When it comes to the Tour de France and pro cycling in general, nobody feels as strongly as I do that the women’s races are just as important as the men’s. This is why I ignore both equally. It’s also why I didn’t know about this until someone mentioned it in the comments yesterday:
Yes, apparently you can get an aero benefit with the right kind of bra:
According to WielerFlits, some teams believe a small number of riders might be wearing extra padding inside their sports bras during time trials to alter the shape of their chest and reduce aerodynamic drag. The practice is prohibited under UCI equipment regulations because it artificially changes a rider’s body shape.
Aerodynamics expert Bert Blocken, a professor at Heriot-Watt University in Scotland and LUT University in Finland, told the Dutch outlet that the concept is backed by science.
“We’re talking about a chest fairing, which changes the airflow around the body and reduces pressure on the thighs,” Blocken said. “You won’t gain tens of seconds. But think about a 20- to 30-km time trial can save enough seconds to make the difference.”
Bu don’t worry, because the UCI is on it:
By the way, just an editorial note on the HILARIOUS t-shirt:
You don’t need the “for inspections,” because it’s repetitive and redundant.
Furthermore, it was only until I read about the chest fairings that I learned the UCI has recently banned jerseys with front pockets:
Though I’m a little confused by the reasoning:
After observing teams using internal front pockets filled with nutrition products to improve aerodynamics, the UCI has decided to prohibit front-mounted pockets altogether starting July 1, 2026.
The UCI claims the nutritional products were “generally not consumed because they were extremely difficult, or even impossible in race conditions, to access. These pockets result in significant alterations to the riders’ body shape.”
The governing body said the practice was supported by aerodynamic studies and raised concerns about both sporting fairness and rider safety, arguing that speed gains can contribute to more severe crashes.
Wait. Are they banning front pockets because it’s too hard to get at your food? Or are they banning front pockets because the speed gains are so tremendous that they’re contributing to more severe crashes?
Oh, wait again, I don’t care–though it did explain why this never took off:
He doesn’t seem to be having trouble accessing his food at all.
Anyway, while the UCI may be able to get wind-cheating sports bras out of the pro peloton, it’s only a matter of time before they start turning up in your local men’s masters races:
There are few things faster than an old Fred in an AeroManzier™ and a PNS helmet:
Does it come in fleshtone?
Just make sure you’re wearing one of these if you participate in any unfamiliar group rides:
You can’t be too careful.
As for this old Fred, I don’t need to worry about PNS protection because I ride alone, and my new granny gear is way more useful than a chest fairing on an incline strewn with Very Small Rocks:
Yes, the rain finally stopped yesterday and I managed to squeeze in another quick ride on the Farbman, and while I’m very pleased with the new drivetrain configuration, it is causing some tension at home:
That’s because this is the point in the season when all my bikes start competing for the position as my Official Summer Vacation Bike, and up until now last year’s winner was the front-runner once again:
It’s the obvious choice, because not only did I conceive of the Roadini as my default vacation bike in the first place, but after a year and a half I have it exactly the way I want it:
And yet the Farman does present a compelling alternative. In fact another reason I held back on making these changes to it was that I didn’t want too much Farman/Roadini overlap, which I knew would lead to fraught decisions just like this one. But while they may be set up somewhat similarly at the moment, the Roadini will always be the more luxurious of the pair thanks to its less racy geometry, ample mounting points, and even ample-er tire clearance:
Which is why it can easily assume any number of guises, from sporting to genteel:
Oh great, now I want to redo the Roadini, and that’s the last thing I need.
No, wait, more stuff is the last thing I need:
Maybe you can get something and I can live vicariously through you.