Amateur cyclists can buy Better Bikes Than Lance’s:
The governing body of the three-week odyssey, the Union Cycliste International, strictly limits what Tour de France riders can and cannot use during this celebrated event. Recreational riders can go down to their local bike shop and purchase a bike that’s much better than anything the pros are allowed to ride.There is a strict minimum bike weight of 6.8 kg for UCI-governed races. Many high-end off-the-shelf road bikes come in well below that mark and manufacturers have often been forced to add ballast to standard production bikes to bring them up to the minimum UCI weight.
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Suspension is also a big no-no, according to the UCI. Some companies such as Trek and Softride have tried to race pivotless suspension designs that rely on the flex of a carbon beam. But those designs were written out of the rule book before they could ever reach the racecourse: The UCI determined they had an aerodynamic advantage over conventional designs.The UCI has a long history of trying to control bicycle technology. In 1934, the organization banned the use of aerodynamic recumbent bicycles after a mid-level racer broke the prestigious record for distance traveled in one hour while riding one. Many modern recumbent riders are still angry over this and are quick to point out that recumbents still hold most of the speed records that are not under UCI control.
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The UCI also used the hour record as a reason to ban another host of technological improvements in late 1996. Throughout the early to mid ’90s British riders Graeme Obree and Chris Boardman took turns setting and raising the mark while experimenting with several different aerodynamic bike designs and riding positions.When Boardman raised the bar to 56.375 km in 1996, the UCI had enough. The rules were changed to prohibit the extreme tuck and superman-style riding positions that Obree and Boardman had used and the carbon fiber monocoque frames they rode.
Aerodynamic advantage was also one of the reasons the UCI used to attempt a ban on hydration systems such as those from Camelbak. A Camelbak is a large plastic bladder full of liquid that’s worn like a backpack. A hose runs from the pack to the rider’s mouth. But according to the UCI, if a properly shaped backpack is worn underneath the rider’s clothing, it could give them an aerodynamic benefit. But testing showed no advantage and the ban was dropped. Camelbaks are now occasionally used by riders during time trials.