[NCNCA] How to kill junior racing in the USA

Mon Jan 8 20:40:41 PST 2007

I have done 35 + 1/2/3 crits on a single speed with a 42 x 13 without any problem.
52 x 14 should be more than adequate provided they are working on leg speed as part of their training.

Ron

----- Original Message ----
From: Steve Wick <sgwick at hotmail.com>
To: teamnolan at hotmail.com; tcatudal at yahoo.com; spmehaffey at yahoo.com; ncnca at ncnca.org; ncva at googlegroups.com
Sent: Monday, January 8, 2007 6:14:37 PM
Subject: Re: [NCNCA] How to kill junior racing in the USA

Couple of observations...

Several of my older juniors raced the EB 1/2/3 crit yesterday using junior 
gears and had no problems keeping up.  In fact, they played on the front for 
most of the race.  They did comment that "it sucked" when the pace really 
picked up, but not to vehemently.  As the pace picked up in the final laps, 
they were able to move up and position themselves for the eventual sprint 
that never happened.

The junior gear rule change, while it may appear that we have the kids 
health in mind, in fact, in my opinion, is meant to make us more competitive 
in Europe.  Over there they have more restrictive rules regarding gearing 
for juniors, and I have it first hand from one of my juniors that spent last 
August racing on the Continent that our kids can't spin with the Euros.  The 
argument that states we should require the kids to race junior gears only in 
junior races doesn't hold water.  With few exceptions, the junior races do 
not approximate the speed and/or field size that our top kids will 
experience racing in Europe.  The kids need the distance and speed and field 
size of the Pro/1/2 races to really prepare them to compete in international 
junior races.

It may take sometime for our kids to adjust, it may seem unfair, but in the 
long run it will only benefit them in competition and health.  The only time 
they will really be at a disadvantage are those races that have sustained 
gradual descents where speeds will be around 35-40 mph for long periods of 
time.  Or when they get the rare chance to race with a large field of top 
domestic pros.

Steve Wick
Davis Bike Club Junior Race Team Coordinator

>From: Larry Nolan <teamnolan at hotmail.com>
>To: Tony Catudal <tcatudal at yahoo.com>, Shawn Mehaffey 
><spmehaffey at yahoo.com>,        <ncnca at ncnca.org>, <ncva at googlegroups.com>
>Subject: Re: [NCNCA] How to kill junior racing in the USA
>Date: Mon, 8 Jan 2007 16:41:23 -0800
>
>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> > 
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