4th cat - kit requirements?

Dess1e

TakeTurns wrote:

njd37 wrote:

TakeTurns wrote:

njd37 wrote:

One further question. Is it ok to wear bib tights etc? Seeing as the race is in just over a week and I suspect its going to be rather cold still.

Please tell me you're kidding...those were banned by the UCI long before EPO.

No I'm not kidding that's why I'm asking. I don't know what is/isn't allowed I've never raced before.

Winter clothing is allowed mate. Dress sensibly for the conditions.

In other words njd37 was kidding

iPete

Dess1e wrote:

TakeTurns wrote:

njd37 wrote:

TakeTurns wrote:

njd37 wrote:

One further question. Is it ok to wear bib tights etc? Seeing as the race is in just over a week and I suspect its going to be rather cold still.

Please tell me you're kidding...those were banned by the UCI long before EPO.

No I'm not kidding that's why I'm asking. I don't know what is/isn't allowed I've never raced before.

Winter clothing is allowed mate. Dress sensibly for the conditions.

In other words njd37 was kidding

So I can take EPO? few!


njd37 do keep us posted on your first race experience! have just started building a geared bike to try out some crits on.

ga02clr

I find this tread and the comments on the guy in baggies interesting. The assumption seems to be because he’s not in tight lycra or on deep sections and the like, he won’t be competitive and his appearance is amusing?
This is a negative element to road riding in general, the whole you must look ‘right’.
Personally I would have thought the more amusing thing would be seeing people on deep sections, £5k+ bikes, skinsuits etc getting a beating from the guys racing on old aluminium bikes or baggier clothing or as I know has happed on cross bikes.
I don’t give a damn what people are wearing when they are racing near me, or what bike they are on, I just want them to be safe and I will be paying attention to how their engine is going and trying to work out how switched on their racing brain is.

Over the winter racing in the E12’s most people are on winter wheels and in many cases on training bikes, like I have been on until the weather improves. Interestingly when you watch the 3’s or 4’s there seems to be a greater need to worry about appearance and the full carbon everything and deep sections seem to be out in far greater numbers… Are they just insecure?!?

In essence as long as you’re not in team kit that’s not your team or club, your fine. If you fancy wearing baggy shorts and jersey then do it. If people give you funny looks don’t worry. Plenty of people will be laughing on the inside at everyone you beat wearing their skin suits and riding deep carbon everythings!

displacedaussie

Get over it dude. There were a couple of light-hearted comments that were not meant to be taken seriously. The more people that are racing, no matter what they wear (or ride), the better.

theprawn

ga02clr wrote:

Over the winter racing in the E12’s most people are on winter wheels and in many cases on training bikes, like I have been on until the weather improves. Interestingly when you watch the 3’s or 4’s there seems to be a greater need to worry about appearance and the full carbon everything and deep sections seem to be out in far greater numbers… Are they just insecure?!?

I can answer that from my perspective, I have two road bikes a shonky old commuter that weighs about 10 stone and a Cervelo S1 with 40mm Cosmics. Only ever done one crit race and I picked the Cervelo as it's nicer to ride. I haven't got any training wheels for it.

My outfit looked more like the fella in the pics though as I don't have team kit and a trisuit (the reason I bought the Cervelo a couple of years back in the first place) was going to be a bit chilly.

mitchgixer6

Don't know why you wouldn't use your best bike for racing no matter what time of year it is. Yes you may well be fast on a heavy training bike, but surely you'd be even faster on a light race bike? Carbon doesn't melt in the wet you know!

racingcondor

Until November last my best bike was the only one I hadn't taken points on in 4 years... It's not about the bike and as the guy in baggies proves it's not about the kit (and good on him for getting stuck in, making people work to chase him down and not blowing up as a result).

To the OP - It's a 4 race so no one is going to stop you wearing what you like. You should be in either club kit or plain kit but other than that dress for the weather (you do need to be able to pin a number on to your top layer though so a gilet is better than a waterproof in bad conditions). What the commissaire will be looking out for though is no mudguards (risk of dangerous bits of pointy metal in a crash) and no saddle bags (risk of them falling off).

carthorse73

When I did a few races in the '80's I refused to shave my legs, that was frowned on far more than clothing issues, mind you lighting a fag straight after finishing used to upset the odd person as well for some reason?

amaferanga

ga02clr wrote:

Personally I would have thought the more amusing thing would be seeing people on deep sections, £5k+ bikes, skinsuits etc getting a beating from the guys racing on old aluminium bikes or baggier clothing or as I know has happed on cross bikes.

Isn't that guy wearing Rapha? So his kit probably cost much, much more than most anyway.

slam that stem

It's good to celebrate plucky-baggy-shorts guy but notice how there is more than a casual link between his clothing and the fact he doesn't know the rules (or play by them anyway). Before any circuit race where you have several pelotons divided by gender or category the Commissaire always briefs the riders that group jumping is frowned on and believe me, it's self policed really well - people get pointed out and yelled at, which frankly is good.

So I appreciate why some of you leap to his defence, but he was riding like a complete newbie and that raises a smirk from those of us who've seen this formula play over many times. Eventually, if they stick with it they get it.

I don't shave my legs either due to laziness and a means to psych out anyone who cares to look at them.

theprawn

Is it legal or not? Frowned upon doesn't really mean anything. Surely win at any cost, did you learn NOTHING from Lance.