In reading the original rule book, I kept feeling deja vu--like I had read those rules before. I laid the original against some of the other version of the rule book. The continuity of rules is striking. Here are some examples.
Race Permits
1923 "V Sec. 10 No sanction shall be issued to a professional promoter until a full list of the prizes and their value a re submitted by the promoter. These prizes shall be in the hands of the Referee before .the start of the meet."
1977 V Section 2 "No sanction shall be issued to a promoter until a full prize list and their value is submitted by the promoter. These prizes shall be in the hands of the Referee before the start of the meet."
2015 Part 3(g) "For each race, the specific kinds of event, the distance(s), the total amount of the prize lists, the nature of the prizes (cash, merchandise, combination thereof, or other), the number of places that will receive prizes, and the dollar value for each place receiving prizes. If cash is to be awarded, the minimum value will be shown."When I used to process the MABRA permits, this was one of my favorite rules.
Rider Transfers
1922 VIII.-Release System Sec. l. Any rider leaving a club shall compete in open competition for a period of one year. The date of acceptance of resignation by the former club shall be the period when the "unattached" penalty takes effect. This shall not apply to a man who has not joined another club, and rejoins his former club. ... No club shall unjustifiably hold a rider who has made application for resignation .
1977 Section 8 (Parts 1-8) "A rider resigning from a club shall compete as 'unattached' for a period of six(6) months or until December 31, whichever period is less"And then it goes on for seven (!) more sections on the mechanics of transfers.
I can't find any reference to any sanctions for changing clubs in the 2015 rule book. I guess we can change clubs as often as we want now.
Amateurs
1923 1. An amateur sportsman is one who engages in sport solely for the pleasure and physical, mental or social benefits he derives therefrom...
For this class of riders, prizes are limited to a value of $35 for first prize...(that's about $500 in 2015 dollars)
1977 I 1.10 An amateur sportsman is one who engages in sport solely for the pleasure and physical, mental or social benefits he derives therefrom.
2015 Amateur Class: The amateur class comprises riders in the senior/elite age group (19-29) who are not members of UCI teams, or, in the case of women, not on domestic elite teams.I wonder if the 1923 version is directly from the International Olympic committee.
Categories and Upgrades
I've always loved the fine tuning of the upgrade rules. They've really grown much more complex.
1923 A rider shall be held to be a novice until he shall have won a prize, other than a survivor's token, in a competition in that class... The winning of such a prize shall prevent his future competition as a novice ion that class...I can think of a lot of people who would wish that USAC would go back to this rule.
1977 1.21 Third Category. Any senior making application for a license for the first time, or any junior passing from junior to senior category unless he has qualified by his performance as a junior for a second category license.
1.26 A fourth category, or novice category shall be set up for all novice riders. They shall compete in this category until they prove competency. The same upgrading as is outlined in 1.22 shall be in effect, plus the rider shall demonstrate safety and competency in qualifying events, so as to progress to category three.Eventually, USACycling had to add a category 5 (around 2000?) to handle the massive growth in memberships.
The upgrade rules now are too long to reprint..
Uniforms
Everyone loves the uniform rules. Who knew that they went back to the beginning of time?
1923 Racing costumes shall be such as to cover the shoulders and breeches must reach to within about four inches of the knees. All breeches (knee tight) must be black in color, though shirts of any color may be used. These requirements must be strictly enforced by the referee.I'm not calling it a "kit" anymore--definitely calling it a "costume." And I'm only going to wear "bib breeches."
1977 Racing jerseys shall be such as to cover the shoulders... Cycling shorts shall be black in color and should reach within approximately 8 inches of the knees... socks shall be white and shall be worn on the road, though no socks need be worn on the track.I grew up in the black shorts and white socks era. I had the nastiest collection of gray socks, since it was impossible to keep them white after the first ride in the rain.
2015 1J5. Jerseys must be worn in all races and shall cover the shoulders.Praises! Bring back the red shorts! And thank god for black socks.
Rider behavior
1923 Any rider, trainer, attendant, or any other person who at any time and in an place uses improper language to an officer of a meet, or is guilty of any improper conduct toward such officers while serving under them, when such conduct or language shall have reference to acts and things connected with the administration of the meeting, or race thereof, shall be punished by suspension for such length of time as the Referee may decide.This rule is pretty amazing--don't bad-mouth the officiating!
1977 Any rider, trainer, attendant, or any other person who at any time and in an place uses improper language to an officer of a meet, or is guilty of any improper conduct toward such officers while serving under them, when such conduct or language shall have reference to acts and things connected with the administration of the meeting, or race thereof, shall be punished by suspension for such length of time as the District Representative and /or Chairman of the Board of Control may decide.Unchanged for fifty years!
2015 1N6. Abuse. (a) No rider or other licensee may be disrespectful toward anyone at a race. (b) No rider or other licensee may use foul or abusive language or conduct during a race event.
Some other interesting historical rules
1977 2.23 If the organizer of a road race wishes to forbid road bicycles, he should so specify in the rules of the event.I've seen pictures from the mid-1960s of fixed gears competing against derailleur bikes --perhaps this rule is leftover from then.