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by rhinoman 703 days 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?

3 comments

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

> 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.

Should hurdles be made in a range of sizes to be fair on short competitors?