Athletic gear

Senior Shriya Sawant is a competitive gymnast and often struggles to feel completely comfortable given the fitted nature of her uniforms and the sexualization of the sportswear she has seen on the internet.

“There are definitely some sports where uniforms go too far and clearly the intention is to sexualize the athletes,” Sawant said.

She has seen this create body image issues in many athletes, even from a young age. Sawant said this created an environment where jokes and self-deprecating comments are rife among his teammates.

“I try not to think too much about how my body looks in leotards or sportswear, but I still find myself stressing about it every now and then,” Sawant said.

Recently, the negative effects of such differences between uniforms for men’s and women’s sports and athlete movements to contradict these issues have gained media attention.

German Olympic gymnast Elisabeth Seitz made waves by choosing to wear a full bodysuit over a leotard during competition and defend for others to do so during the Olympics last summer.

Sawant said she sees this move as a beneficial change that will help many athletes feel more comfortable participating in their sport.

“Women should have more choice with uniforms because a lot of women don’t feel comfortable showing their skin while others are okay with it,” Sawant said. “I also like that women are allowed to wear black shorts if they want to during competition, although I don’t think a lot of coaches know that, and some don’t even allow it.”

Although sportswear for men and women often differ within the same sport, Sawant said that these differences don’t bother her as much as the general sexualization of the sportswear a woman might choose to wear.

Cici Bailey, senior, practices aerial arts where a large part of uniform design relates to functionality when working with harnesses and other forms of aerial suspension.

“Suits have to be designed for functionality first, because if they don’t work, you won’t perform well,” Bailey said.

Bailey is someone who has used her social media platform to advocate for recognition of the issues she has seen regarding this idea of ​​gender roles in sportswear. Earlier this year, a new stories of a young cheerleader who was murdered garnered national attention.

According to media reports, a 13-year-old Florida cheerleader was murdered and possibly raped by a classmate while wearing her cheerleader uniform. Her alleged murderer is now awaiting trial for first degree murder and will be tried as an adult.

“The murderer’s and rapist’s classmates stood up for her and said she deserved it because of what she was wearing,” Bailey said. “There is certainly a huge stigma surrounding what women wear and that it would actually make a difference.”

Bailey played lacrosse and remembers many differences beyond uniforms. Much less protective gear is worn in women’s lacrosse as the rules specify much less aggressive interactions between teams with no checking or hitting allowed.

Often there are few opportunities for women to play in male-dominated sports, and when they do, there’s a lot of stigma around it, Bailey said. Although this can also be seen in relation to men’s interest in generally female dominated sports.

“It should also go both ways,” Bailey said. “If the girl wants to wear the pants and the long sleeves or if the guy wants to wear the skirt and the tank top, they should be able to do that. I don’t see a reason for that.

Ryan Patterson, a sophomore, said he felt the same in the two years he spent as a cheerleader in his youth. While people were mostly supportive, he recalled a time when he received negative messages on social media regarding a post he made about his involvement in the sport.

“I never let that kind of behavior put me off, ”Patterson said.

While he feels comfortable in his uniform consisting of longer pants and a long-sleeved shirt, Patterson said he and his fellow cheerleaders believed the girls’ uniforms should have been more comfortable and less revealing.

Patterson finds no advantage in the differences between male and female uniforms in the sport.

“I think the revealing outfits had several misogynistic reasons behind them,” Patterson said. “These uniforms were designed only to be attractive to people, and when mostly girls aged 12 to 16 wear them, I find the nature of the uniforms downright gross.”

As someone who has had body image issues in the past, Patterson said the design of the uniforms, if he should have worn them as well, would have caused this problem more.

“I think a complete overhaul of the more modest uniforms is essential for the comfort and well-being of cheerleaders,” Patterson said.

ALBUQUERQUE, NM (KRQE) – Fans of Lobo from near and far, you have a chance to catch some loot. Everything from new sneakers to clothes, even some sports equipment. This year’s University of New Mexico sports equipment and equipment auction is fully online.

Jeff Bentley, owner of the Bentley auction shares, “The auction will start Monday night at 6 pm, it will be an online auction. This will be a timed auction starting at lot number one and running in numerical order. It should probably take about four or five hours for everything to sell out.

Things like jerseys, shorts, hundreds of pairs of shoes and crampons are all up for grabs. Some of the extra equipment could be of great help to local young athletes who sometimes cannot afford expensive equipment. “If you want a new pair of shoes for $ 40.00 or $ 50.00, they normally cost between $ 150 and $ 200 – that’s a great way to do it,” says Bentley.

