[NCNCA] SCNCA: How to kill junior racing in the USA

Mon Jan 8 21:24:43 PST 2007

A little history can not hurt.

Junior gear limits come from the old UCI and French settings that were set for juniors which road fixed gear bikes on the road in races back in the sixties. It was important for both the knee health and to keep racing fair as a larger child could push a larger gear all the time. Because of riding a fixed gear bike as a race machine in all Junior races in Europe the knee injuries were taken seriously and gear limits were set.

As Roger has stated, to limit a junior's gears on a multi geared road bike does not mean that they are safe from physical injury caused by excessive stress placed on joints that are developing. I have seen juniors sprinting up hill in their big ring at 50 to 60 rev's. This could not be good for the joints yet he passed junior roll out.

Enough said, I am not against junior gear restrictions but I feel that the education needs to go with it. Juniors need more coaching plus much more mentoring that can help the joints much more.

Frederick P. 

-----Original Message-----
From: cblackride at aol.com
To: SCNCA at topica.com; ncnca at ncnca.org
Sent: Mon, 8 Jan 2007 8:03 PM
Subject: Re: [NCNCA] SCNCA: How to kill junior racing in the USA

 I don't know if it will kill junior racing. I think that the McKinley's were 
wacking the pros when they were juniors. I also think that they had restricted 
gears.

 That being said, what a pain for the officials. Junior roll out after every 
race. Having to keep track of all juniors in every race to make sure they report 
for rollout. What about the poor neutral support guy who provides a wheel, then 
the rider is DQed for not passing rollout?

 I can tell you from experience, it is no fun telling some kid that he has been 
disqualified because his gear is too big.
    Chris Black
 Morgan Stanley Racing Team
 San Luis Obispo, CA   
 -----Original Message-----
 From: spmehaffey at yahoo.com
 To: ncnca at ncnca.org
 Cc: SCNCA at topica.com
 Sent: Mon, 8 Jan 2007 3:44 PM
 Subject: SCNCA: How to kill junior racing in the USA

   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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