3 ms·

Or it would benefit those participants who are best suited to the chosen gear. Taking an extreme example - imagine if we said “everyone must wear size 9 shoes

Or it would benefit those participants who are best suited to the chosen gear. Taking an extreme example - imagine if we said “everyone must wear size 9 shoes so everybody’s on equal footing”.

axblount 2y ago
I'm not sure how your extreme example is helpful. No one has made a suggestion like that.
- rhinoman 2y ago
  The idea is that different equipment is better suited for different individuals. By mandating a specific kind of equipment for all athletes, you'd be benefiting some individuals over others. For example, road bikes have different frame shapes that are suitable depending on your torso length compared to leg length. Of course, the natural next step would be allow some flexibility (different frame size but same material), but you can see how that could be a slippery slope of legislation and lobbying that would end up in a similar situation to where we are today?
  - to11mtm 2y ago
    TBH though... You -should- be able to just mandate Hubs and cranks to get around this. Or make sponsors provide a 'slew' of wheels and cranksets for all their riders (i.e. spares as well) that can get inspected before the race, and are randomly distributed between the riders sponsored. Buuuuut UCI hasn't even figured out doping, so lol
  - northwest65 2y ago
    Should hurdles be made in a range of sizes to be fair on short competitors?
  - vintermann 2y ago
    > The idea is that different equipment is better suited for different individuals. Well yes, but different sports are also better suited for different individuals. It's just making the equipment part of the definition of the sport.
- lmm 2y ago
  Suggesting everyone should have to use a specific bike is exactly a suggestion like that - bikes have sizes and shapes that are suited to riders of particular body sizes and shapes.

3 ms·

Or it would benefit those participants who are best suited to the chosen gear. Taking an extreme example - imagine if we said “everyone must wear size 9 shoes

by rhinoman 2y ago

Or it would benefit those participants who are best suited to the chosen gear. Taking an extreme example - imagine if we said “everyone must wear size 9 shoes so everybody’s on equal footing”.

axblount 2y ago
I'm not sure how your extreme example is helpful. No one has made a suggestion like that.
- rhinoman 2y ago
  The idea is that different equipment is better suited for different individuals. By mandating a specific kind of equipment for all athletes, you'd be benefiting some individuals over others. For example, road bikes have different frame shapes that are suitable depending on your torso length compared to leg length. Of course, the natural next step would be allow some flexibility (different frame size but same material), but you can see how that could be a slippery slope of legislation and lobbying that would end up in a similar situation to where we are today?
  - to11mtm 2y ago
    TBH though... You -should- be able to just mandate Hubs and cranks to get around this. Or make sponsors provide a 'slew' of wheels and cranksets for all their riders (i.e. spares as well) that can get inspected before the race, and are randomly distributed between the riders sponsored. Buuuuut UCI hasn't even figured out doping, so lol
  - northwest65 2y ago
    Should hurdles be made in a range of sizes to be fair on short competitors?
  - vintermann 2y ago
    > The idea is that different equipment is better suited for different individuals. Well yes, but different sports are also better suited for different individuals. It's just making the equipment part of the definition of the sport.
- lmm 2y ago
  Suggesting everyone should have to use a specific bike is exactly a suggestion like that - bikes have sizes and shapes that are suited to riders of particular body sizes and shapes.