I never would've carried a seatbag on a mile-long circuit anyway. But in real road races (30-80 miles), yeah, I always carried supplies to fix a flat. I would usually have spare wheels in a wheel wagon, but that only helps if you're in the lead group -- and, um, I sometimes wasn't.
