Hey guys... hoping to get some opinions on how some rules and how you might proceed.
Last year, I entered my first Time Trial event. I wasn't sure which category I should enter, the Cat 4/5 TT class or the Eddy Category. I don't have a TT bike, so the "Eddy" category seemed the likely option, but then I read the "Eddy" rules and didn't think that seemed right. The rules state:
"The "Eddy" category works on the honor system. Don't use things that Eddy Merckx would not have used for a time trial effort. For example aero wheels and helmets do not fit well in this category. On the other hand drilling holes in your components would be welcome. Wool clothing gets you extra respect!"
I have a Venge which is an aero road bike and I run 60mm aero wheels. They're certainly not time trial material, but they're not what Eddy would have used either. I figured I'd have to enter the normal cat 4/5 TT and try my luck even though I'd obviously be bringing a knife to a gun fight. The day of the race and as I'm warming up, I see the "Eddy" class preparing at the start area and half of them are on similar bikes to mine.. There was an assortment of both carbon and aluminum bikes, some running aluminum wheels, but most running carbon as deep as 303's and 404's. Almost all of the competitors were using "aero" road helmets like the Giro Air Attack, but not true TT helmets.
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I put in a decent effort that day, averaging 275w for 19 minutes, finishing 13th out of 20 competitors in the Cat4/5 TT class, beating a handful of guys on legit TT bikes. My time would have put me 4th in the "Eddy" class.
On further review, I found that this time trial was part of a larger statewide Time Trial series and that statewide time trial cup had a series of rules for the non-tt category. They are as follows:
In the Non TT Bike Category, riders in this class will compete without Aero Bars or extensions. Disc wheels, spoke covers, and other forms of solid construction “Aero Wheels” such as Trispoke and Spinergy are not permitted. Bicycles shall conform to USAC rules for Mass Start Bicycles. Skinsuits are allowed and any USAC legal helmet may be worn.
those rules seem pretty reasonable and basically amount to competitors being allowed to use any components that the pro peloton might use on a normal road stage. My Venge and aero wheels and evade helmet would certainly be legal. It seems as if most of the competitors in the class followed these rules even though the "eddy" rules don't match. All of the other events in the statewide cup follow these rules for the non-TT class.
My question is...
For this year, it looks like the rules are set up the same. I contacted the race organizer about clarifying the rules for the "eddy" category but haven't gotten any response. Would you guys assume that the overall rules of the series take precedence? After getting my feet wet last year, in all types of different racing events, I want to focus on doing more TT's as well as road races.
Last year, I entered my first Time Trial event. I wasn't sure which category I should enter, the Cat 4/5 TT class or the Eddy Category. I don't have a TT bike, so the "Eddy" category seemed the likely option, but then I read the "Eddy" rules and didn't think that seemed right. The rules state:
"The "Eddy" category works on the honor system. Don't use things that Eddy Merckx would not have used for a time trial effort. For example aero wheels and helmets do not fit well in this category. On the other hand drilling holes in your components would be welcome. Wool clothing gets you extra respect!"
I have a Venge which is an aero road bike and I run 60mm aero wheels. They're certainly not time trial material, but they're not what Eddy would have used either. I figured I'd have to enter the normal cat 4/5 TT and try my luck even though I'd obviously be bringing a knife to a gun fight. The day of the race and as I'm warming up, I see the "Eddy" class preparing at the start area and half of them are on similar bikes to mine.. There was an assortment of both carbon and aluminum bikes, some running aluminum wheels, but most running carbon as deep as 303's and 404's. Almost all of the competitors were using "aero" road helmets like the Giro Air Attack, but not true TT helmets.
I put in a decent effort that day, averaging 275w for 19 minutes, finishing 13th out of 20 competitors in the Cat4/5 TT class, beating a handful of guys on legit TT bikes. My time would have put me 4th in the "Eddy" class.
On further review, I found that this time trial was part of a larger statewide Time Trial series and that statewide time trial cup had a series of rules for the non-tt category. They are as follows:
In the Non TT Bike Category, riders in this class will compete without Aero Bars or extensions. Disc wheels, spoke covers, and other forms of solid construction “Aero Wheels” such as Trispoke and Spinergy are not permitted. Bicycles shall conform to USAC rules for Mass Start Bicycles. Skinsuits are allowed and any USAC legal helmet may be worn.
those rules seem pretty reasonable and basically amount to competitors being allowed to use any components that the pro peloton might use on a normal road stage. My Venge and aero wheels and evade helmet would certainly be legal. It seems as if most of the competitors in the class followed these rules even though the "eddy" rules don't match. All of the other events in the statewide cup follow these rules for the non-TT class.
My question is...
For this year, it looks like the rules are set up the same. I contacted the race organizer about clarifying the rules for the "eddy" category but haven't gotten any response. Would you guys assume that the overall rules of the series take precedence? After getting my feet wet last year, in all types of different racing events, I want to focus on doing more TT's as well as road races.