Organizers believe all of the items will sell, but if they don’t, they can be found at Bentley’s Auction in Albuquerque. The university had its first in-person surplus sale in May. School officials say there was a lot of local fan participation.

Ryan Berryman is UNM’s associate athletic director for business operations. He explains, “We wanted to make sure that we had the option for our fans who live out of state or maybe out of the country to have the option of purchasing their Lobo gear.” They say they are selling the excess material to clean up the storage. “You know, we would much rather have this gear in the local fan closets than collecting dust on our shelves. “

The funds from the auction will also help the sports department earn some money in the process. “Obviously we don’t know how much we’re going to earn, but we’ll be reinvesting in our student-athletes, our equipment room, so obviously our equipment room has needs every year,” says Berryman.

You can view the UNM Sports Equipment and Equipment Online Auction here.

James Corden was seen wearing athletic clothes shortly after teaming up with Weight Watchers for a health boost.

James, best known here as the co-creator of Gavin & Stacey in the UK and the US as the host of The Late Late Show, walked barefoot to retrieve items from his car.

The 42-year-old star was pictured in Los Angeles, amid rumors he intends to return to Britain after feeling homesick.

James wore Under Armor jogging pants and a sweatshirt after announcing for the New Year that he had signed up to Weight Watchers, the exercise and healthy eating gurus.

He shared, “I want to change the way I live.

“I want to be better for my kids and for my family. I don’t want to wake up tired or embarrassed when I chase my son around the football field and gasping for breath after three minutes.”

James added that “the weight is not the problem” but that he would focus on “well-being” after taking the lessons of 2020 to heart.

“I’m going to take this year and work to get healthy,” he continued.

“If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that taking care of yourself should be a priority. I called WW because I absolutely believe they have the tools in place to help me make this change.”

Her new diet, myWW +, includes a healthy diet, regular physical activity, a positive state of mind and good quality sleep.

And Weight Watchers is thrilled to have it, the UK branch managing director exclaiming, “We welcome James Corden who has joined the WW family today!

“This announcement is especially special for the UK as it is where his career began and where he remains a much loved and familiar star …

“We thank James for sharing his story in such an honest and sincere way and for embracing the power of our community to galvanize the nation to prioritize its health and make 2021 a more positive year. .

James joined WW and began his wellness journey at a critical time for the health and well-being of the nation.

“Recent research from WW indicates that 4 in 10 Britons feel less happy and healthy than a year ago and, like James, 83% are looking for help on their wellness journey.”

Meanwhile, rumor has it that James and his wife Julia Carey are planning to return to the UK.

James made it across the pond after their move in 2015.

The couple share son Max, nine, and daughters Carey, six, and Charlotte, three.

Patrick O’Connell JD / LLM ’20 and Neil Datar ’20 knew they had a winner when they first met at Start-Up Ventures Clinic with new client Protect3d.

Protect3d had previously won grants and generated considerable buzz in the sports world for its product – custom, 3D printed protective pads for athletes based on a 3D scan – and the three Duke engineering students who took it. founded were ready to start raising funds, adding staff, manufacturing and sales. So when they brought their legal needs to the clinic last August and clicked with O’Connell and Datar, it kicked off an exciting year of learning and skill building that the two recent graduates call the best experience ever. their Duke Law career.

“The founders are about our age, and we picked them at such a cool time, when they went from idea to building on the business side, in the real world,” said O’Connell, who has obtained an LLM in Law and Entrepreneurship with his JD.

“I remember our first meeting with our clients where they were so excited to show us their pitch deck and really sell the idea. I was sold immediately and saw the promise. I could see it growing and wanted it to happen. “

The Start-Up Ventures Clinic, led by Clinical Professor Bryan McGann LLM ’14, Director of the Clinic, and Thomas Williams, Senior Lecturer, his supervising lawyer, provides legal advice and assistance to entrepreneurs and phased businesses. of the communities of Duke and Greater Durham. who could not otherwise afford the private sector legal fees.

During their first semester at the Start-Up Ventures Clinic, O’Connell and Datar drafted client contracts and employee agreements, navigated securities regulations to help organize an initial fundraiser, learned how registering a medical device with the Food and Drug Administration, and Continued. It was so gratifying that the two returned to the clinic for a second semester to continue working with Protect3d.

