Citing concerns that the \u201cextreme inward inclination\u201d of brake levers could limit \u201cbraking capacity\u201d and \u201cconstitutes a modification of the product beyond its intended use\u201d, the UCI has now moved to regulate this trend.<\/p>
Announced as part of a series of updates stemming from its annual stakeholders seminar, the UCI also indicated new regulations governing this would come into force from 2025.<\/p>
These will require riders to comply with installation guidelines specified by component manufacturers.<\/p>
Is this the end of marginal front-end aero gains, then? Or will enterprising riders and component manufacturers be able to find leeway within the new rules to exploit the potential performance gains available? Let\u2019s find out.<\/p>
What is the UCI banning?<\/h2>The UCI is set to ban excessive brake lever tilt, such as the setup used by Pello Bilbao during the prologue at the 2023 Tour Down Under. – Tim de Waele\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>Specifically, the UCI is looking to restrict and eventually regulate the installation angle of brake levers on road bikes.<\/p>
The majority of road bike handlebars<\/a> are designed for the brake levers to be installed in line with the drops.<\/p>For a standard drop handlebar, this typically results in the brake levers pointing directly forward.<\/p>
With the so-called \u2018puppy-paws\u2019 position being banned in 2021, many riders looking to adopt a narrower, potentially more aerodynamic riding position<\/a> opted to tilt their brake levers inwards.<\/p>![\"UCI](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2023\/12\/UCI_Allowed_Not-allowed_riding-positions.jpg\")
The UCI now regulates what positions riders can adopt on the bike, with the ‘puppy-paws’ position (top right) being outlawed since 2021. – UCI<\/figcaption><\/figure>In the absence of any regulations surrounding brake lever positioning, some riders have since taken this to extreme lengths.<\/p>
The prologue at the 2023 Tour Down Under<\/a> saw many riders adopting particularly extreme positions, for example.<\/p>Looking to address this, the UCI is set to restrict the \u201cextreme inward inclination\u201d of brake levers on drop handlebars in 2024, and to introduce further regulation in 2025.<\/p>
These additional regulations will require riders to adhere to the installation guidelines provided by the manufacturers of brake levers and handlebars.<\/p>![\"Tilted](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2023\/12\/Taco-van-der-Hoorns-Cube-Litening-C-68X-TE20220630SvBX100DSF6654-450b65c-scaled.jpg\")
The UCI argues manufacturers haven’t designed their components to be used in this manner. – Simon von Bromley \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>According to a report by Escape Collective<\/a>, the UCI is also developing another bespoke tool to enable speedy bike checks by commissaires (the officials who ensure the UCI\u2019s rules and regulations are enforced) at races.<\/p>As those familiar with the sport may know, the UCI has a penchant for introducing unique jigs and devices to check the compliance of bikes and equipment.<\/p>
In 2019, for example, it introduced a gadget for checking compliance with recently introduced sock height regulations<\/a>, while commissaires can also regularly be seen scanning bikes for motors.<\/p>
Specifically, the UCI is looking to restrict and eventually regulate the installation angle of brake levers on road bikes.<\/p>
The majority of road bike handlebars<\/a> are designed for the brake levers to be installed in line with the drops.<\/p> For a standard drop handlebar, this typically results in the brake levers pointing directly forward.<\/p> With the so-called \u2018puppy-paws\u2019 position being banned in 2021, many riders looking to adopt a narrower, potentially more aerodynamic riding position<\/a> opted to tilt their brake levers inwards.<\/p> In the absence of any regulations surrounding brake lever positioning, some riders have since taken this to extreme lengths.<\/p> The prologue at the 2023 Tour Down Under<\/a> saw many riders adopting particularly extreme positions, for example.<\/p> Looking to address this, the UCI is set to restrict the \u201cextreme inward inclination\u201d of brake levers on drop handlebars in 2024, and to introduce further regulation in 2025.<\/p> These additional regulations will require riders to adhere to the installation guidelines provided by the manufacturers of brake levers and handlebars.<\/p> According to a report by Escape Collective<\/a>, the UCI is also developing another bespoke tool to enable speedy bike checks by commissaires (the officials who ensure the UCI\u2019s rules and regulations are enforced) at races.<\/p> As those familiar with the sport may know, the UCI has a penchant for introducing unique jigs and devices to check the compliance of bikes and equipment.<\/p> In 2019, for example, it introduced a gadget for checking compliance with recently introduced sock height regulations<\/a>, while commissaires can also regularly be seen scanning bikes for motors.<\/p>