3T Brezza now UCI-legal

1.3.024 (pic from UCI)

CFD technology shaped TULA bar

TULA bar from USE

The world of TT handlebar manufacture is in a spin following an intervention by the Union Cycliste Internationale at the AMGEN Tour of California, where the sport’s governing body gave notice that it would at some point in the near future begin enforcing a regulation governing the thickness of aerodynamically-shaped components.

The manufacturer most directly involved is the new incarnation of the fabled 3T concern, which supplies a selection of ancillary components including handlebars to the Cervelo Test Team and Garmin Slipstream pro squad, for its was 3T’s Brezza aerobar that attracted the attention of the sports governing body.

In a move reminiscent of previous UCI clampdowns on equipment developments such as Mavic’s Mektronic brake levers and Cinelli’s Spinaci bar extensions, the UCI apparently wanted initially to ban with immediate effect the use of any component, and in particular aerobars designed for use in time trials, that did not comply with equipment regulation 1.3.024. This would have caused havoc in the pro ranks, since many current aerobar designs do not comply with its requirement that any ‘fuselage form’ ‘shall be tolerated as long as the ratio between the length L and the diameter D does not exceed3.’

In many cases, the start bar section is made much thinner than this in order to minimise air drag. This situation appears to have arisen as a result either of confusion as to whether handlebars fall within the ambit of the regulation, which some manufacturers have doubted, or the lack of interest shown by the UCI until recently in enforcing the regulation.

Laid out in the Lugano Charter of 1996 and in force since 2000, the regulation is one of several designed to limit the development of cycle aerodynamics and rider positioning in order to reassert the ‘primacy’ of the cyclist in cycle competition. The charter was written in response to the ever-increasing sophistication of the track and TT machines of the era as well as innovative riding positions such as the ‘Superman’ invented by Graeme Obree, which culminated in Chris Boardman’s Absolute Hour record of 56.375km.

Before beginning work on the Ventus, the company’s first aerobar, 3T carried out an analysis of similar products on the market, found that few complied with 1.3.024 and developed the Ventus. This, according to a letter sent by 3T technical director Richard McAinsh to the UCI, was discussed with the governing body without eliciting an objection and, on this basis and bearing in mind that the Ventus was raced by Team CSC on the 2008 UCI Pro Tour and by several rider at the Beijing Olympics, 3T began development of further aerobar designs including the Brezza. All 3T designs from now will be regulation-compliant.

Perhaps it is for this reason that the UCI, instead of implementing 1.3.024 with immediate effect, now appears to suggest it will be put into effect from 2010 in order to give manufacturers and pro teams time to prepare.

One manufacturer, however, took the trouble to make a bar 1.3.024 compliant from scratch. The TULA bar from Sussex-based USE
not only features a 3:1 aspect ratio on every aero-shaped part, but is thought to be most the aerodynamic in production. Shaped using Computational Fluid Dynamics modelling, the TULA is used by several leading UK time triallists including multiple national champion Michael Hutchinson and has been specified by leading cycle manufacturers including Cannondale and Storck.

USE’s Roger Sparrow says he was fully aware of 1.3.024. “Right from the beginning we wanted our aerobar to be the most aerodynamic while fitting all the regulations. Not only is every part three to one, but all the brake and shift lever pivot points are exactly where they should be.”

Details of the UCI aero regulations can be found here around page 65.