Barriers

As revised July 1, 2010, UCI Rule 5.1.024 states that: "The course may include a single section of planks. This obstacle must consist of two planks placed minimum 4 metres and maximum 6 metres apart. The planks must be solid for their entire height and not made of metal. They must have a maximum height of 40 cm and extend the entire width of the course." (This was adopted by USAC, but hasn't made the current online version of the rule book yet - 5A10. That's because this "season" of cyclocross is the 2011 season and the on-line rule book is the 2010 version.)

For all of you who need the converison 4 meters is 13 feet, 1 1/2 inches, and 6 meters is 19 feet, 8 1/4 inches (40 cm is 1 foot, 3 3/4 inches, but that's not important right now.) In other words, the barriers are a good distance apart - about as far apart as two mattresses laid end to end. 4 meters is a distance that gives most people two good running strides between barriers, without having to half step or stutter before gracefully leaping the second barrier.

Why am I pointing this out? Beacuse last night, I attended a cyclocross clinic, and of course it included a set of barriers, but they were set way too close together, maybe only 8 feet apart - less than two mattresses. So, just a friendly reminder to all of the cyclocross clinic and race organizers out there, please bring a tape measure with you and set the barriers at the right distance apart. I'll thank you, the other experienced riders will thank you, and the beginners will thank you, although they'll probably be wondering why in the heck they'll have to get off a perfectly good bicycle and carry it over wooden planks set up across the course.

One other reminder, since this is the 2011 Cyclocross season, your racing age is your age as of December 31, 2011. So, who is now eligible to race with the Masters?