Roadierookie

I was watching the stage finish today and it dawned on me that the riders used to be able to take of their helmets on the last climb of the day if it was an uphill finish. When did that rule change and does anyone know why? I used to like seeing the riders toss their helmets away and climb without their lids.

OrionKhan

A few, several now, years ago. During one of the years of Lance's run. Changed for safety and I think the image to the public. Hard to advocate recreational riders wearing helmets when in the biggest race of the year they're allowed to go without.

Bacciagalupe

Also FYI, in some cases a slow-speed crash can actually be more damaging than a high-speed one. For example, if you go off the bike at 50kph and slide, you'll just get some road rash. If you're going 10mph and go off the bike, you can land hard and directly on the asphalt, and get more damage.

Not sure how helmets has an effect on that situation, but it makes sense that if you're going to mandate helmets, might as well leave 'em on for the duration.

FlashUNC

Here's why:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrei_Kivilev

colombo357

I think you need to brush up on your physics. Gravity accelerates your head toward the ground at the same speed regardless of how fast you're going. The trajectory is irrelevant.

Garthr

Pro Cycling is all about selling product. What better way to sell more product than to make helmets mandatory?

gsteinb

take it to A&S

https://www.bikeforums.net/forumdispl...acy-amp-Safety

merlinextraligh

I believe your timing is off. Kivilev's death led to the UCI mandatory helmet rule. However for a couple of years thereafter, the riders could still take their helmet off on the final climb of the day if it was longer than 5 km. That exception went away in 2005. The removal of the exception was not related to Kivilev's death.

I think removing the exception was motivated by a couple of things including, 1) safety and logistics of getting 189 helmets passed back to team cars, and 2) the appearence and the example it sets for amateurs, recreational cyclists.

Glades2

Anyone can fall and hit their head at any time, uphill or down...

RockyMtnMerlin

You are correct and I was watching Paris Nice live that day and IIRC he crashed on a flat section of road at high speed not on a climb.

DiabloScott

Yeah, I think he was taking off his windbreaker...

Windbreakers should be mandatory to wear at all times, none of this ridiculous taking them off when the wind dies down.

Anyway, the "last climb of the day" exception only lasted a couple years.

Keith99

Actually it also had to be a mountiantop finish. I think they allowed about 1-2 KM past the KOM point.

I think one other factor with the removal of the exception was ever improving helmets. Early on they met strong resistance because they were hot. Going far enough back for serious racers helmets might do more harm than good. (Sweat in your eyes in hte middle of 100 otehr guys on a narrow raod going hard is not good). At the time of the exception helmets were not quite what they are now, still significant issues and a hard last climb was less painful without a helmet. By the time the exception was done away with riders did not care as much as helmets were far better.

merlinextraligh

you're right. I meant to say that and wasn't clear.

dsh

Gravity isn't the only thing that can accelerate your head towards the ground. Think centripetal.

collegeskier

More importantly it is not the fall that hurts you, it is the sudden stop at the end.

To that point falls at faster speeds often result in skids and skidding is slow stop (acceleration/deceleration) and slower speeds you don't always skid and stop suddenly=bad.

meb

I believe it was 05, though maybe it was 06.