F...the Union Cycliste Internationale (FUCI)

[Biggus Dickus]

Intersting video and article on CNN about concept bikes breaking the rules in favor of innovation.

The bike that breaks all the rules

Once in a while, it feels good to break a few rules.

Like when Robert Egger, creative director of bike-maker Specialized, wanted to make a faster road bike. He simply ignored the design rules of the most powerful international bicycle governing body on the planet.

Then, he not only ignored the Union Cycliste Internationale -- aka UCI -- Egger called his bike FUCI.

And you can probably guess what the "F" means. "FUCI ... stands for f*** the UCI," explained Chris Hu, Specialized research and development engineer, with a smile.

Very cool bike.

[Tank]

They stopped recliner style bikes competing as well if I recall correctly? The issue there was that recliners are much more streamlined (and thus lower drag) than conventional style bikes. They also allow the rider to exert higher forces on the peddles as they have a seat back, rather than just gravity, to push against.

If one wants the the best engineering solution to a problem one keeps the parameters to an absolute minimum.

So define a sports bicycle.

1) A device driven by the muscular effort of one or more persons riding on the bicycle.
2) Two rotating wheels in contact with a flat surface at all times when the bicycle is in motion.

[Bad Penny]

The big wheel takes more effort to get moving from a stop, so the bike includes a tiny motor to help the rider with that.

What? the official racing folk won't let him race with his tiny included motor! Bastards!