I don't see that it is the promoter's responsibility to have Jr legal gears in the pits. remember most pits are wheels in wheels out Ire the riders have to supply their own wheels. Even at the bigger races where they do have neutral support Jrs or their parents or coaches would be wise to see if the neutral support has Jr legal wheels and if the neutral support doesn't have Jr legal wheels then the riders need to supply them. This isn't much different that when a rider uses 26 inch wheels instead of the normal 700C wheels. if a rider is using 26 inch wheels then they need to plan on supplying their own wheels instead of expecting neutral support to have non standard equipment available.

While the new rule will be a pain for officials it does make more sense than saying that juniors only have to use restricted gears in junior races, that is if you come from the school of though that says we need restricted gears to protect the developing knees of juniors.

So promoters, (mainly the volunteers running wheel follow or wheel pit) will have to have a different set of wheels just for the Juniors that are racing in a Senior Race? Who is making and passing these rule changes? Deffinitly not anybody that has promoted, volunteered or officiated below a Cat. A race!!!
I can see some up and coming kid racing in the 4s getting DQ'd because he picked up a wheel in the pit that was a 11-23 while his blocked out wheel was a 12-27. So he would end up with a 52-13 instead of a 52-14. Sorry kids rule state that I MUST DQ you because you didn't pass the post race roll out.
UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've heard the first initial report from the USCF Trustees meeting.

There will be no change in the Jr gear limits but now juniors will have to use restricted gears even when they ride in elite races. I guess officials are going to have to set up a Jr roll out for every race and before the start of each race ask if there are any Jrs in the field and then roll them out before the start.

The refund of pre-entry fees didn't pass and the increase in Cat 5 field limits didn't pass.

A 52-16 is a ratio of 3.25 times 26.3 tire equals a gear of 85.48.
A 49-15 is close, but higher (85.9); a 48-15 would definitely work (84.2).
A 45-14 would definitely work too (84.54).
A 42-13 would work as well (85.0).
A 39-12 matches the 52-16 ratio of 3.25 and thus a gear of 85.48.

So what would the small chainring be?

Scott N wrote:I understand the reasoning behind junior gears, but a limit of 52x16 for 14 and under? It's hard enough to find a junior 14-25 cassette. I've never heard of a cassette that starts at 16.

I know that in developing the proposal some research was done and I believe Shimano does make a cassette that can start at 16. I think in Canada you can go to a bike shop and order a junior bike that will come with the proper gears to meet the Canadian gear limits.

JoeRacer wrote:Refund Policy will KILL some races. I can see it... Friday it looks a bit cool and rainy, so half the riders bail and get 60% back. Race goes under...

I have to agree about this one. I promoted my first race this season, and in addition to the loss of income, the amount of time it would take to make refunds would be a real strain, especially since most races are run by volunteers.

Comments to Tom Simonson -- tom@tsimonson.com

I do like the destinction between a Stage race and an Omnium.

Madera, Master 35+ 1/2/3 = Ominum

I understand the reasoning behind junior gears, but a limit of 52x16 for 14 and under? It's hard enough to find a junior 14-25 cassette. I've never heard of a cassette that starts at 16.

Note that anyone can propose rule changes that the USCF Board vote on. Just because someone proposes a rule change doesn't mean it will happen. It doesn't sounds like there is a lot of support for the pre-entry refund proposal but people who feel strongly about this proposal should contact various USCF Board members to express their feelings.

NO science that I know of behind the junior gear limits. The gear limit for the 17-18 riders is based on the UCI rules and matches the UCI limit. The lower limits for younger riders was based on only having to change the rear cog on a bike to try and make meeting the limits a bit easier.

Who cares about a stage race vs an omnium? Try a Cat 3 or 2 rider who is looking for upgrade points. A rider can get upgrade points for overall placing in a timed stage race. There are no upgrade points based on overall finish in an omnium or a stage race run on points. In some parts of the country they use to have so called stage races that spread out over 2 to 4 consecutive weekends ( with no weekday races). Also for riders the distinction between a stage race and an omnium is important. In a stage race you have to finish each previous stage in order to go onto the next stage. In an omnium riders can pick and choose which races they want to ride in.

What where they smoking?
Do we get to vote on these or is it the same BOD that created gets to vote on them?
Refund Policy will KILL some races. I can see it... Friday it looks a bit cool and rainy, so half the riders bail and get 60% back. Race goes under...

Where is the science behind the Junior gears? What happens in a Hill Climb, headwind?

Who cares what you call a Stage Race or Omnium or how it is scored!!!