Some ICAN wheels have UCI stamp seals.

Many of you probably know what that means.

It means it is a UCI-certified product, and many in the industry recognize this as a testament to its reliability and top-class quality.

So, why UCI? We will explore this further.

1 What is UCI?

First, let's unravel the history of UCI and how it came to hold such immense authority in the cycling world.

① History of UCI (Part 1)

The UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) is the world governing body for all cycling sports. It is based in Aigle, Switzerland.

It evolved from its predecessor, the ICA (International Cycling Association), becoming the UCI in 1900 and remaining so to this day, which indicates its long history.

The member countries at that time were France, Belgium, the United States, Italy, and Switzerland.

In 1965, at the request of the IOC (International Olympic Committee), it established FIAC and FICP under its umbrella to oversee Olympic cycling competitions.

In 1992, both were integrated into the UCI. Strengthening its relationship with the IOC solidified the UCI's authority.

② History of UCI (Part 2)

One of the biggest changes the UCI made to cycling was the creation of the ProTour in 2005.

Prior to that, professional road cycling races were governed by the UCI Road World Cup, with the UCI overseeing major events.

In 2005, it transitioned to a large-scale UCI ProTour, which included the three Grand Tours (Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, and Vuelta a España) and other famous races.

This change allowed the UCI to grant ProTour licenses to 20 tour teams, creating a system where they participated in all races on the ProTour calendar. It later expanded its scope from Europe to races worldwide.

As a result, the UCI became an organization with immense influence over the entire cycling world, both in name and in reality.

2 UCI Rules

The UCI's immense influence extends beyond just races.

By establishing regulations for vehicles in races, it has influenced not only racing equipment but also commercially available bicycles.

The certification of the UCI mark for commercially available bicycles is the prime example of this; only equipment that passes the strict tests set by the UCI is allowed to compete in UCI races.

Because of this, commercially available frames and parts with the UCI mark automatically gain prestige, so each company focuses on obtaining the UCI mark.

At the same time, the UCI's stance has, for better or worse, influenced the evolution of bicycles.

Yes, the 6.8kg rule for road bikes, which many of you are familiar with, is a prime example.

① The 6.8kg rule

In the Lugano Charter of 1996, the UCI set a 6.8kg limit for road racing vehicles.

This embodies the UCI's cautious approach, stemming from the judgment that excessive weight reduction is undesirable for road racing safety.

This regulation significantly impacts not only races but also commercially available road bikes. This is natural, as commercially available bikes can potentially be used in road races.

From the perspective that sports should not be fought solely on the quality of equipment, this might be a reasonable judgment. However, it caused controversy among manufacturers like ICAN and road bike enthusiasts.

The technological development capabilities of manufacturers are not to be underestimated. As a result of dedicated efforts to improve the layered structure of carbon fiber, it is now possible to build much lighter and safer frames than before. In fact, the ultra-lightweight frame prototyped by ICAN is an excellent climbing machine that maintains sufficient rigidity and strength.

② Aero Rules

Another famous rule is the aero rule.

The 3:1 ratio rule was always a topic of discussion. This stated that the aspect ratio of the frame tube cross-section should not exceed 3:1. This regulation was, however, abolished a few years ago.

However, commercially available aero bikes still maintain almost the same shape. This is because there is a regulation that frame tubes must fit into an 8cm box cross-section. This is just a rephrasing of the aforementioned 3:1 rule. This makes radical changes to the aspect ratio almost impossible. Also, adding fairings to the frame or aerodynamic attachments to the head tube is not allowed.

In response, ICAN has succeeded in creating highly efficient frames that reduce power consumption by optimizing the overall aerodynamic balance in new models like the A9 shown in the picture.

Thus, while UCI rules contribute to the quality and safety of road bikes, it is also true that they impose significant restrictions on manufacturers. Within these constraints, many manufacturers, including ICAN, are fiercely competing.

3 About UCI Certification

To participate in UCI-certified races, equipment with a UCI sticker must be used. The UCI Equipment Committee issues stickers after conducting rigorous tests on each part.

① UCI Wheel Test

Let's take wheels as an example and explain the specific content of the test.

The test is conducted using a drop test.

The wheel is mounted on a test bench, and a steel block weighing 6-10 kg is dropped from above. To prevent unnecessary damage from metal-to-metal contact, the steel block is equipped with a 20mm thick rubber pad. Since no tire is attached, the impact is far greater than what would occur during actual riding. Test data, including images, is generated for all steps.

For a wheel to pass the test, it must meet the following criteria:

• No visible cracks or delamination
• No change in lateral dimensions, and no lateral runout exceeding 1.0mm
• No change in vertical dimensions, and no vertical runout exceeding 1.0mm

② What UCI Certification Means

As previously mentioned, qualifying one's products for UCI-approved races is the ultimate testament to their world-class quality and performance. For manufacturers to obtain certification, they must provide products that exceed UCI standards. This can be said to be a significant benefit for users as well.

4 About ICAN Carbon Wheels

ICAN's high-end models are UCI-certified. Please check the following PDF for confirmation.

However, note that regardless of whether they are UCI-certified or not, ICAN provides certified-level products across all models.

The two-year warranty on all ICAN wheel models is the ultimate proof.

5 Conclusion

For us at ICAN, UCI certification was an indispensable element in our goal to become the top supplier in China. This endeavor is proving successful and has also helped improve our product quality.

Please look forward to what ICAN has in store.

Click here for ICAN carbon wheels →【ICAN Official Website for Wheels】

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