Carolin Schiff dropped an ice pack and Sofia called her on it, saying it was against the rules to litter (it wasn’t) and reported her to an official. Schiff went back, got it, caught back up and then dropped everybody to win by minutes.
They interfere with bar attachments (computer mounts, GoPro, HB Bags, etc) and are aero nightmares.
But most importantly, they are archaic and there are better solutions available.
I hear ya… I mean I am not a fan either… but are they more of a aero nightmare compared to the go-pro, HB bags, computer mounts?
The thing is officials, volunteers, etc. need a way to easily and quickly identify the racer. Sometimes it is a requirement of the permit (I did a race on a military base and it was required at all times). What are some of the other solutions you have in mind?
Maybe not compared to HB bags, but I don’t run HB bags specifically because they are an aero night mare. 
Everything else, yeah, they are significantly worse.
I listed a few above…there are timing strips that you can attach to helmets, you can do seatpost mounts / wraps, etc. Lots of options available now…
There is literally no reason to use front facing number plates…except “tradition” and laziness.
Heck, you can’t even use the old “They need to sell you pics” justification because pics are free at Unbound.
I am all for those and have done races with them (one race we even wore a timing strap around the ankle). But what about the athlete identification part?
Numbers need to be large and easily readable from a distance. What could be done in that regard?
If you’re using a HB you don’t care about your results or how fast you are.
Why do we need identified? It’s a time trial on gravel
Do they use number plates on bike legs of Ironman?
I don’t like the front number plates either, but you do have put some context around a race of this scale. You’ve got over 5k people racing, so you need rules/processes that work for the masses, even when they may not be ideal for the individual.
Without a number visible on the front of every bike, it complicates processes that rely on the number/color. Besides officials seeing it for finishing/split times or violations, it also needs to be visible at each aid station where volunteers are directing riders to the correct aid locations (which are based on the color of plate). I don’t know what else they use the numbers for (besides photos), but maybe other stuff as well. At a small local race, there is usually more latitude for doing things “your way” without disrupting the event.
I raced a small event earlier in the year where I ended up attaching my number to the side of my bike. A person with the race told me that it needed to be front or I’d risk DQ or scoring issues. I explained that I’m fine just riding unscored, just a fun training day and I wouldn’t ask for scoring if it didn’t read and they were totally cool with it. If they hadn’t been cool, I would have moved the number to the front and thanked them for listening. But that’s a race with maybe 400 people, not unbound. If 3% of the Unbound field has a timing issue, that’s 150 people they have to deal with manually, look at video, etc. if they want to get accurate results. It’s their race and their rules, I don’t have to do it if I don’t like their rules. Maybe I’m too easy on promotors, but I’ve been on the other side too many times and it’s just a tough deal with people wanting to do their own thing (and everybody is a monday morning race director).
It’s a race?
I have been a race organizer… Athlete’s need to be able to be identified. I am not sure what else to say.
Regarding triathlon, They write large numbers on their arms and legs in order to be identified.
I would write large numbers on my arms over a number plate
I’m going to duct taping mine onto my aero bars to make a fairing.
depending on weather, some people’s arms/legs aren’t exposed.
I do wish they would code the plates so you can see what group a person is in. As someone with aspirations of age group podium at gravel events, it drives me nuts with mass starts when I have to guess who I’m racing against.
I agree
Nothing worse than asking people in your group how old they are.
I’m Telling everyone I’m 60
I felt this way at Sea Otter as well. Simply a different color on the seat tag (timing chip) could help identify what age group people are in and who you are racing with.
This was done at our local MTB series but was on the front plate so didn’t help much when racing.
At my race last weekend, I just attached the number plate to my aero bars at the top of the plate (had to punch a couple extra holes) and let the bottom dangle. Worked surprisingly well, it would sit near vertical (fully visible) when going slower and was pretty much horizontal and not blocking wind when pushing at speed. Worked well since speeds going into aid/timing stations (and the finish line) was slow and my plate was visible.
I’ll be playing with that approach vs. the pivoting mounting bar on some pre-rides next week.
I have that pivot mount, but it goes where my light is supposed to go. Hopefully that’s a decision I don’t have to make
Yeah, I don’t even ask anymore after being lied to multiple times. I’m considering using my phone this year for age group placement checks after each timing mat. I think the results are near live and include race numbers. Or maybe my wife texting to my phone so I can see my position and gaps on my garmin. Last year, she would tell me placement from prior timing mat when I rolled into aid station, but that can be hours old.
Not worried about phone dying?
Maybe, but I only plan to check as needed and wouldn’t leave phone paired to garmin all day (worried about garmin going dead more than phone, navigation and all).
Triathlons manage to do it and with a similar number of participants
For IM races, you are given frame stickers with your race number, which are then adhered to the frame or around the seatpost. Athlete marking is no longer mandatory for most races (and if it is, often a temporary tattoo is used)