4 ms·

There are too many variables in bike fit, user preference, etc., for this to be viable.

Gravityloss 2y ago
Yeah the different frame geometries make it hard. Another alternative would be if the transmission was provided by the officials and would be fitted to the bike and sealed before start but that could also spell problems. In javelin and pole vaulting the athletes bring their own equipment. Has anyone ever cheated there? Interesting possibilities...
moralestapia 2y ago
Huh? But that's a solved problem. Bikes for all those needs exist.
LeifCarrotson 2y ago
"User preference" does not need to be a part of the sport. I'm sure some athletes would prefer a more ergonomic discus or shorter hurdles in track and field, maybe the gymnasts would like a slightly different geometry or spring characteristic for the bars or vault, but they don't get that choice. I understand that people need differently sized bikes because they have different heights and slightly different ratios of leg/torso/arm lengths, but I can easily imagine having three or four standardized frames with adjustable seatposts, seat rails, and stem length, with a selection of various length stems and cranks. Just put the same wheels, the same mech, the same bars, and everything on every bike and see which rider is fastest. Call it an "Olympic bike".
- ubermonkey 2y ago
  I don't think you understand cycling. Gear preference in cycling isn't the same as wanting to change the rules of track and field or gymnastics. The Olympics are a one-off that happens infrequently, but still draws from the same set of world-class riders as the rest of the racing season (a season that happens ever year, and contains far more important events). There's zero chance what you suggest will ever take root.
  - InitialLastName 2y ago
    Not just that, but a lot of the money in cycling comes from bicycle (+bike component) manufacturers in the form of sponsorship and endorsements. Outside of a NASCAR-like pseudo-standardization, going to a standardized bike from one manufacturer for the highest-visibility events would throw that money out the window (and cause conflicts where the biggest riders are riding bikes from a different manufacturer than the one that funds the rest of their activities).
    - LeifCarrotson 2y ago
      I understand that's the way it is, and I understand the power/money systems are set up in a way that no one realistically has the ability to make the change happen, but that's not intrinsic to the sport, it's just something that's grown up organically around it.
      - freejazz 2y ago
        Tell us what is intrinsic to the sport, as you apparently seem to know.
      - ubermonkey 2y ago
        Again, it does not appear you understand cycling.
  - Scoundreller 2y ago
    > There's zero chance what you suggest will ever take root. I’ve always wanted to represent my country in the olympics, and maybe one day I will on a standard Olympics bicycle!
  - burningChrome 2y ago
    >> Gear preference in cycling isn't the same as wanting to change the rules of track and field or gymnastics. Anectdotal evidence to support this. Specialized had pretty high end helemets for cyclists, but for some reason, the Italian riders would also complain about them. They finally got some of the Tour riders together to try and figure out what they could to do solve this issue. To me, it was pretty funny. They complained that the straps that came down on both sides would lay on their face and cause tan lines. I'm not kidding, this was a major issue and Specialized changed the straps so they were embedded in a way that hung off the riders face so it wouldn't cause tan lines. You had to show people how cool it was, it was such a minor thing, but to these guys, it was a big enough problem they actually solved and then put into their high end helmets.
- TheTon 2y ago
  This idea was already tried with the hour record. Between 1972 and 2014 a standard bike was used to match what Eddy Merckx used. What happened was cyclists lost interest in the hour record because the bike became too dissimilar to the bikes they were riding professionally. After a new rules for modern bikes were introduced for the hour record, interest was renewed in the discipline. For something like the Olympics which is a one day road race or individual time trial, I think the current UCI rules for those bikes are fine. Everyone is on roughly competitive bikes. Marketing aside, I don’t think anyone really thinks the top Specialized bike is better than Canyon or Cervelo or Trek or whatever.
xadhominemx 2y ago
Not really. Cycling teams all use the same bicycle. You could adapt to 99% of desired customizations with a menu of saddles, handlebars, and tires.

Yeah the different frame geometries make it hard. Another alternative would be if the transmission was provided by the officials and would be fitted to the bike and sealed before start but that could also spell problems. In javelin and pole vaulting the athletes bring their own equipment. Has anyone ever cheated there? Interesting possibilities...

moralestapia 2y ago

Huh? But that's a solved problem. Bikes for all those needs exist.

LeifCarrotson 2y ago

"User preference" does not need to be a part of the sport. I'm sure some athletes would prefer a more ergonomic discus or shorter hurdles in track and field, maybe the gymnasts would like a slightly different geometry or spring characteristic for the bars or vault, but they don't get that choice. I understand that people need differently sized bikes because they have different heights and slightly different ratios of leg/torso/arm lengths, but I can easily imagine having three or four standardized frames with adjustable seatposts, seat rails, and stem length, with a selection of various length stems and cranks. Just put the same wheels, the same mech, the same bars, and everything on every bike and see which rider is fastest. Call it an "Olympic bike".

ubermonkey 2y ago
I don't think you understand cycling. Gear preference in cycling isn't the same as wanting to change the rules of track and field or gymnastics. The Olympics are a one-off that happens infrequently, but still draws from the same set of world-class riders as the rest of the racing season (a season that happens ever year, and contains far more important events). There's zero chance what you suggest will ever take root.
- InitialLastName 2y ago
  Not just that, but a lot of the money in cycling comes from bicycle (+bike component) manufacturers in the form of sponsorship and endorsements. Outside of a NASCAR-like pseudo-standardization, going to a standardized bike from one manufacturer for the highest-visibility events would throw that money out the window (and cause conflicts where the biggest riders are riding bikes from a different manufacturer than the one that funds the rest of their activities).
  - LeifCarrotson 2y ago
    I understand that's the way it is, and I understand the power/money systems are set up in a way that no one realistically has the ability to make the change happen, but that's not intrinsic to the sport, it's just something that's grown up organically around it.
    - freejazz 2y ago
      Tell us what is intrinsic to the sport, as you apparently seem to know.
    - ubermonkey 2y ago
      Again, it does not appear you understand cycling.
- Scoundreller 2y ago
  > There's zero chance what you suggest will ever take root. I’ve always wanted to represent my country in the olympics, and maybe one day I will on a standard Olympics bicycle!
- burningChrome 2y ago
  >> Gear preference in cycling isn't the same as wanting to change the rules of track and field or gymnastics. Anectdotal evidence to support this. Specialized had pretty high end helemets for cyclists, but for some reason, the Italian riders would also complain about them. They finally got some of the Tour riders together to try and figure out what they could to do solve this issue. To me, it was pretty funny. They complained that the straps that came down on both sides would lay on their face and cause tan lines. I'm not kidding, this was a major issue and Specialized changed the straps so they were embedded in a way that hung off the riders face so it wouldn't cause tan lines. You had to show people how cool it was, it was such a minor thing, but to these guys, it was a big enough problem they actually solved and then put into their high end helmets.
TheTon 2y ago
This idea was already tried with the hour record. Between 1972 and 2014 a standard bike was used to match what Eddy Merckx used. What happened was cyclists lost interest in the hour record because the bike became too dissimilar to the bikes they were riding professionally. After a new rules for modern bikes were introduced for the hour record, interest was renewed in the discipline. For something like the Olympics which is a one day road race or individual time trial, I think the current UCI rules for those bikes are fine. Everyone is on roughly competitive bikes. Marketing aside, I don’t think anyone really thinks the top Specialized bike is better than Canyon or Cervelo or Trek or whatever.

xadhominemx 2y ago

Not really. Cycling teams all use the same bicycle. You could adapt to 99% of desired customizations with a menu of saddles, handlebars, and tires.