The UCI--Uneducated Cycling Inbreeds

Again I'm left shaking my head at the Union Cycliste International (UCI), According to Velo news, Alberto Contador will not be able to race his newly developed Specialized TT bike, Shiva due to a UCI rule where the head tube extends 8 cm beyond acceptable measurements. It appears there may have been some miscommunication between the UCI rep and Specialized reps over the method of calculation.

My continued disgust with the UCI arises from its backwards mentality of retarding progress for the sake of 'tradition.' Clowns. I did read earlier on a reaction to the ruling part of the goal of the UCI is to limit the gap between well-financed/sponsored teams and the less affluent teams where technology may not be so abundant.

To some extent I see their point and in a lot of ways it does make sense, its almost admirable. However this is racing, this sport where the only limit to technology should be and always be racer safety. If the UCI wants to maintain some level of tradition to close the gap between well financed teams and highly capable 'farm' teams, FINE. Keep the rules. Maybe it'll keep the playing field level. But the UCI should let the Time Trial format free, allow whatever design or material free to explore and push the boundaries of human propulsion. (I'll admit it--I do not like recumbents). Who knows where racing could be if the UCI didn't interfere with its growth?

The 13 pound bike weight limit, the mandate of a double triangle road bike configuration, the ban of Levi Leipheimer's simulated 'lotus' position, Graeme Obree, Cinelli bar ends, Cannondale's rollerwheel concept, race radios (That it still don't get-every sport requires communication between the players and its coaches. Those fucking idiots. I'm getting angrier just thinking about the UCI lack of vision and poor decisions regarding cycling: Uneducated Cycling Inbreeds).

The emotional stuff. I get so angry at the UCI over its numerous decisions that affect my sport. Part of me really wants to take a chair and smack them upside the head screaming "Why don't you get it?!!" This is racing. Racing is pushing limits. Racing is being the fastest hence the term racing. Cycling as sport isn't a dog and pony show or beauty pageant, its a race: Fastest one wins. Fastest one wins. Pretty simply rule: fastest one wins. The UCI should spend more time promoting racer safety than measuring bicycle geometry.

Their efforts to curtail doping, commendable (Although the punitive ruling against Floyd Landis seems wrong. So that means if you defend yourself or question the UCI's methodology of drug testing they'll slap you with a $100K fine for challenging the lab's procedures? That's like saying if your accused of murder and you question forensics labs procedures the court will fine you a $100k for questioning the lab. Really?) The ruling to make the TT helmet an actual crash worth piece of safety equipment rather than an aerodynamic fairing, commendable. Allowing mechanical support at MTB races-STUPID, defeats the 'spirit' of mountainbiking-you brought yourself into the woods, you can bring yourself out of the woods. I see it as the MTB equivalent of the UCI road tradition. No mechanical help in MTB races, none.

That Shiva is a beautiful machine. It looks like a 3D laser meant to pierce into the wind like a supersonic carbon fiber arrow. It looks so fast, like one pedal stroke would take out Marty McFly's '84 Delorian and give Leah Thompson quick slap on the ass at the same time....uh see the movie "Back to The Future" for clarification.