August 22, 2005

Too Light!

A new problem has emerged in the professional cycling world: bicycles are too light! Indeed, absurd as it may seem, it’s a real problem. The UCI has set the minimal authorized weight for bikes at 6.8 kg. Manufacturers are going to a lot of trouble, as they have been producing complete ultralight carbon fiber bikes below that limit.

The SAUNIER DUVAL-PRODIR team has to face this problem, as does SCOTT, which supplies the team’s bicycles. SCOTT has been developing new highly sophisticated technologies in carbon fiber for three years, which has placed the company in a leading position in the ultralight bicycle manufacturing sector. The company’s CR1 frame weighs 880 grams. SCOTT bicycles and CR1 frames have been tested at the laboratory to assess their strength and rigidity, key factors in road bikes. SCOTT products have yielded excellent results in the tests and have received the highest rating, but they are too light!

There’s further absurdity in this regulation, as it’s applied equally to all riders regardless of the differences between, for instance, a six foot tall, 200 lb rider and a five foot, six inch, 120 lb rider like Leonardo Piepoli. Therefore, mechanics have to weigh down bikes. So, the general public can buy the same frame as professionals do, but the latter have to weigh them down!

In order to comply with the UCI regulations, the mechanics working for the SAUNIER DUVAL-PRODIR team have to modify elements of the racing bikes, such as adding lead plates on water bottle cages. And a guy like Piepoli must leave his carbon handlebar out, as it’s too light! So, a few grams have to be added here and a few grams there!

In sum, it's a big problem for mechanics and manufacturers to solve, and an unexpected disappointment for pro riders who want to benefit from technological innovations just as the public can.



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