Using aero bars in gravel racing has surfaced as the most recent debate within the common and fast-growing off-road self-discipline forward of Unbound Gravel. Favourites upfront of the lads’s race tried to achieve a collective settlement for these planning on using within the entrance pack to not use aero bars.
The problem had not been raised or mentioned to the identical diploma among the many ladies gravel racers. Nonetheless, Amanda Nauman and Sofia Gomez Villafane agreed that security is the principle precedence. Additionally they concluded {that a} ‘gentleman’s settlement’ on the problem is just not sufficient and that promoters should step up and create clear guidelines on utilizing aero bars (or not) in gravel racing.
“I do not know why it isn’t a difficulty on the ladies’s facet or if we simply don’t desire any extra controversy on any kind of battle,” Nauman, two-time winner of Unbound Gravel 200, informed Cyclingnews. “There’s been some eye-rolling, however not a collective dialog prefer it has been for the lads.”
Nauman says she didn’t use aero bars within the Unbound 200 occasion however did use them within the 350-mile XL solo pursuit final 12 months.
“I used them for the XL however did not for the 200 as a result of there’s extra pack using, and I am in that boat of security. For the longer distances, although, I felt it might be advantageous as a result of I used to be principally on my own,” Nauman mentioned.
“I feel that appears to be the argument for most individuals, is the security facet, however it’s attention-grabbing the way it’s not but a dialog on the ladies’s facet.
“Hopefully, they are not utilized in a pack setting, and that appears to be the priority, that individuals who use them ought to solely use them when they’re alone, however I’ve seen footage of ladies in aero bars whereas in a gaggle – that is not OK.”
Peter Stetina, Ian Boswell, and Kiel Reijnen mentioned not utilizing aero bars and tried to achieve a consensus on the problem forward of Unbound. Nauman mentioned that whereas she understands their concern, it is a determination that the organisers of gravel races should deal with.
“It is on the promoters,” Nauman mentioned. “No self-policing goes to work, and I’ve realized that from doing gravel for thus a few years. Unbound is prestigious, and there’s a lot on the road, and if there is a efficiency benefit, somebody will take it.
“It should come from somebody who has authority in that particular occasion. One cause occasion promoters have shied away from that dialog is that the opposite 90% of the folks, who’re common riders, find yourself by themselves and like using within the aero bars and do not need to take that away from them.”
Sofia Gomez Villafane was the primary feminine finisher at Unbound Gravel 200 in June, protecting the gap in 10 hours and 24 minutes. She and the quickest male finisher, Ivar Slik, used aero bars throughout the occasion.
Gomez Villafane mentioned that she did not imagine that utilizing aero bars was a difficulty among the many ladies racing within the area. She mentioned that she agrees that security is the first concern when utilizing aero bars. Nonetheless, she believes that she used aero bars safely throughout her race, significantly after utilizing them extensively throughout coaching.
“Within the first hour or hour and a half once I was rolling with the elite males, there’s such an enormous group that I did not use the TT bars. The draft that you just get is already an enormous benefit. When you get dropped off, you are using in teams of 4 or much less, otherwise you’re by your self, and in these small teams, it is simpler to make use of the TT bars, and it is so much safer as a result of there aren’t that many individuals round you. Once you’re in an enormous group with 10 to twenty folks in entrance of you, you don’t have any concept what’s coming,” Gomez Villafane mentioned.
“I did a full six weeks of coaching with my TT bars to follow, and I had quite a lot of follow and talent work. I found out what pace I used to be comfy going, and my response time from being in my TT bars to getting each arms up and might I get onto my hoods safely. I did my homework to ensure the way in which that I used to be using was secure.
“For the blokes, after they have 10 or 15 in a gaggle and some are in TT bars, that is slightly bit more durable.”
Gomez Villafane mentioned she would rethink utilizing aero bars throughout gravel races if organisers added clear guidelines at their occasions.
“It will possibly’t be a gentleman’s settlement or an settlement between simply the professional males, and it needs to be a rule. In case you [the organisers] don’t desire us working TT bars, make it a rule,” Gomez Villafane mentioned.
Gomez Villafane mentioned that the brand new Gravel World Sequence organised by the UCI has a transparent set of laws.
“The place I battle with gravel racing is that they need to make it so open and a lot on the spirit, however perhaps we’d like some guidelines to make it a good race. In a method, the UCI has are available in, and with their collection, they really have a superb rule guide, and rider’s security is first within the guidelines,” she mentioned.
Gomez Villafane believes that utilizing aero bars is a comparatively low precedence relating to the laws wanted to enhance the equity and security of gravel racing exterior the brand new collection.
“As a substitute of speaking about aero bars, I might fairly speak about getting our personal ladies’s begin, or drafting guidelines, or our personal race. In Unbound, it’d take 12 hours, however it might be a unique race,” Gomez Villafane mentioned.
“Sooner or later, there must be a change whereby the professional race[s] have particular guidelines, and beginner racing has completely different guidelines. Many organisers do not need to put out laws, however guidelines create equality and equity to the race.
“The sphere is so deep, and the expertise is so excessive that even minute variations have an enormous impact on the races. So, if we do not need one thing to occur the way in which it’s, we have to put it within the guidelines and observe them. I feel there ought to be some primary gravel guidelines in any respect occasions which are clear on equity that make sense, whereas different laws maybe promoters can determine.
“My essential remark is that, for ladies, having aero clip-on bars is such a minute downside in comparison with the truth that we do not actually get to race one another. I feel there are method larger points on the record.”
With no clear guidelines on utilizing aero bars at races and with some execs and plenty of beginner and leisure riders utilizing them throughout races like Unbound Gravel, Nauman mentioned it is essential to be secure and good when using in a gaggle or throughout the technical sections.
“Be good. In technical areas or teams the place you need to decelerate shortly, you’ll want to be on the hoods as a rule. You want to have the ability to decelerate shortly,” Nauman mentioned.
“With so many individuals doing these occasions, in case your response time is slower since you’re able the place you’ll be able to’t get to your brakes quick sufficient, you possibly can compromise many individuals behind you.
“Being secure and good and having fast entry to your brakes might be a very powerful factor. Simply principally utilizing aero bars when you find yourself solo might be the most secure.”
