Rules Discussion #2, Helmets USAT rule 5.9

This is often over looked until it is broken so I'll present some potential issues realted to helmets and some of the questions. First the rule:


5.9 Helmets.(a) Type of Helmet. All participants shall wear a protective head cover, undamaged and unaltered, which meets or exceeds the safety standards of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Helmets manufactured prior to March 10, 1999 must meet or exceed the safety standards of (i) the American National Standard Institute (ANSI Z-90.4), (ii) The Snell Memorial Foundation (Protective Headgear for Bicycle Users), or (iii) ASTM F-1446 or F-1447, and which is clearly labeled by the manufacturer as satisfying such standards. Removal of helmet cover, if required for that helmet to meet such safety standards, shall constitute an impermissible alteration in violation of this Section 5.9(a). Any violation of this Section 5.9(a) shall result in disqualification.



(b) Chin Strap Violations. The helmet must be fastened before the participant first mounts the bicycle, at all times when the participant is on the bicycle, and must not be unfastened until the participant has dismounted. Any violation of this Section 5.9(b) which occurs while the participant is in the transition area shall result in a variable time penalty. Any other violation of this Section shall result in disqualification. This Section 5.9(b) shall be enforced at all times while at the event site on race day.



Question 1: Does your helmet conform to the USAT safety standards? If so then move on if not then get a helmet that you are sure does. If you are racing under a different standard there may be different rules but check and be sure before you show up at a race. If you bought an Aero Helmet via ebay or some other channel make sure it conforms to CPSC standards and not CEN standards. For example Giro Advantage is CEN although the Giro Advantage 2 is CPSC.

http://www.helmets.org/chrono.htm Here's a link to a pretty comprehensive page detailing compliance of the various aero helmets. If in doubt make sure you can find the sticker. If not then get a different helmet.

One other highlight to the above rule. The chinstrap rule applies to riding your bike to and from the race. USAT officials won't be the ones enforcing the before/after the race director will. However you do not want to be the person who gets DQ'ed in the parking lot before the race because of a helmet violation. You don't know if the race director is dealing with the fallout from someone crashing without a helmet at one of their previous races so be safe and don't become the example.



Look at the following pictures and determine if a penalty should be called or not.


A.

B.

C.

Ok so which ones did you call?
A:No. It's on backwards but I don't see anywhere in the rule where that's a violation. Her chin strap is on. Certainly I'd say it's a safety violation of epic proportions but not a violation of 5.9. This is a case where transition personell should have stopped her and had her fix it. I don't think this qualifies as endagerment either so this is a correctable event.

B: No. It doesn't fit correctly and is also a huge safety concern but not a violation of 5.9.
How to fit a bicycle helmet http://www.helmets.org/fit.htm- This is a great link to make sure your helmet fits.

C: Yes. this is a violation of 5.9(a). Why because that monkey is an alteration. Frankly it's unsafe. If she crashes and skids what if that monkey grabs the pavement? I don't think her neck is going to like that outcome. This could be avoided by good staffing of transition. When someone came into transition with something secured on their helmet it should have been made clear that it needed to be corrected. I'm sure this athelete would have corrected it but wasn't aware of the rule.

So in a nutshell that is Rule 5.9(a) and (b). If you have any questions please ask.

The pictures were taken from brightroom photography from a recent tri my wife was in. There will be many more.