A new 2024 UCI rule that bans brake hood levers that are excessively turned-in is expected to be enforced at the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships later this month in Aalborg, Denmark.

Over the last few years riders (pro and amateur) have embraced rotating their brake/shifter levers on road bikes inward to improve aerodynamics by creating a narrower frontal area. But now the UCI has deemed the rotated lever positions “constitutes a modification of the product beyond its intended use” and have banned it for safety reasons.

“There’s a lot of extra stress when they’re not put in the correct position designed by the manufacturer,” said Professional Cyclists Association (CPA) President Hansen who supports the ban. “Manufacturers design the levers in a sense where they’re meant to sit straight on the handlebars. It was never the manufacturers’ idea that they’d be put at an incline.”

Officially the new UCI rule states: “The centre plane of the Brake Hood Body must align with the centre plane of the Traditional Handlebars (Drop area). In order to ensure that the braking system may be operated both safely and as designed (or intended), by pulling on the levers with the hands on the lever supports, a maximum inclination of 10 degrees is permitted between the two planes.”

To accurately measure and enforce the rules, the UCI has created a special jig that can detect brake lever hoods that exceed the 10% angle specification. Technical commissaires may use the jig to check bikes before and/or after a race. If a brake lever angle violation is detected prior to a race, the athlete should have an opportunity to adjust the levers to bring them in compliance. On the otherhand, if levers are found out of specification post-race the rider may be disqualified.

More details (with diagrams) available in the latest UCI Technical Regulation Guide

Photo Credit: stock

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