“No matter who we represent, we’ll do our best and give diligent representation, but that just gives you extra motivation to represent a client who has great ideas and a hard-working team,” Datar said. “You just really want to see them succeed.”

Protect3d was founded by Duke graduates Kevin Gehsmann ME ’19, Clark Bulleit BME’19 and Tim Skapek ME ’20, all engineers and former Duke football players. The company creates protective pads for college and elite-level athletes, including their friend and former teammate Daniel Jones T’18, who was the sixth overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft and is now the New York Giants quarterback.

Because the pads are custom-shaped for an athlete’s anatomy through 3D scanning of their body, they provide a better fit, more protection, and greater flexibility than those produced in series. Jones credited the custom brace designed by his teammates with helping him return to the field just three weeks after suffering a broken collarbone.

Jones’ testimony helped the young company gain clients in football programs including Duke and North Carolina State University. It has since won grant competitions, most notably the NFL’s First and Future Innovations contest, which included a $ 50,000 prize and two Super Bowl tickets, and has been published in the Wall Street Journal and Sports Illustrated.

Although Protect3d initially targets college and professional football players with injuries such as joint dislocations and separations, bone fractures, bruises and tears, the process of producing personalized protective devices based on 3D scanned anatomy can be applied to other sports and markets, Gehsmann mentioned.

“Our goal is to expand our product line through sport, which is our passion, but ultimately we would like to see where technology can have the greatest impact and where we can help the most people,” Gehsmann said. . “Every time we discuss technology with a healthcare professional, we get new product ideas. “

A company founded and anchored in the Duke community

Protect3d has made full use of Duke’s resources from the start. Its first devices were made on a 3D printer at the Pratt School of Engineering, and last summer the founders participated in the Duke Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative’s Accelerator program. The company works in a space at the BRiDGE startup incubator, a program sponsored by Duke Engineering in the Chesterfield Building in downtown Durham that supports start-up companies affiliated with Duke, and regularly collaborates with students and graduates of Duke for his business, software and engineering. Needs. It was therefore natural that the company turned to the Start-Up Ventures Clinic for legal assistance.

“Being a part of Duke Athletics we have always felt a level of trust with everyone in the Duke community. This was certainly the case working with Pat, Neil and their supervisors at the Start-Up Ventures Clinic, ”said Gehsmann. “They are great people first, and then great law students. They were really interested in helping us and doing whatever they could to see the business succeed.

Gehsmann said Protect3d hopes to continue working with the clinic as it prepares for a seed funding round early next year. The founders envisioned a nationwide launch this spring and summer before the COVID-19 pandemic effectively put all college and professional sports on hiatus. In addition to using the lull to refine Protect3d’s core technology, business model, and design and manufacturing processes, Protect3d supports the healthcare community by 3D printing personal protective equipment for workers at Duke Health and offering its manufacturing services to other hospitals and health centers in need. 3D printing.

“We saw this as directly in line with our mission to use our engineering know-how and resources to positively impact others,” Gehsmann said. “We hope to emerge from this period as a stronger team and company. “

O’Connell and Datar said the experience not only gave them exposure to a wide range of legal needs, from funding and employment to business organization and regulatory compliance, but also provided insight into the entrepreneurial spirit they will embrace in their new jobs – Datar in Kirkland and Ellis in Palo Alto and O’Connell in Cooley, New York.

“With the Start-Up Ventures Clinic in particular, you are essentially the legal advisor to these companies. So you get a little bit of everything, ”O’Connell said.

“Every time Protect3d wanted to take a new step in its business, we had to determine the legal implications and what we needed to do to make it happen faster and with more certainty. We were all discovering it at the same time. “

O’Connell and Datar both credited McGann and Williams with not only a meaningful learning experience, but also an exceptional level of personal accessibility.

“It has always been beneficial for me to go during office hours and be able to discuss academic issues with the professors. This is how I learn best, ”said O’Connell. “Duke really provided this forum, and the Start-Up Ventures Clinic is one of the most direct expressions of it. Bryan and Thomas are so open to making time for you.

Datar added, “Bryan and Thomas have been wonderful mentors, wonderful advisors and excellent supervisors. I knew the clinic was what I wanted to do and that it would teach me useful skills, but I had no idea how much it would give me hands-on experience in drafting contracts, working with contractors. and working with supervisors and obtaining and implementing transactional law feedback. The Start-Up Ventures Clinic has been my best way to learn and grow, and to add value as a future lawyer.

