Cyclists adjusting brake levers to be as close as possible to the handlebars has become increasingly common. The UCI is taking measures regarding this practice. Starting in 2024, the Union Cycliste Internationale will implement restrictions on the allowed angles for brake levers.
By tucking your bike’s handlebars inward, you can reduce the frontal surface area and, consequently, adopt a more aerodynamic position. At the same time, you would be complying with the current UCI regulations that require touching the brake levers when your wrists rest on the handlebars.
The UCI introduced this rule in 2021 to combat the so-called puppy paw position: before that, riders used to lie with their wrists loose on the handlebars, seeking to simulate a time trial position, usually in a breakaway.
The new regulation will take effect in 2025. However, the UCI also considers it dangerous to ride with the shifters bent inward.
“Positioning the brake levers at an extreme angle limits the riders’ braking ability. It also constitutes a material alteration, meaning that this material no longer corresponds to its intended use. This positioning will be restricted in 2024. New regulations will come into effect in 2025, requiring compliance with the installation guidelines from shift manufacturers.”