Patent ID: 7665929

Claim:
A starting gate for bicycle racing comprising: a main platform having a top surface upon which the bike sits prior to the starting of the bicycle race; at least one gate, the gate pivoting relative to the main platform; and a gate actuation arrangement for driving the at least one gate between a bike stopping position in which the at least one gate forms an obstruction preventing the bike from exiting the main platform to a bike releasing position in which the bike is permitted to exit the main platform along a gate travel path, in accordance with a gate actuation sequence including initiation of the actuation sequence and actuation of the gate actuation arrangement, the at least one gate pivoting away from the bike along the gate travel path, the gate actuation arrangement being adapted to selectively vary at least one parameter regarding the actuation of the at least one gate from the bike stopping position to the bike releasing position, the at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of: a position of an intermediate stopping position of the at least one gate along the gate travel path, the force that urges the at least one gate along the gate travel path, and the duration of an interval of time between initiation of the actuation sequence and actuation of the at least one gate; and wherein the gate actuation arrangement includes an actuator and a flexible linkage operably coupling the actuator to the at least one gate in such a manner that the actuator at least partially drives the at least one gate from the bike stopping position toward the bike releasing position, wherein the at least one parameter selected is the position of an intermediate stopping position of the at least one gate along the gate travel path, and wherein the gate travel path includes the intermediate stopping position defined at a position where the at least one gate contacts an obstruction, wherein the flexible linkage is arranged to permit variation in the intermediate stopping position along the gate opening path relative to at least one of a size or position of the obstruction.