Adding standard category to time-trial records
This discussion has an associated proposal but it has not been approved yet.Comments about this discussion:
Started
Comment
I think we should wait and see what the Rulebook Committee decides in this regard - if there is a standard category for the Time Trails in the Rulebook, then I think it is a matter of course that world records will also be recognized in this category. Anything else would massively contradict the connection between world records and the Rulebook, which has often been discussed here.
Comment
I take your point, but right now there isn't even an unlimited category for time trials, yet we hold world records for this. Time trial is simply a race format, not a competition category.
It would be great to at least have this discussion, because it may influence our rulebook discussions.
Comment
As the proposal is still in pre-approval stage, all my points are listed in there. I have cut and pasted:
Background
Standard class is a competitive discipline within unicycling, with the greatest participation rate at unicon, yet is not recognised in any of our time-trial records.
Proposal
Add 29" standard class to time trial records greater than 10km, 24" standard category to time-trial records 10km or less, or 30min or less.
Body
There are two basic classes in unicycling- Standard and Unlimited.
The standard class allows performance to be compared across time/eras and competitions, whereas the unlimited category tracks progression of technology.
If you look at the evolution of the Unicycle hour record- there are incremental leaps as larger wheels became available, then the geared hub, followed by lighter 36" rims/tubes/tyres. In future we might have multiple gears, aerodynamic fairings, recumbent unicycles etc.
It is impossible to compare the athletic performance of someone who sets the record today, with a record from 25yrs ago, which defeats the purpose of record keeping.
In bicycling, they standardised their definition of a bicycle. While there are some technological improvements allowed within the rules, someone who sets the record today can compare their performance to Eddy Merckx in 1972:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hour_record
Currently, all our time-trial records are in the unlimited category. This makes it inequitable for riders who compete and specialise in the standard category. I propose that we have a standard 29" category for all future time-trial records greater than 10km (or time equivalant), and a standard 24" category for 10km or less.
Comment
> I take your point, but right now there isn't even an unlimited category for time trials, yet we hold world records for this. Time trial is simply a race format, not a competition category.
The Rulebook Committee has the clear task of changing this so that there is consistency between competition disciplines and world records, and the rules for time trials are already being discussed in the Rulebook Committee.
Comment
> If you look at the evolution of the Unicycle hour record- there are incremental leaps as larger wheels became available, then the geared hub, followed by lighter 36" rims/tubes/tyres. In future we might have multiple gears, aerodynamic fairings, recumbent unicycles etc.
In the rulebook, it may be interesting to define what is and isn't a unicycle. Today, unicycling doesn't seem to have reached the same stage of evolution as cycling did in 1972. Today, I'd put limitations on the use of electric assistance for both balance and pedaling. Without electric assistance for balance, I don't see how you can balance recumbent on a single wheel, and if one day someone is able to do it, I'd be very curious to see.
Comment
The Rulebook already has a definition of what a unicycle is - electric assistance is excluded by that definition. Apart from that, our restrictions are rather rudimentary, essentially referring only to the size of the wheels for Standard class unicycles. So there will certainly be further development and I think the Rulebook Committee may also have to add further restrictions so that fair competition remains possible. However, I definitely see these restrictions and the selection of permissible unicycles as the task of the Rulebook Committee.
Comment
I used an example from bicycling, but who knows what some clever person could invent. Jan- I think Simon was talking about assisted balance, not pedal assistance. Is balance assist excluded in the rulebook, and is it any different to electronic devices like power meters on a unicycle? What about electronic shifting if we get that with unicycles?
Comment
These are the two definitions from section 1D.1:
Unicycle: A Unicycle is a vehicle that has a single rolling contact with the riding surface. It may have multiple wheels, but it must not be possible to ride the unicycle when more than one wheel touches the ground. It is driven by pedals and cranks which rotate to power the wheel. It is powered, balanced and controlled by the rider only, with no additional support devices. Unless noted otherwise, a unicycle may be tted with handlebars and/or brake(s).
Unicycle, Regular: A regular unicycle is a unicycle with only one wheel. The cranks are xed directly and permanently to the wheel's axle. (This excludes unicycles with gearing even if in 1:1 ratio, a chain drive and/or a freewheel.) Unless noted otherwise, there are no wheel size and/or crank arm length limitations.
So yes, assistance for powering, balancing and controlling is excluded.
As I said, the definition is very rudimentary and the Rulebook Committee will certainly have to exclude or specify further things in the future in order to guarantee fair competitions.