[NCNCA] How to kill junior racing in the USA

[Tony Catudal]

Hi All,

Personally, I think this may be a good decision, but
hey, I'm a trackie!

They may just need to get out to the track and work on
that leg speed, and develop the extra gears in those
legs of theirs.  

>From experience:  I was on an operating table by the
time I was 18 with 'overuse' injuries to my knees.  I
raced my junior races in the proper gears, but I rode
Friday nights, and trained, in the 'big boy gears.' 
Turns out my sixteen year old, DEVELOPING, knees were
not ready for that.  Honestly, I would give quite a
bit to go back and redo those gear choices from my
junior years... 

Solely my own opinion, but I would much rather see the
Jr's develop properly by using the healthiest gearing
possible, regardless of context.  A good number of
elite riders are overgeared to begin with...

Tony Catudal
IC3

 


--- Shawn Mehaffey <spmehaffey at yahoo.com> wrote:

> How do you kill junior racing in this country,
> especially juniors in their mid-to-late teens that
> begin to race against adults?  ANSWER: Severely
> handicap them so they cannot compete against riders
> 19 years and older in the same elite category race. 
> After a year of being blown out the back of the pack
> once the pace picks up almost all juniors will
> consider quiting the sport.
>  
> Read on and find out how USAC has once again made a
> bad decision:
>  
> ***
>  
> Direct URL: 
>
http://www.usacycling.org/news/user/story.php?id=2706
>  
> Pasted text of article:
> New junior gear restriction rule for 2007 takes
> effect immediately
> 
> Dear Junior Bike Racer,
>  
> Recently, a significant rule change with regards to
> junior gear restrictions was passed by the Board of
> Trustees and will take effect immediately for the
> 2007 racing season.  Since this rule change affects
> all junior cyclists such as yourself, I wanted to
> alert you of the change directly.  
>  
> Below is the new rule as it appears in the 2007 USA
> Cycling Rule Book.  Additional comments are noted
> below in italics.
>  
> Staff Comment: This is a significant change in
> policy. As of 2007, juniors must ride their junior
> gears in all races, including elite races. There is
> still only one gear limit on the road, but a junior
> rider competing in the category 3 elite men, for
> example, will have to ride his restricted gears. 
>  
> 1J6. Junior Gears. The maximum chaingear ratio for
> junior riders is based on age and discipline.
> Blocked gears will be allowed, except in National
> Championships. All tests for compliance (road and
> track) shall be done using the "roll-out method." 
>  
> There is no restriction for cyclo-cross. 
>  
> For road and track the limits are: 
> 
> Road 
> 17-18: 7.93 meters (26’) (52x14)      
> 15-16: “                                            
>                       
> 13-14: “                                            
>                       
> 10-12: “                                            
>                      
>  
> Track
> 17-18: Unrestricted 
> 15-16: 6.78 meters (22'3") (48x15) 
> 13-14: 6.36 meters (20'10.5") (48x16)
> 10-12: 6.00 meters (19’8”) (48x17) 
>  
> The gear limit for a rider is determined by the age
> of the rider and the discipline, and applies in all
> events in that discipline – even when other entrants
> may not have the same (or any) limit. 
>  
> Note that the gear ratios listed are merely
> suggestions – the distance rolled out is the
> governing standard.
> 
> For a comprehensive overview of junior gear
> restrictions, click here:
>
http://www.usacycling.org/forms/rules/JUNIOR_GEAR_ADJUSTMENTS.pdf
>   
> A complete guide to all of the new rules that were
> voted upon and passed is available on the USA
> Cycling website, or by clicking here:
>
http://www.usacycling.org/forms/2007%20passed%20legislation%20and%20staff%20comments%20010207.pdf.
> 
>  
> I also strongly encourage you to download an
> electronic copy of the USA Cycling Rulebook by
> clicking here:
> http://www.usacycling.org/forms/USCF_Rulebook.pdf. 
>  
> I wish you the best of luck and skill in 2007!
>  
> Yours in Cycling,
>  
> Steve Johnson
> 
> CEO
> 
> 
> This Article Published 2007-01-08 14:06:22
> 
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