Forget doping! e-Bikes in the Peloton?!?

[Danneaux]

Hi All!

It seems motors have now been developed to fit inside the seat tubes of road bikes, concealed from casual observers but usable when needed to get that little boost of energy. Rumors of such have been circulating for a good 18 months but now there's evidence to support the speculation: http://cyclingtips.com.au/2015/04/hidden-motors-for-road-bikes-exist-heres-how-they-work/

With the advent of Shimano's Di2 electronically shifted derailleurs and internal wiring for same, it would be hard for a scrutineer to know just which wires go where.

While obviously an unfair advantage unless used universally in the peloton (and regulated for parity), these might have some application on "civilian cycling" retrofits, as they provide a mid-drive (BB-mount unit) in bikes that would not take well to an external fitment.

Very thought-provoking, and a very tidy installation!

Best,

Dan. (...who thinks this might just be a "very eccentric" bottom bracket)

[jags]

this is the story i was telling Andre about on his thread.
very very clever bit of tech,  man i sure would love one fitted to my road bike.
 John do you approve ,make them hills a lot easier to get up which cant be bad.

anto.

[mickeg]

I am of the opinion that batteries should not be allowed on a racing bike for any part of the propulsion system.  If you want electronic shifting, your muscle power should provide the electricity for that through a dynohub or some other means of converting muscle power to shifting power.  If you use a capacitor or similar means to save up power for your next shift, that capacitor should start the race fully discharged.

But, I would allow computers to be used, with a battery.  Maybe we should have a rule that each racing bike can only have one CR2032 battery to serve all purposes on the bike?

[Danneaux]

For racing purposes, I agree with you fully, mickeg. I'd like to see strict "spec bike" rules where -- except for sizing and gearing choice to accommodate rider fit and ability -- all the bikes were essentially identical, regardless of maker. If they're to be all carbon, then make them the same, though I'd like to see a return to steel for the sake of tradition.

What I really want is a level playing field where the difference is due to the efforts, talent, and skills of a "clean" non-doping rider. I'd also like to see radio communication between the team cars and riders banned on the major Classic tours like the Giro and TdF. This would put more emphasis on rider and team tactics on the road. Part of the fun would come form the audience "knowing" things the riders don't, thanks to our helicopter views and announcer commentary.

Best,

Dan. (...who would not mind a Tour de Luddite if it made for good, honest racing)

[Danneaux]

http://cyclingtips.com.au/2015/03/cookson-on-motors-in-bikes-our-information-is-that-this-is-a-very-real-possibility/comment-page-1/#comments

[mickeg]

For racing purposes, I agree with you fully, mickeg. I'd like to see strict "spec bike" rules where -- except for sizing and gearing choice to accommodate rider fit and ability -- all the bikes were essentially identical, regardless of maker. If they're to be all carbon, then make them the same, though I'd like to see a return to steel for the sake of tradition.

What I really want is a level playing field where the difference is due to the efforts, talent, and skills of a "clean" non-doping rider. I'd also like to see radio communication between the team cars and riders banned on the major Classic tours like the Giro and TdF. This would put more emphasis on rider and team tactics on the road. Part of the fun would come form the audience "knowing" things the riders don't, thanks to our helicopter views and announcer commentary.

Best,

Dan. (...who would not mind a Tour de Luddite if it made for good, honest racing)

Tour de Luddite.  Thats good.

I think we are in general agreement.  But not total agreement.  If those specs were too tight 40 years ago, we still would have six speed clusters threaded onto our rear hubs and would be shifting in friction mode.

There is a trickle down effect from what is used in racing will eventually lead to better stuff that the rest of us use.  Thus, I do not mind seeing Shimano, Campy or Sram or others competing with every new idea.  So I would give them a lot of latitude to allow new ideas and innovation.  If someone invents a great new frame material, let them use it as long as it is safe and conforms with the minimum weight rules. 

The manufacturers have a reason to try to fight interchangeability, if Trek could mandate that you have to buy your tire air from Trek, I am sure that they would.  I think that Presta valves and M5 water bottle cage bolts are probably the only remaining thing that is interchangeable on most racing bikes.  Thus, I think the frames should be designed for interchangeability like they were decades ago.  Any frame could use Campy, or Shimano, or Mafac, or Simplex, or Huret, or Sram or any body elses components.  For the general cycling population to benefit from innovations made in racing, interchangeability is critical.

[Andre Jute]

 
This story just goes to show how behind the times the entire UCI sphere of influence is, including of course the bikes, and even crookery in roadracing. They're taking plain dope and haven't even heard of designer drugs. And this motor that is just now sneaking into roadracing seat tubes, back in 2009, when Gruber licensed it to Vivax, was already old, mature, failed, overpriced Swiss technology. http://www.treehugger.com/cars/gruber-assist-is-a-stealth-electric-bike-no-one-will-know-but-your-mechanic.html

I considered it when I bought my Kranich, as a method of keeping the traditional looks while getting a little help on the steepest hills, and my Kranich is already on it's third wind, with more miles on it than any two of my other bikes together. That's old. (My Kranich and I are growing old gracefully together...)

The UCI could soon stop this breach of the sporting code, simply by making a rule that anyone caught with a motor will ride the entire race on that bike, forbidden to remove or recharge the battery, with the bike put in quarantine (like Formula One's parc firm) every night to ensure compliance with the punitive rule even if the UCI is too slow to enforce the primary rule. Then let's see how many want the assistance...