UCI Bans elbows on bars

[quixoticgeek]

The UCI is going to ban riding with elbows on the handlebars (except in TT's), from this season onwards.

https://www.en24news.com/e/2021/02/the-uci-will-also-ban-running-with-the-elbows-on-the-handlebars.html


My thought is: Thank fuck for that.

It's all well and good for the pros to do it, but I see amateur roadies doing it when it's really inappropriate to do so. I remember seeing a line of cyclists in Austria, about a dozen of them line astern, holding each others wheels, with the guy at the back sitting with his elbows on the bars. Slightest brake squeeze near the front of the line and the idiot at the back would have taken half of the group out.

Yeah the pros have the skill and judgement to do it safely. But they also need to set a good example for everyone else. They are also banning riding with your crotch on the top tube.

Flame away

J

[The Family Cyclist]

Can an exception be made for the crotch rule for kids who's parents insist on buying a bike they'll grow into so much so they can just about sit on the cross bar 

[hubner]

Riding with forearms on the bars should be banned in TTs/pursuits as well.

[quixoticgeek]

Riding with forearms on the bars should be banned in TTs/pursuits as well.

Don't all aerobars require it?

J

[hubner]

The UCI should apply its own rules consistently:

The rider should normally assume a sitting position on the bike and the only points of support should be the feet on the pedals, the hands on the handlebars and the rear on the saddle.

[grams]

The UCI should apply its own rules consistently:

The rider should normally assume a sitting position on the bike and the only points of support should be the feet on the pedals, the hands on the handlebars and the rear on the saddle.

There's enough wiggle room in "normally" to allow pretty much anything.

[Peter]

Typical - sneak legislation through when all the bars are shut anyway!

[giropaul]

All they’ve really done is clarified the rules. There are Commissaires who regularly dq riders for riding “ puppy paws” at amateur level. The rules are that the rider must be in full control of the bike at all times. The pros have pushed it a bit, but the UCI has given the certainty to the commissaires.
That said, I’m hoping that a similar review is made of parcourse regulations. There have been some examples of very poor parcourse safety this year already.

[Cudzoziemiec]

The only people I've seen use the elbows on bars position in real life are audaxers. They're possibly contravening some road traffic law anyway by not being able to reach the brakes, but I guess that would have to be argued in court. On the occasions I've seen it, I wouldn't say it was dangerous; on quiet roads and not following other riders. In fact, I thought this was standard Dutch transport rider position into a headwind?

As an aside, that article is really badly translated!

[Mr Larrington]

That scuppers TV's Nice C Boardman's get-rich-quick plan he devised during the Tour last year.  Contoured computer mounts with finger grips.

[Socks]

Huh, they'll be banning recumbents next.  Oh, wait a minute .....

[morbihan]

Hmmm I'm guilty of this during races. I had no idea it wasn't kosher.
My job, generally in the team is to break away and tire out the opposing sprinters.
Once off the front on the straights and tucked in behind the police motorbike I generally put the elbows on the bars and start mashing until a chase is organised and the gap is closed.

[Geriatricdolan]

I do it all the time, but I think it's right to ban it in UCI races.
Mainly, because it's pointless to ban aero extensions of all sorts, but then allow riders to simulate the same position in a less safe way. If you allow that position, then you should allow extensions.
It's a matter of consistency and of course safety

[mzjo]

My first reaction is that the UCI banning it won't stop it happening in situations where it would be dangerous, just not in UCI races while the commissaires are watching!

As an aside didn't riders do it before brake cables were put under the tape by hanging onto the exposed cables (before Spinacci, which probably made the position a whole lot safer).

[Wobbly John]

Our local club's facebook page has this image:



With the caption: "The UCI have announced more banned positions" 

[Kim]

No 6 is known as "the Brummie unicycle"

[Lightning Phil]

Number 3 I used to do as a kid. Once raced a mate, him running. I ran him over.

[quixoticgeek]

No 6 is known as "the Brummie unicycle"

I had visions of Sagan doing a wheelie like that while his team mechanic leans out of the team car trying to swap the front wheel. It made me giggle.

J

[T42]

I suppose there'll be fewer beer-soaked elbows.

IGMC

[Cudzoziemiec]

No 6 is known as "the Brummie unicycle"

I had visions of Sagan doing a wheelie like that while his team mechanic leans out of the team car trying to swap the front wheel. It made me giggle.

J

That made me giggle too!

No. 2 is a recumbentist trying to get to grips with a UCI approved bicycle.

[Mr Larrington]

No 6 is known as "the Brummie unicycle"

I had visions of Sagan doing a wheelie like that while his team mechanic leans out of the team car trying to swap the front wheel. It made me giggle.

J

Most of them are, in fact, Crazy P finding new ways to annoy the Blazers.

[fd3]

Offs.  Has this caused crashes in races?  Do other things cause more crashes in races? Will we stop riders from eating on their bikes, or riding with a musette?  Will UCI rules make any difference to how pobs ride?
Sounds like UCI making rules because they can.

[Geriatricdolan]

Offs.  Has this caused crashes in races?  Do other things cause more crashes in races? Will we stop riders from eating on their bikes, or riding with a musette?  Will UCI rules make any difference to how pobs ride?
Sounds like UCI making rules because they can.

There is a rule that prevents the use of aero bars of all sorts... hence to be consistent, you need to have a rule that prevents riders adopting the same position in the absence of aero bars.
It's just a matter of consistency... if you allow that position, then you should also allow aero bars, that achieve the same goal in a safer manner.

[Davef]

Highway Code rule 66: “keep both hands on the handlebars except when signalling or changing gear”

Gesticulating to motorists and taking your rain jacket on or off is fine. Holding on to imaginary aero bars isn’t.

[Zed43]

I'll ask my yoga teacher what's the Sanskrit for pose #7

Does anyone know why UCI bans the use of aero bars? (I was mighty glad they were allowed for PBP 2019)