By most indications, with gyms and fitness studios closed, we’re all getting back to basics. According to data from Trek’s recent national survey, 21% of American bicycle owners ride more often. Another study from RunRepeat found that runners who only started once or twice a week increased their training load by 117%. And with warm summer temperatures finally visible on the horizon, we can only expect those numbers to climb.

So it’s fitting that the best new fitness gear we’ve discovered this month is meant to be for miles outside on foot and by bike. Recently, Rapha released a summer swimsuit, Polar unveiled a new GPS watch, Wahoo updated their heart rate monitor and more.

Rapha Core lightweight jersey

Rapha’s new Core Lightweight Jersey is a riff on the cycling clothing brand’s popular Core Jersey. It features a super breathable mesh front that lets the wind through and a denser weave in the back that blocks out the sun. And even though it’s light as hell, it still has three back pockets. If you don’t want it now, you’ll want it in July.

BUY NOW: $ 80

Velocio Concept Merino Jersey

Velocio’s Concept collection represents their vision for the ultimate in cycling gear (we loved their Concept Bib so much that we rated it as one of the best fitness products of 2019). For 2020 the company is expanding the line-up and we’ve got an eye on this merino jersey for those chilly morning rides.

BUY NOW: $ 189

Roka Matador

Athletic sunglasses draw an ultra-fine line between high-tech nerdness and understated freshness. It’s obvious which side Roka’s Matador falls on, with a wider lens profile at the bottom than at the top. A premium anti-fog and sweat-resistant lens along with temples that work with helmets and caps also give these glasses a technological edge.

BUY NOW: $ 195

Polar Grit X

Polar has included all of the standard features you’d expect from a GPS watch – a reliable heart rate monitor, metrics for multiple sports, Bluetooth connectivity – plus a few new ones. The highlight is Hill Splitter, which allows the watch to automatically detect when you are going up or down a hill during an activity so that it can provide detailed information about your incline performance. There is also a feature that gives you nutrition alerts and built-in weather information, which makes this watch a good bet for long distance running.

BUY NOW: $ 430

Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 37

Nike has updated one of its most beloved running shoes, and the changes don’t just include new colors. During research, Nike found that almost all runners connect to the ground halfway through the race. He therefore replaced the thin and integral foot airbag with a thicker one placed under the forefoot. This DIY is all in the name of returning energy, which results in a more comfortable – and potentially faster – run.

BUY NOW: $ 120

Wahoo Tickr X

Wahoo Fitness has just updated its line of standalone heart rate monitors, which are an affordable alternative or addition to a GPS watch. New features include Bluetooth connectivity for up to three devices simultaneously and almost double the battery life (that’s up to 500 hours now). The high-end Tickr X model also transmits running dynamics data to compatible smartwatches.

BUY NOW: $ 80

Therabody Theragun Mini

The brand you know as Theragun – the one that led the charge on a new class of percussion massagers for muscle recovery – is now Therabody. The rebranding comes with an update to all of its massage guns, as well as a new one with the Mini. The small triangular massager is very powerful and more portable than its bigger siblings.

BUY NOW: $ 199

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Fiesta Bowl Charities

Fiesta Bowl Charities helps fuel the vision of a level playing field

Posted

On Monday,
March 23, 2020
10:34 a.m.

What were you doing when you were 14? And at 12?

Scottsdale resident Wade Crum decided to fill a need and founded Pass It On Soccer, a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit, where the continued collection and redistribution of sports equipment and children’s clothing for those in need is the name of the game.

Pass It On is a non-profit organization founded about two years ago by Mr. Crum, who is now 14 years old.

“So far, we have helped thousands of children by donating approximately 7,000 pieces of equipment so that they can play sports with greater comfort and safety, which improves their self-esteem. “said Mr. Crum.

“Pass It On has grown to include donations to several organizations, child volunteers from various schools and valley football teams — and collecting over 8,000 items donated by Arizona families ranging from sports equipment to ordinary children’s clothing. “

Mr. Crum says it’s a good idea, meeting a need and working hard has been the recipe for early success beyond service at Pass It On.

“Pass It On has grown thanks to the hard work and determination of the Pass It On staff and the countless child volunteers who have helped us through the process,” he explained.

