The Failure of the UCI

The sport of cycling is beautiful, millions of people partake in this activity for both recreational and competitive purposes.  Cycling is growing at an exponential rate throughout the world, with bikes more often then not outselling cars each year.   The technology behind cycling has also improved dramatically and the sport is becoming more and more mainstream.  Everything appears to be on the up and up for cycling, and yet it is being held back by its governing body, the UCI.  Yes as ridiculous as it sounds, the cycling community is in agreement about the fact that the people who run this sport, the ones who should be trying to improve it are inherently limiting the potential of cycling.  They have imposed so many rules that it appears that they are attempting to push people away from the sport.  For example, there are now regulations as to the width manufacturers are allowed to make their wheels, laws on the geometry of bikes and a weight limit which professionals bikes are not allowed to go under.  If I would say so myself, they are preventing technological improvement.  How is it that in every other sport in the world improvement is considered a beneficial thing, however in this sport it is being shunned by the UCI.  This has all been brought to a head in recent weeks, after the UCI banned the Australia shoe company, Bont, from releasing their new aerodynamic shoe.  I thought this was a joke when I first heard about it, but discovered after doing a bit of background research that was indeed true.  The UCI stopped the manufacturing of this product because it went against their law on unfair performance assistance.  Great, well this just proves that the UCI is indeed trying to stop technological advancement.  In fact through this decision the UCI would have us believe that they would prefer if riders were still riding on steel frames, with only 1 gear and no helmets.  It is sad that the UCI seems to have its mind firmly set on ruining cycling instead of improving it, as the sports growth is undeniable and if the governing body were to support and nurture this growth it would be in the best interests of everybody.  Pat McQuaid and all those who work for the UCI please get your act together, and stop penalysing manufacturers and companies who are only trying to promote cycling, and start focusing on more important things, such as doing your job correctly and standing by those in the sport.