Comments on: The Four Impossibilities of Radio-Free Racing http://cyclocosm.com/2009/06/the-four-impossibilities-of-radio-free-racing/ Pro Cycling News, Commentary and Special Features Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:26:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Tom http://cyclocosm.com/2009/06/the-four-impossibilities-of-radio-free-racing/comment-page-1/#comment-15044 Tom Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:34:26 +0000 http://cyclocosm.com/?p=1396#comment-15044 To say that we would also have to get ride of all forms of communication - including team cars - is a red herring. It makes perfect sense to argue for less immediate communication between DS and rider without having to take the position that there should be no communication at all. Personally I think it would make racing less predictable and more exciting. That is something that is needed. Yes there are still some exciting races and exciting stages but not to the same extent as there was. It isn't just about breaks on flat stages of the grand tours - it's about favourites making decisions when attacks go whether to chase or not, about riders having to guage effort rather than being told exactly what wattage they can sustain (yes ban power meters for racing too!) and the rest. The sport is about more than who is the strongest - it should also be about who is the bravest, the most tactically astute, the best bike handler and even an element of luck in there - that is what makes it the sport it is. The real luddites are those who are unwilling to experiment with a radio ban. We can argue it til the cows come home but unless we actually try a ban for a season then we don't know what the outcome would be. To say that we would also have to get ride of all forms of communication – including team cars – is a red herring. It makes perfect sense to argue for less immediate communication between DS and rider without having to take the position that there should be no communication at all.

Personally I think it would make racing less predictable and more exciting. That is something that is needed. Yes there are still some exciting races and exciting stages but not to the same extent as there was. It isn’t just about breaks on flat stages of the grand tours – it’s about favourites making decisions when attacks go whether to chase or not, about riders having to guage effort rather than being told exactly what wattage they can sustain (yes ban power meters for racing too!) and the rest. The sport is about more than who is the strongest – it should also be about who is the bravest, the most tactically astute, the best bike handler and even an element of luck in there – that is what makes it the sport it is.

The real luddites are those who are unwilling to experiment with a radio ban. We can argue it til the cows come home but unless we actually try a ban for a season then we don’t know what the outcome would be.

]]> By: Cyclocosm – Pro Cycling Blog » Pro-Radio’s Missed Opportunity http://cyclocosm.com/2009/06/the-four-impossibilities-of-radio-free-racing/comment-page-1/#comment-11703 Cyclocosm – Pro Cycling Blog » Pro-Radio’s Missed Opportunity Wed, 15 Jul 2009 03:39:58 +0000 http://cyclocosm.com/?p=1396#comment-11703 [...] Today’s stage, and the radio-inspired protest that dominated most of it, was one of the most foolish things I’ve ever seen at the Tour de France—and yes, I am including the Giuseppe Guerini incident in that list. And, lest we forget, I am adamantly pro-radio. [...] [...] Today’s stage, and the radio-inspired protest that dominated most of it, was one of the most foolish things I’ve ever seen at the Tour de France—and yes, I am including the Giuseppe Guerini incident in that list. And, lest we forget, I am adamantly pro-radio. [...]

]]> By: LeGimpe http://cyclocosm.com/2009/06/the-four-impossibilities-of-radio-free-racing/comment-page-1/#comment-11379 LeGimpe Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:27:04 +0000 http://cyclocosm.com/?p=1396#comment-11379 All true, but the old fashioned motorcycle blackboard relay was pretty granular info when compared to the nearly realtime radio relay or the really-realtime automated GPS data. A little more uncertainty would be nice on courses that aren't selective. When Cancellara or Gilbert pull off a Jelle Nijdam it's usually the result exploiting a hesitation. Uncertainty in the chase could only produce more of that sort. Diluca and Sivtsov only do their thing on selective courses where the pack doesn't have guys that can "just go faster" as an option. Yell at them all you want. I like the idea of trying it on a few races. They need to try it on transitional stages too. The radio can't really help you up a hill, if it could, I'd buy two! Can we ban the word "epic"? It's been done to death, everything in cycling is apparently epic. All true, but the old fashioned motorcycle blackboard relay was pretty granular info when compared to the nearly realtime radio relay or the really-realtime automated GPS data. A little more uncertainty would be nice on courses that aren’t selective.

When Cancellara or Gilbert pull off a Jelle Nijdam it’s usually the result exploiting a hesitation. Uncertainty in the chase could only produce more of that sort.

Diluca and Sivtsov only do their thing on selective courses where the pack doesn’t have guys that can “just go faster” as an option. Yell at them all you want.

I like the idea of trying it on a few races. They need to try it on transitional stages too. The radio can’t really help you up a hill, if it could, I’d buy two!

Can we ban the word “epic”? It’s been done to death, everything in cycling is apparently epic.

]]> By: Sebastian http://cyclocosm.com/2009/06/the-four-impossibilities-of-radio-free-racing/comment-page-1/#comment-11378 Sebastian Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:21:29 +0000 http://cyclocosm.com/?p=1396#comment-11378 Good points -- I've always wondered how not having radios would actually reduce the likelihood of a "predictable" catch. After all, the peloton will still be getting time updates, just on a blackboard instead of in their ears (or now, inevitably, on their phones). As you say, the biggest factor these days is the fact that most riders target races and are therefore fresher. But you mock the Badger at your own risk. Good points — I’ve always wondered how not having radios would actually reduce the likelihood of a “predictable” catch. After all, the peloton will still be getting time updates, just on a blackboard instead of in their ears (or now, inevitably, on their phones). As you say, the biggest factor these days is the fact that most riders target races and are therefore fresher.

But you mock the Badger at your own risk.

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