>From: Sheldon Brown <CaptBike@sheldonbrown.com>
>Subject: Re: [CR]RE: 1960's Racing Moultons
>[ ]
>
>Brandon Ives wrote:
>
> >The UCI has never been known for logic on its rulings, or even
> >thinking for that matter. I was just yesterday reading an article
> >on recumbent racing in the 30s in the pro ranks. The UCI and most
> >other governing bodies for bicycle racing just seem to fear designs
> >outside of a very narrow norm.
>
>There's a fundamental philosophical question of "what is the purpose
>of racing."
>
>One answer is that is a way to improve the technology.
>
>Another answer is that it is to compare the skill and strength of athletes.
>[ ]
>Sheldon "Why?" Brown
I don't think it's as black'n'white as that. The two answers blur even with the UCI, of course. The UCI likes to boost tech if it doesn't give unfair advantage.
Back in the day the 'bent racers weren't trying to get faired bikes mixed in with other bikes. Aero stats on unfaired bents are quite similar regular race bikes and they do OK in the same fields, altho bents do stay to the sides. It's probably only the faired 'bents that can be said to have truly "different" advantages when mixed with UCI bikes.
It seems like UCI-bikes can be as extreme---and expensive---as racy bents. Well, maybe not UCI bikes but USCF bikes...
Basically a lowracer bent is as aero as a top tri bike---without the tri-bike's instability. Now, not all road racers would choose a lowracer. I think a regular or highracer bent is on par with a moderate tri-bike.
One thing that 'bents can do is give good aero results plus good comfort. Bigger riders may well benefit more from this in general. Who knows.
I suspect that a big bent rider might end up with the aero profile of a small UCI rider. Who's unfair? There are little guys who have MUCH better aero stats than I do if we're both on UCI bikes coz he's on a much smaller bike! They're hard to draft! I'm a barn door. It would be fun to get the same aero as a little guy for a change, by using a bent.
Pro riders have to put up with ENORMOUS bodily stress, injury and discomfort caused by their bikes alone! Benters have no problem with BOILS, for one thing. Give bents consideration if only for humanitarian reasons. Heck, let a racer with boils SWITCH to a bent rather than retire. They're already swapping bikes with various set-ups as it is. A bent can help take about half the masochism out of the sport. (Still leaving a lot remaining!)
Supposedly bents are also safer and can brake harder. They also don't get as bad of injuries from crashes. That's a nice thing that some racers might appreciate. (Who's the fragile US crasher? Julich?) Basically no collarbone breaks in bent crashes. --Though they do sometimes get their own breed of ankle twists, depending on bike type.
So there are tech aspects that don't give unfair advantage but do significantly improve the ride experience in some situations.
It might be like if a one-class sailboat required a seat in the, uh, cockpit (? I'm blanking) that caused boils. I mean, what's the seat got to do with it? Let people use a cushy seat then regulate the waterline, etc.
Well, if a racer (or any rider!) has butt or hand-pressure issues and still wants to put in lots of miles it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that you can still do it if you use a 'bent. The UCI doesn't regulate the training bike.
The basic effect of doping is to allow cyclists to train more without excess fatigue. A bent actually allows that. Someday cyclists will realize this.
I personally used to be hours-limited when I was into racing and stage races. I'd get too sore when I was riding enough to be "contenda" fit, so I'd have to back off (sore in hands, butt, neck, feet). A bent would've been a great answer for my training, but I didn't know about them til too late.
****
Jeff Potter
****
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