Using aero bars in gravel racing has been a highly-debated, hot-button matter in recent times, with skilled racers weighing a spread of considerations versus advantages throughout a number of the greatest occasions in america.
A new rule banning them within the elite classes at Unbound Gravel may have brought on one other uproar, however Cyclingnews came upon that most of the self-discipline’s key contenders within the professional ranks are transferring away from what has been considered one of many traditions and used for consolation in ultra-distance gravel using, and at the moment are in settlement with the rule for the elite fields.
The riders have cited a number of the major benefits of banning aero bars, which embrace lighter bikes, elevated security, clearer boundaries, much less confusion and rigidity, fairer racing, and even “trying cooler” or “much less foolish” as a number of the causes to say good riddance to aero bars among the many elites at Unbound.
Unbound Gravel organizers’ new rule that removes aero bars from the elite classes stipulates, “No aero bars, bar extensions, or clip-on attachments of any varieties will likely be permitted.”
The 2 most shocking riders who’re in settlement with the brand new ban on aero bars on the occasion within the elite classes are defending champions Ivar Slik and Sofía Gómez Villafañe. Each riders used aero bars after they received the boys’s and girls’s titles, respectively, in final yr’s version of Unbound Gravel 200.
“I’m proud of the ban on aero bars for the professional riders at this yr’s Unbound. Final yr, I rode Certainly with aero bars, however I do not assume the end result would change if I rode with out them. I am joyful that the foundations at the moment are clear, and I do not assume it should have an effect on the way in which the occasion will likely be raced this yr as a result of it is the identical for everybody,” Slik advised Cyclingnews.
“In fact, it provides you a major aerodynamic benefit if you happen to’re within the time trial place and at some elements of the course, it is extra comfy. Then again, it has some disadvantages like extra weight, and it is much less aerodynamic when you could have aero bars, however you aren’t utilizing them, and in final yr’s race, I used them for roughly 15% of the race, as a result of I used to be by no means in a bunch of fewer than 4 riders, and so then you do not trip a lot within the time trial place.”
As well as, final yr, Slik received the race on a sponsored Wilier Rave SLR with a one-piece Filante SLR cockpit and 3D-printed customized mounts to permit for Profile Design aero bars to be fitted to the aero handlebars.
He advised Cyclingnews that he selected to make use of aero bars final yr as a result of, in earlier years, the occasion was extra of a solo effort with bigger time gaps because of this. Nevertheless, he mentioned the favored and fast-growing off-road self-discipline now sees extra teams using collectively, particularly among the many elites.
“Final yr, and likewise this yr, the extent of the riders area has elevated, and it is extra degree, so teams keep longer collectively, and it is laborious to interrupt away. Ten days earlier than final yr’s race, there was a dialogue between riders to trip with out aero bars, however I spoke out clearly that I might trip with aero bars as a result of Wilier and I invested loads of time in growing and producing customized aero bars and for my part, you possibly can’t change guidelines on such a brief time period,” Slik mentioned.
“I do not agree with the argument that aero bars are extra harmful when using in a bunch as a result of you aren’t within the time trial place when using in a bunch, and we will all deal with our bikes. With the argument that aero bars usually are not trying cool, I partly agree. For me, it is also trying lame to trip with aero bars however using with a CamelBak additionally seems not cool, however you must in such a protracted and difficult race like Unbound.”
‘Not a key element’ says Gómez Villafañe
The dialogue reached a boiling level final yr when favourites among the many elite males’s class tried to achieve a collective settlement for these planning on using within the entrance pack to not use aero bars.
Gómez Villafañe mentioned that she now agrees with the brand new rule for elites to not use aero bars at Unbound Gravel. Nevertheless, she reiterated that the strategy to the dialog taken amongst a handful of racers within the males’s class, in what she referred to as a ‘gentleman’s settlement,’ may have been dealt with higher as a result of they did not hear the voices, considerations or opinions of the ladies who have been competing.
“I’m excited that the organizers usually are not permitting the professionals to make use of aero bars, as I do assume that our bikes regarded extraordinarily foolish final yr. The aero bars weren’t essentially a key element of my efficiency final yr, however I did take pleasure in utilizing them as I really discovered them to be fairly comfy,” Gómez Villafañe mentioned.
“I used to be extraordinarily upset final yr on the males for attempting to ban them for your entire professional area within the few days main as much as the occasion as a result of; you don’t attempt to change the foundations this near the beginning line and, most significantly, they failed to incorporate the ladies of their dialog, which is what actually ticked me off.
“The boys play such a key position in how the ladies’s race performs out, and it bothered me that they might attempt to impose a rule into our race with out together with us within the dialog.”
Gómez Villafañe mentioned that she join with organisers, Life Time, instantly a few potential ban on aero bars for the elites and to assist them collect data from the skilled area with which to decide on the brand new guidelines. She mentioned she additionally spoke with the organisers about her considerations relating to the media at gravel occasions, course markings, and prize purses.
