Why the UCI weight limit is outdated, needs changing, and handicaps certain riders ⚙️
There's an unfair disadvantage on riders who are smaller and lighter but there is a solution
The UCI weight limit on bikes has become synonymous with cycling since its introduction in 2000.
The limit was set at 15lbs/6.8kg and was primarily implemented so as to improve safety and reduce the incidence of weak carbon fibre frames being created that would not be structurally sound. This was the era before aerodynamics dominated marketing jargon, and riders were not going to wind tunnels to test their road positions. Weight was the primary metric that could be controlled, and individuals with low weight were associated with higher performance.
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Additionally, carbon fibre frames and their production methods were still in their relative infancy, so quality, strength, and structural integrity were not at the levels that engineering can achieve today for the same material weights. However, there are several key reasons why this weight limit needs to be updated.
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First and foremost, and the area that requires the least explanation, is that bike manufacturers can easily produce new bikes that are perfectly safe to ride and weigh well under the 6.8kg limit.
Read more: Has this Tour de France signalled the death of the super-lightweight climbing bike? ⚙️
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