“It started with small events hosted by local clubs and gradually got bigger until we started collecting at the big tournaments in Phoenix. We then held donation events with various organizations such as Boys & Girls Clubs, North Phoenix Christian Soccer Club, and La Paz Soccer League in Parker, Arizona. We were able to secure grants from the Lerner and Rowe Gives Back Foundation and The Fiesta Bowl Charities, which allowed us to help even more children in Arizona.

— Wade Crum

Mr Crum describes the proper equipment — he points out that the organization generally collects and redistributes football equipment — can make all the difference when a shy player sets foot on the playing field for the first time. .

“There are many dangers in playing football and other sports without the proper equipment,” he said.

“The donations we give to many organizations are lightly used pieces of equipment that a lot of kids don’t have. This makes the children in their organizations feel safer when playing, play better and be more comfortable, and it makes them want to go out and play more.

For Mr. Crum, he says, sport is a way for everyone to feel a sense of belonging — and the right equipment is the first step towards that feeling of confidence.

“Sport is a way for children to learn both the importance of teamwork and how to work well with others to achieve their goals. They can also learn other values ​​such as strategy, loyalty, training, hard work, passion and good communication, ”he said.

“These strategies and values ​​can be used throughout their lives in school, their work and many other places when working with others and by themselves.”

Alignment of priorities

Kristina Chumpol, director of communications and community relations at Fiesta Bowl Charities, says Mr. Crum is making a real difference — and doing it early in life is a remarkable thing.

“Pass it On aligns with Fiesta Bowl Charities’ commitment to youth and sports in our community,” she said. “The particularity of this organization is that it all started with the vision of a young person and his decision to act! Wade Crum saw a need and decided to act, and we admire his leadership. What a great role model for the young people in this community to show them that whatever your age, your voice matters and can have a huge impact. “

To help Mr. Crum and the Pass It On effort, Fiesta Bowl Charities awarded 501 (c) 3 a grant of $ 25,000 to broaden the reach of redistribution efforts and improve the quality of donated items.

“Pass It We are starting to buy new football equipment such as balls, jerseys, crampons, shin guards, socks and water bottles for organizations with children in need,” said M Crum about where the money is going.

“We also use the money for permanent donation bins at football shops and football fields around the valley, as well as to pay for necessary equipment at our fundraising events and donations such as chairs. , table boxes and shade tents. “

Ms. Chumpol agrees that there is a need for proper equipment on the playing fields in every corner of the Valley of the Sun.

“It’s really important to have the right kind of equipment, as well as ensuring the right fit to make sure the players can play their best,” she said. “With the cost of participating in organized sports increasing, it can be difficult for families to keep up with the cost of equipment. That’s why it’s so great to see organizations like Pass It On stepping in and helping families make team sports more realistic for kids.

— Kristina Chumpol

Sport in all its forms can be a great equalizer for children, says Chumpol.

“Sport can absolutely change the trajectory of one’s life. Although not all children will be the next LeBron James or Lionel Messi, the skills they learn from participating in sports influence many areas of their lives, ”she explained.

“Socially, sport is a great way for kids to engage with other kids their age that they might not otherwise interact with. Moreover, learning to work in a team is such an important skill as they become adolescents and adults in the workforce, as is personal responsibility. Sport has a unique way of bringing life skills to children in a way that they can hear, learn and do.

Mr. Crum says he lives with an irresistible attitude.

“Children can make a difference and help other children, as long as they believe in what they are doing and are willing to work hard at it. I learned not to take no for an answer and to find a way to achieve my goals with Pass It On by finding an alternate route if I hit a roadblock, ”he said.

“In doing so, I showed a lot of other kids that they can do it too. I rely on many child tournament volunteers to distribute 2,000 flyers to adults on the sidelines and educate them about the Pass It On collection. This work makes other children more confident and more independent in the process. “

Go to passitonsoccer.net.

Football helmets that wobble on impact, protecting the player’s head. A spaceship inspired material that could make sneakers lighter and runners faster. Sensor stickers that could alert athletes to potential illnesses. In laboratories across the country, researchers are working hard to design sports clothing and equipment to improve athletic performance and prevent injury.

“We will see more high-performance equipment that passively adapt to environmental conditions while ensuring the comfort of people,” says Anette “Peko” Hosoi, co-founder of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sports Lab, a sports engineering program created to improve sports performance and safety. by science. “People who think creatively in this space always find a way around the rules.”

Here’s a look at the technology that may one day appear on a track, field, or pool near you.

Add innovation to injuries

Injuries can shrink athletes’ careers, which is why researchers are developing new materials to make equipment like helmets and shoes more effective in preventing them.

