2004 JUNIOR GEAR RESTRICTIONS for Juniors 10-18 Racing in Junior Races

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2004 JUNIOR GEAR RESTRICTIONS for Juniors 10-18 Racing in Junior Races













2004 JUNIOR GEAR RESTRICTIONS
for Juniors 10-18 Racing in Junior Races
The following is reprinted from an article by John Tarbert, Technical Director in the 2001
December/January issue of USA Cycling:
Please note that junior gears have been reinstated in junior road events. This will require a
rollout measurement of 26 feet in those junior events. There will be only one restriction for all
categories. Blocked gears will be allowed, except in National Championships. Juniors riding
in elite races will not be required to meet the rollout or gear restriction. The following is the
reasoning for this rule change.
It is generally accepted that ones capacity to adapt to stress increases with biological age
up to young adulthood. It is also well known that complex motor skills, such as the circular
motion of pedaling, are learned by repetition. As a result, the international cycling community
has always placed restrictions on the gear development of junior cyclists which result in
higher overall cadences and lower overall stress per pedal stroke.
These restrictions are an internationally accepted standard designed to provide young
cyclists with the optimal environment for development. Without similar restrictions, our
juniors may be missing long-term development opportunities, and would certainly struggle to
be competitive in international and European junior pelotons due to their unfamiliarity with
the higher cadences results from the gear restrictions in these events.
Directors Comments: This discrepancy in spinning skill was noted during 1999 and 2000 Tours de lAbitibi in Val dOr, Quebec
and our junior teams were at a distinct disadvantage. I believe that the majority of the coaching staff, in particular