Editing Hour record (section)

=== 1997 UCI rule change ===
With the increasing gap between modern bicycles and what was available at the time of Merckx's record, the UCI established two records in 1997:
*''UCI Hour Record'': which restricted competitors to roughly the same equipment as Merckx, banning [[time trial]] helmets, disc or tri-spoke wheels, aerodynamic bars and [[monocoque]] frames.
*''Best Human Effort'': also known as the UCI "Absolute" Record<ref name=Grdn /> in which modern equipment was permitted.

As a result of the 1997 rule change, all records since 1972, including Boardman's {{convert|56.375|km|mi|abbr=on}} in 1996, were moved to Best Human Effort and the distance of Eddy Merckx set in 1972 once more became the official UCI benchmark. In 2000, Boardman attempted the UCI record on a traditional bike, and rode {{convert|49.441|km|mi|abbr=on}}, topping Merckx by {{convert|10|m|ft|sigfig=3}}, an improvement of 0.02%.

In 2005, [[Ondřej Sosenka]] improved Boardman's performance at {{convert|49.700|km|mi|abbr=on}} using a 54×13 gear. However, Sosenka failed a [[doping (sport)|doping]] control in 2001 and then again in 2008, the latter resulting in a career-ending suspension which puts in doubt the validity of his record. All women's records from 1986 to 1996 were recategorized to Best Human Effort.