I saw this on the Wired web site and thought it was too good to not post here. Imagine something like a Quest, but trimmed down to say 40 pounds, with Ymte at the helm competing in the Tour de France. Now that would be a sight to see.
Wired
Bryan Ball
July 4, 2006
The Tour de France is the absolute pinnacle of competitive cycling -- but it is not the pinnacle of cycling technology.
The governing body of the three-week odyssey, the Union Cycliste International, strictly limits what Tour de France riders can and cannot use during this celebrated event. Recreational riders can go down to their local bike shop and purchase a bike that's much better than anything the pros are allowed to ride.
There is a strict minimum bike weight of 6.8 kg for UCI-governed races. Many high-end off-the-shelf road bikes come in well below that mark and manufacturers have often been forced to add ballast to standard production bikes to bring them up to the minimum UCI weight.
The UCI claims it instituted weight limits because of concerns about durability and safety: Heavier components are less likely to break under high speed or stress.
However, manufacturers like Cervélo reject these concerns and say that a quality certificate similar to those used in bicycle helmets would be a better way to address the issue.
"Cervélo would welcome a system where bikes need to pass certain durability and strength tests instead of a simple weight test," said Cervélo's Gerard Vroomen in a Cyclingnews article. "In the 2004 Tour, there were frames with double the weight and half the strength of the Cervélo R2.5 Bayonne, yet somehow the Bayonne was not allowed to be used."
Suspension is also a big no-no, according to the UCI. Some companies such as Trek and Softride have tried to race pivotless suspension designs that rely on the flex of a carbon beam. But those designs were written out of the rule book before they could ever reach the racecourse: The UCI determined they had an aerodynamic advantage over conventional designs.
The UCI has a long history of trying to control bicycle technology. In 1934, the organization banned the use of aerodynamic recumbent bicycles after a mid-level racer broke the prestigious record for distance traveled in one hour while riding one. Many modern recumbent riders are still angry over this and are quick to point out that recumbents still hold most of the speed records that are not under UCI control.
Recumbents from companies like Bacchetta and Volae are also doing very well in Race Across America and other ultra marathon cycling events.
"Recumbents have been around since 1905," said Peter Stull of the Bicycle Man, one of the country's largest recumbent dealers. "Lance said he would have used one if it was legal. I can loan him one if he wants."
The UCI also used the hour record as a reason to ban another host of technological improvements in late 1996. Throughout the early to mid '90s British riders Graeme Obree and Chris Boardman took turns setting and raising the mark while experimenting with several different aerodynamic bike designs and riding positions.
When Boardman raised the bar to 56.375 km in 1996, the UCI had enough. The rules were changed to prohibit the extreme tuck and superman-style riding positions that Obree and Boardman had used and the carbon fiber monocoque frames they rode.
Aerodynamic advantage was also one of the reasons the UCI used to attempt a ban on hydration systems such as those from Camelbak. A Camelbak is a large plastic bladder full of liquid that's worn like a backpack. A hose runs from the pack to the rider's mouth. But according to the UCI, if a properly shaped backpack is worn underneath the rider's clothing, it could give them an aerodynamic benefit. But testing showed no advantage and the ban was dropped. Camelbaks are now occasionally used by riders during time trials.
Some critics claim that the UCI won't be happy until every rider in the tour is riding identical Penny Farthing highwheelers and wearing wool jerseys. This isn't entirely true. There is still plenty of technology allowed in the Tour.
The cycling industry has used the Tour De France as a stage to test innumerable new methods to produce and improve carbon fiber and Kevlar bicycle frames. And every rider in the peleton is wired with a heart rate monitor, the data transmitted wirelessly back to the team car in real time. Teams and timekeepers are also starting to implement GPS tracking.
Of course a bike that's lighter and more aerodynamic than Lance Armstrong's old mount is not cheap. Prices for these less-than-legal beauties range from $5,500 to over $9,000. However, the price tag comes with the ability to watch this year's Tour De France and tell your friends how much better your bike is than those archaic boat anchors on TV.
