UCI Launches New Crackdown on Bike Computers and Jersey Pockets to Boost Safety

The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is expanding its rulebook yet again. Known for enforcing strict limits on everything from sock heights and handlebar widths to urination stops—and recently disqualifying a top rider from the Giro d’Italia Women over a mere 20-gram weight violation—cycling’s governing body is now turning its attention to bike computers and jersey pockets.

Curbing “Screentime at Speed”

Citing concerns over “screentime at speed,” the UCI announced an update to its on-board technology regulations. Starting January 2028, the maximum permitted dimensions for bike computers will be capped at 126 × 71mm. This specific sizing mirrors the largest product currently on the market, the Wahoo Ace, effectively halting the trend toward even larger screens.

While some argue that bigger displays prevent riders from straining to read data, the UCI maintains that the influx of real-time metrics is a safety hazard.

“Several studies have shown that the increasing volume of data available to riders during competition can contribute to an increased cognitive workload, a key factor in the occurrence of accidents,” the UCI stated, adding that the restriction aims to prevent an excessive, distracting surge of information.

Confusingly, despite locking in the 2028 ban date, the UCI Management Committee noted that further research and stakeholder engagement are still required to fully understand how riders interact with these data streams.

A Ban on Aero “Kangaroo Pockets”

Riders won’t have to wait until 2028 to feel the impact of other changes. Effective July 1, the UCI is clamping down on innovative jersey designs used to gain aerodynamic advantages.

Prompted by the use of front-loaded hydration bladders at events like Unbound Gravel, the UCI observed riders using front internal pockets to store nutritional products. However, these items were rarely consumed due to being nearly impossible to access mid-race. Instead, they were used to alter the rider’s body shape for aerodynamic gains.

Because increased aerodynamics lead to higher speeds and more severe crashes, the UCI has ruled that all jersey pockets must be located exclusively on the rear of the garment. The sole exception is a single front pocket designed strictly to hold a radio communication device. Retro kangaroo-style pockets and aero-boosting front storage are officially a thing of the past.

News Source: Velo