‘Good move’ says Nauman
Amanda Nauman, a two-time winner of Unbound Gravel 200 in 2015 and 2016, advised Cyclingnews that final yr that security was a serious concern of hers when it got here to using aero bars within the 100-mile and 200-mile occasions.
She felt that, at the moment, the choice for the boys to attempt to “self-police” wasn’t going to work as a result of the foundations wanted to come back from somebody who has authority. Subsequently, she was relieved to study that organizers have banned them among the many elites, calling it a “good move.”
“Final yr, I noticed images of some girls racing of their aero bars early on within the race, in a bunch setting, which made me cringe, as a result of that’s the reason why organizers would ban this as a result of they aren’t secure using in teams. I feel they realized that the chance versus reward, particularly for the elite area, was too excessive,” Nauman mentioned, who has additionally raced the 350-mile XL occasion and this yr will race within the 100-mile occasion.
She additionally famous the organizers’ determination to begin the elite women and men riders individually and with earlier begins from the mass of newbie riders.
“There have been so many tales of individuals crashing early on within the race final yr that additionally most likely influenced the choice to unfold out the beginning occasions and ban the aero bars. Eliminating these two issues, from a security place, the hectic-ness, it is higher. They prioritized the protection angle this yr, which is sweet,” Nauman mentioned.
“Two races on the entrance have completely different requirements, now, so as soon as Unbound and Lifetime made the choice to just accept the truth that they’ve an elite race inside this occasion, then they have been OK with giving it its personal guidelines.”
Nauman additionally believes that, when it comes proper all the way down to the difficulty of benefit, aero bars weren’t the deciding issue.
“How lengthy you spend at a checkpoint may very well be an even bigger distinction than whether or not you utilize aero bars,” she mentioned. “When it comes all the way down to physics, certain, they provide a bonus, however will they decide the end result? I do not assume so, I feel they’re only one a part of the bigger puzzle of racing for 200 miles in Kansas.”
Lauren De Crescenzo, winner of Unbound Gravel 200 in 2021, mentioned she was additionally joyful that she will not be utilizing aero bars through the lengthy journey within the Flint Hills this yr.
“Aero bar clip-ons on a gravel bike are essentially the most uncomfortable strategy to trip over tough gravel terrain. Aero bars make the bike deal with in another way, climb sluggishly, and it’s tougher on the decrease again when using such lengthy distances. I’m trying ahead to using Unbound in a extra comfy place this yr.”
Likewise, Ian Boswell, winner of Unbound Gravel 200 in 2021, mentioned, “I by no means cherished using a time trial bike, so after I left the highway, I wasn’t going to trip a time trial bike, so why add bars to my gravel bike? Plus, I do not assume it is smart to do group using in time trial bars. As a lot as folks need no guidelines in gravel, guidelines assist make issues clear. Once you lack consensus, pointers assist.”
‘A collective sigh of aid’ says Stetina
Peter Stetina advised Cyclingnews that the final consensus among the many elite women and men racers was a collective sigh of aid coming into the racing season the place Unbound Gravel is likely one of the greatest occasions on the calendar.
“A choice is made for us so we will deal with the race and have clear boundaries to play inside,” Stetina mentioned.
He mentioned he understood using aero bars from a historic perspective of Unbound Gravel, which was rooted in lengthy 15-hour-plus using, whereby athletes spent nearly all of that point alone, they usually supplied each consolation and assist whereas using in opposition to the weather.
“Now you take a look at the entrance pack, and there is a group of fifty [riders] rolling late into the day, and it’s predominantly highway race ways. We, within the entrance, do not want the assistance of aero bars. I feel it is pointless, and I feel it simply makes it for a greater sporting occasion [not to have aero bars],” Stetina mentioned.
“I actually applaud that the organizers made that decision as a result of there would all the time be infighting inside the professionals. So, I am glad that there is a change.”
Stetina mentioned he believes aero bars do supply an energy-saving profit to riders due to the sheer distance of the occasions supplied at Unbound Gravel. Nevertheless, he felt that advantages have been pointless, they usually ended up inflicting tensions among the many riders within the race, and that many organizers at the moment are removing conventional guidelines and banning aero bars.
“It is not extraordinarily hilly, so the load penalty is minimal. And, yeah, it’s a profit. However I feel it is an pointless profit. And what was taking place was it was changing into an arms race on who had essentially the most technical time trial cockpit in a mass-start race. It simply doesn’t match,” he mentioned.
“I used aero bars in two of my three Unbounds. I need, as a lot as anybody, only a truthful struggle and an excellent gravel race, and Unbound is a part of that. I do not assume it’s a controversy now that the rule is there. I feel that was an enormous ‘factor’ as a result of there was infighting as a result of there was no rule. And there have been so many very robust opinions on which I have been on each side through the years.
“I feel the largest takeaway from the rule change is that it was an enormous sigh of aid amongst all of the professionals that with that is the rule, you do not have to fret about it anymore, now we have a set of requirements. I applaud Life Time for that,” Stetina added.
“It’s actually simply a number of the extra conventional Midwest races the place that custom nonetheless lives on. I might say 80% of the races I do now, aero bars usually are not allowed.”