After several students at the University of California at Berkeley who suffered head injuries from bicycle accidents, Robert Knight and Ram Gurumoorthy, the founders of the startup BrainGuard, designed a helmet for cyclists and football players that, according to them, provides additional protection against rotational forces or impacts that turn the head.

As Specialized’s director of integrated technologies, Chris Yu spends a lot of time around fast bikes, which is half the reason I traveled to Morgan Hill, Calif., To talk to him. But what I really want to know is what he thinks about running shoes.

Yu’s title puts him in a unique position to weigh in on a debate that has gripped the running world since Nike released a shoe called the Vaporfly, which features a controversial curved carbon fiber plate and extra foam. resistant which together help propel runners forward. When Kenyan long-distance runner Eliud Kipchoge broke the men’s marathon world record by over one minute in 2018, he was wearing a pair of Vaporfly.

Some runners see them as an unfair advantage. I thought that Yu, who considers the aerodynamic benefits of cycling as part of his job, might help me dig into a bigger question, bordering on moral: when does the gear get too good? Why do we view some technological advancements as innovations, but others as cheating?

Cycling’s governing body, the UCI, has its own answer. In the 1990s, before bicycle companies had wind tunnels for development, an amateur cyclist named Graeme Obree built his own bikes from parts scavenged from old washing machines. His designs gave him a more aerodynamic body position, which he used to break the prestigious one-hour record on two occasions. Two of Obree’s riding positions were subsequently banned from the sport, and the UCI now maintains a strict list of criteria, from tube thickness to saddle recoil, for what constitutes a competition bike. This list determines which innovations can and cannot leave Specialized’s California headquarters.

Although Nike sells the Vaporfly to the general public, the sneaker Kipchoge wore during his record-breaking run was not the same running shoe.

Yu acknowledges that shoes like Nike’s Vaporfly make a difference, but says it’s “not really technically different from new foam with better spring rebound.” With bikes, however, the aerodynamic benefits of a piece of equipment increase as the rider goes fast, amplifying the small benefits. Of course, in road racing there are more beneficial ways to combat the effects of wind drag, which is why the sport is so fun to watch – no amount of smooth equipment can overcome tactics, leverage. teamwork and timing.

The question of prototypes is more delicate. Although Nike sells the Vaporfly to the general public, the sneaker Kipchoge wore during his record-breaking run was not the same running shoe. She had a different midsole design and outsole, and she was most likely suitable for him. It was only this year that Tour de France competitors were banned from racing on custom 3D printed handlebars specially designed for them, even though the use of any technology not commercially available has long been banned in the industry. sport.

Unique equipment seems to cross a line for many people, Yu included. “Tackling prototypes is a good thing,” he says. “It’s a fine access line, we’re talking huge volumes of money for this stuff.” (Winners of a major marathon can win up to $ 200,000.) But there’s still a follow-up question: who makes the prototype, and does it matter? Graeme Obree didn’t have a dedicated bicycle designer to imagine crazy new shapes for him; he made his own bikes from old parts, but they were prototypes nonetheless. One wonders if Vaporfly critics would feel any different if Kipchoge had fashioned the shoe himself from scratch.

Christopher Anderson / Magnum Photos

Of course, top speed or the best time or the best score is never the only consideration in a sport. All the different governing bodies also take aesthetic concerns into account. Downhill mountain bikers would be faster in spandex speed suits, but these were officially banned a few years ago, likely because nothing kills a gnarly vibe like dressing like the Power Rangers. The ultra-light, ultra-expensive and technologically advanced Tour de France bikes aren’t necessarily the fastest bikes available – the recumbent models, with their negligible drag coefficient, are as fast as hell. Too bad they look like human powered Weinermobiles.

It just goes to show that the rules that define any sport are, on some level, arbitrary, but no less necessary because of it. “You need some kind of rules if you want to define a sport,” Yu explains.

There are an incredible number of factors that go into being an elite athlete; equipment is just one example. There is also discipline and hard work – genetics too. In a competitive arena, someone has to figure out what makes a bike and what makes a shoe, and where those lines end. In the meantime, take advantage of all the competitive advantages that are available to you until someone tells you that you can’t, and if your bike has the right tube thickness, non-structural fairings, and properly sized tires, so, by all means, keep going.

A version of this article originally appeared in issue ten of Speed ​​Patrol Magazine with the title “Skip the line”. Subscribe today.

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