It all started in December last year, when the UCI released the latest addition to its extensive list of bans; the brake levers. In recent seasons, there has been an increasing practice of turning the brake levers inwards, in order to obtain aerodynamic advantages.
Thus, the organization announced that it would work “with the cycling industry to create clear regulations on the extreme tilt of brake levers”.
Adam Hansen says cyclists reject the position
Adam Hansen, president of the Cyclists’ Association (CPA), in an interview with Ride Media states that the vast majority of professional cyclists reject the use of this aerodynamic position: “Cyclists are against really extreme positions. I did a survey of Giro d’Italia riders about where they think the brake levers should be. I gave them options of direct, five degrees, ten degrees and extreme. Only 3% voted for the extreme position.”
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“It’s not because of the cyclists’ position in relation to the lever itself, but when cyclists have to brake. In this position (with the levers in the extreme position) the levers cannot be reached correctly. You have to turn your wrist, and when you do, it will be too late.”
“I worked with Michael Rogers (Head of Roads and Innovation) at UCI. He discovered that the handlebars were not designed to have the lever positioned this way, so some cracks had formed in the handlebars. The UCI carried out an investigation and noticed that there were greater tension points the more the levers were turned inwards”, concludes Hansen.