Draft-legal Equipment Guidelines

The big difference when it comes to a draft-legal bike is the handlebars you are allowed to use. You have to ride with traditional drop handlebars, which must be plugged. You can’t have clip-on aero bars. According to the latest Triathlon Canada rules, disc brakes are not allowed in draft-legal events. (They are only allowed in draft-illegal triathlon and duathlon races, cross triathlon and duathlon, along with winter triathlon events.

Wheels need to have at least 12 spokes and you can’t race with a disc wheel.

In terms of the bike frame, bikes “with a UCI Road Race homologation label” are allowed. You can still ride a bike that has a “UCI Time Trial homologation label,” too, but the bike will have to have traditional drop handlebars. Most bike manufacturers will have gone through the UCI certification process, so there’s a pretty good chance your bike will have a sticker. If it’s an older frame, as long as it meets the set up requirements, you shouldn’t run in to any problems.—km