Single Speed Race Rule Question???

[meanjoe]

With the advent of flip-flop hubs, dingle cogs & freewheels, and cassette body's with room for multiple cogs, it seems like somebody somewhere must have tried swapping gears during a race at some point. Is this cheating? Personally i think it is but it raises a question.

Let's say you enter a 12 or 24 hour race where you are allowed ot swap bikes. One of your bikes is a 26 the other is a 29 so the gearing will never be exactly the same. Is this cheating?
Just curious, please don't jump down my throat.

Ernie

[unosprocket]

your racing SS now. try not to think so much.:lol:

[WadePatton]

I don't know the formal rules, but I'll never complain if someone feels like stopping and changing gears with a wrench.

Swapping bikes is fine by me too. Can't imagine trying to make them all the same--or enforcing such a rule.

There probably are some "overly competitive" types who'll put a lot of thought into that sort of thing. I won't. I just ride and get in the way and fall down sometimes when it's muddy.:more_cowbell:

I have a box full of gears and the motor is the issue.:yield:

[Uzzi]

I must be a cheater because I change gears multiple times during the race. Often times right before and right after a climb. Don't tell TBRA!!!

[Dook of Moots]

This not not cheating. I have inquired to Tbra and usa cycling in the past about "what makes a bike a single speed." What I found out was there is not many written rules about the Single speed class. Usa Cycling doesn't even rank your SS results.
If a bike doesn't have the ability to shift. It is legal to be raced in the Single speed class. I think this is wrong because I hate to see bikes with locked out shifters/derailleur and cassettes in SS races. I once raced a full susp bike in a SS race but it did not have shifters and it only had a gear in the back with a tensioner and one ring up front.
My belief is (for racing) a single speed should have only one cog on the back and one chainring up front. And not be able to change gears during a race. SS racing should be pure and simple. I even wish we had a hardtail/rigid SS class. Now that is pure and simple.
I know the rules for 12 and 24 hour racing is different because I believe you are allowed to change bikes. Also in CX racing you are allow to change bikes as long as you do it in the pit area. So you could have two bikes w/different gears.
So to answer your question. This is not cheating but I think it is wrong and not of the spirt of why we race SS. SS class should also be called the KISS class.

Burt

[WadePatton]

As far as really pushing it and trying to set up an easy-to-change gearing bike for SS racing purposes...

Well that would surely incur the wrath of SS racers in general and they/we are the type that might rather beat someones arse and pizz in his beer than to lodge an official protest.
:argue:
:boxing::boxing::boxing:
:crutch:

Leave the rules out of it. We'll handle this...:twitcy: