[NCNCA] How to kill junior racing in the USA

[Larry Nolan]

I agree with Tony (and not just because he's my buddy)... a 52x14 is a huge gear!  Math wise, at 100 RPM's you are doing 30mph, which is not too far off from what Lance use to time trial at ;-)  
Along these lines, not too long ago Cat 4's (there were no Cat 5's) were restricted to their small chain ring at the Early Birds.  Coincidentally I spent a good amount of time racing behind Jackson Stewart and Daniel Holloway yesterday at the EB's and they were easily turing 100rpm's (and looking totally fresh).  When the pace picked up at the end the two of them did not run out of gears.  I'm thinking gear restrictions are a good thing!  Larry



> Date: Mon, 8 Jan 2007 16:15:59 -0800> From: tcatudal at yahoo.com> To: spmehaffey at yahoo.com; ncnca at ncnca.org; ncva at googlegroups.com> Subject: Re: [NCNCA] How to kill junior racing in the USA> > 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> > > > __________________________________________________> > Do You Yahoo!?> > Tired of spam? 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