Proposal 48: Separate Gearing in XC [ Revision 4 ]
Committee: Muni (including Cyclocross)Submitted on 2017-01-02
Status: Failed on January 13, 2017
Background
Geared and ungeared Unicyles are very different, both in technology and in price. Not everyone can afford a geared unicycle. Geared unicycles are faster in flat terrain. Discussions about the unfair advantage are the result.
Proposal
5A.2 Old: Rider Summary
This section is intended as an overview of the rules, but does not substitute for the actual rules.
• You must wear shoes, knee pads, gloves, and helmet.
• Water and food stations are at the discretion of the host.
• Muni racing events have no wheel size, crank length, or gearing requirements.
• Be aware of the rules regarding passing, dismounts, illegal riding, and protests.
5A.2 New: Rider Summary
This section is intended as an overview of the rules, but does not substitute for the actual rules.
• You must wear shoes, knee pads, gloves, and helmet.
• Water and food stations are at the discretion of the host.
• Requirements about the unicylcle are depending on disciplines and categories.
• Be aware of the rules regarding passing, dismounts, illegal riding, and protests.
5B.2 Old: Unicycles
There are no restrictions on wheel size, crank arm length, brakes, or gearing.
5B.2 New: Unicycles
There are no restrictions on wheel size, crank arm length and brakes. Further restrictions are depending on disciplines and categories:
Uphill: No restriction at all.
Downhill:
Normal: No gear allowed.
Elite: No restrictions at all.
Cross Country:
Normal: No gear allowed.
Elite: Separating categories depends on the course. If the course does not overtly favour geared vs. ungeared wheels, separate categories should not be made. If the course is favouring geared unicycles, the recommended categories are:
- Ungeared: Ungeared unicycles. No restrictions on wheel size, cranks and pedals.
- Unlimited: No restrictions on wheel size, cranks, pedals and gearing.
Body
A geared uni gives an advantage in flat terrain and not everyone can afford one. Unicons can be held in places where the muni is not ideal, maybe XC is a lot of dirt road. There, a geared unicycle would be an unfair advantage. So, there should be separate awards for geared/ungeared in Elite XC. This shouldn't negatively impact anyone if the terrain is good, and it will prevent unfair advantages if the terrain is bad.
Experience since now showed two types of XC courses:
Type A) Courses with very technical Sections
Type B) Courses favouring geared Unicycles
Type A is not rideable all the way for most of the riders. Therefore the recommendations for a 100-%-ridable course will make sense. To find a 100-%-ridable course that even is not favouring Schlumpf will not be possible for some hosts. For such cases the rulebook should provide separate categories for geared and ungeared.
References
Discussion
View DiscussionChange Log:
- Revision 4 changed by Gabriele Lang-Kröll (07 Jan 12:07)
Proposal of John. "If the course does not overtly favour geared vs. ungeared wheels, separate categories should not be made." instead of "If the course is not favouring any type of unicycle, no separate categories should be made."
- Revision 3 changed by Gabriele Lang-Kröll (07 Jan 11:50)
Proposal of John: "Normal" instead of "Beginners"
- Revision 2 changed by Gabriele Lang-Kröll (05 Jan 03:52)
Adaption of the proposal to the discussion.
So we treat first the categories and then the race configuration.
- Revision 1 changed by Gabriele Lang-Kröll (02 Jan 05:58)
Votes on this proposal:
15 out of 21 voting members have voted.
Agree: 5, Disagree: 9, Abstain: 1.