does anyone know or have a link to the official USA junior road racing rules? i've heard somthing about specific gear combos and stuff like that? I'm planning to race this spring, so I better know this stuff.

Thanks

http://www.usacycling.org/rulebooks/2004_uscf_rulebook.pdf

1J6. Junior Gears. For Junior Men & Women, the
authorized maximum chaingear ratio allowed in any road
event (except cyclo-cross) is 7.93 meters (rollout
26'). [45x12 or 52x14 chain ring teeth]. Blocked gears
will be allowed, except in National Championships. For
track events the following limits shall be used:
(10-14 years old – 21'3", 15-16 yrs – 21'9", 17+ yrs.
- Unrestricted.) All tests for compliance (road and
track) shall be done using the "roll-out method."

Below is some guidance, but remember as the rule above
says, use the "roll-out method" as tire choice and pressure
can sometimes affect the result. Mark out 26' along a straight
line. Put your bike in its biggest gear, big ring, small cog.
With your crank arm pointing down at the start of the
26' begin rolling your bike backwards. The freewheel will cause
the crankarms to turn. Stop the bike when the crank has completed
one revolution and is pointing straight down again. You should be
inside the 26 foot area.

The least expensive and easiest way to meet the gear
restrictions is to acquire a 45 tooth big ring and run
it with the stock 12x?? cassette that comes on most
bikes. Once set up it requires no further adjustment.
As speed and ability increase and the junior finds
themselves racing with adults they may find that they
want to put a 53T chainring upfront for senior events.
This can be a pain to do for Tuesday night training
rides and then switching back for a Junior race on the
weekend. This option allows you to take any wheel from
a nuetral wheel pit with a 12x?? cassette and use it
in a race.

The second alternative is to change the stock big ring
from a 53T to a 52T and then make appropriate
adjustments/changes to the cassette in the back.

With a 52T bigring Blocking is the least expensive
solution for the cassette in the back which means
screwing in the limit adjustment screw so that the
bike will not shift into the 12T and 13T cog. This
requires adjusting the screw in the rear when
switching between Junior events and Senior events
which requires some limited mechanical skills and
remembering to get it done before rolling to the line
for a Junior event. Some derailers may have trouble
screwing the limit screw in far enough to blockout two
cogs. For Campy you can completely remove the limit
screw, discard (into your toolbox) the spring and then
reinstall the limit screw without the spring and just
a dab of blue loctite. Frequent changes may mar the
limit screw head that is not designed for daily
adjustment. Grabbing any wheel from a wheel pit will
typically work but you may find that the limit screw
will allow you to shift into the 13T cog on another
wheelset which could DQ the racer. This method also
eliminates two gears taking a nine speed machine to
seven speed.

The other alternative is to acquire a junior cassette
which starts with a 14T first position cog and use it
with a 52T big ring. The cost for this option can add
up. You also need to acquire a 52T bigring and a
junior cassette which is 14x??. Campy's junior
cassette is midrange so it is reasonably priced
at least when compared to Record and Chorus.
Shimano may be expensive for a while until they
complete their transition from nine speed to ten speed
throughout their line. If you have multiple wheelsets
you can leave one set up for junior racing and a
second set up for senior racing. Makes for a quick
change if you are doing multiple events at the same
race. With one wheelset you are changing cogs from
event to event. Neutral wheelpits may have a limited
number of junior cassettes installed. If you are
supplying your own wheels for the wheelpit you need a
second junior cassette installed.

If a smaller bike with 650c wheels there are other
alternatives and I think(?) you can get by with a 53T
bigring and a 13x?? cassette. Ask your geometry
teacher for help with the calculation.

Regions vary, about two thirds of our area races do a
rollout of juniors after races. One local race official
will sometimes even require juniors to ride restricted
gears even when competing in a senior event.

This is to keeping up with junior...

I think I know what a gear ratio is
I know what a cassette is,
a chain ring,
a sprockett
etc, etc,

- what are blocked gears? and why are they not allowed in the nat champs?

- what are blocked gears?

Your rear derailer has Hi and Lo limit screws that is used to limit (block) how far the derailer will travel. The Lo limit screw is used to help keep the rear derailer from going into the spokes when you shift to your largest cog. The Hi limit screw adjust how far out (to the right) the derailer will travel. By screwing the Hi limit screw in you can make it so your derailer will not shift to your smallest cog, in effect "BLOCKING" out your smallest cog(s). If using a 52 tooth big chainring you shift into your 14 tooth cog and screw in the Hi limit screw until it makes contact. Then you will have blocked your lower gears.

http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/FAQrindx.shtml

...and why are they not allowed in the nat champs?

A couple of guesses. Not sure of the real reason because that relies on the logic(?) of USCF and UCI. Remember that these are the two groups that have failed to add a few inches to the rollout distance so juniors can at least use the stock 53 tooth chainring that comes on most bikes.

1) By time you are racing at a national level you should have acquired the appropriate equipment.

2) To keep juniors from cheating at a race that matters more than your office park crit. You finish the race using your 12 tooth cog and while cooling down and returning to the finish area for the Officials rollout you reach in your pocket and get your screwdriver to block your gears AFTER the race. There are sneakier ways to cheat at rollout but most juniors don't figure out how until they are old enough to no longer have gear restrictions.

Thank you!

Now I understand,

...of course!


AM.

Here's another question?

Are juniors permitted to race the normal senior cats? And if so, do they have to follow the gear ratio rules?

BTW, what is the purpose of those gear ratio rules?

Here's another question?

Are juniors permitted to race the normal senior cats? And if so, do they have to follow the gear ratio rules?

BTW, what is the purpose of those gear ratio rules?


Abstinance :D

I am just kidding...

(sorry)

Here's another question?

Are juniors permitted to race the normal senior cats? And if so, do they have to follow the gear ratio rules?

BTW, what is the purpose of those gear ratio rules?

Yeah, Juniors can race in senior catagories, but only in your category (5,4,3,2,1); you move up through the catagories (begining in the 5s) by earning points by placing in races.

This was my last year in the junior ranks, and while I only came out as a mediocre cat 3 I think I learned a lot. You'll learn that there are a few gear ratios that will satisfy the gearing regulations mainly:
52X14
and
45X12

Refering to the teeth on the big chainring up front and the smallest (hardest) cog in back. It is legal to race in the senior catagories with normal gearing. However, running junior gears will help you learn to spin proficently. Unless there is a killer descent you will be fine. Myself, I liked the 45X12 beacuse you could stay in the big chainring unless it was a really, really steep hill. You'll find what you like, I'd train with jr gears on to get used to them, especially in the sprints where you will most likely have a high cadence that you're used to. Good luck, have fun, and don't take training to seriously yet- there's a lot of time for that.

Justin