Comments on: The Fat Cyclist Explains: The Race Radio Controversy http://www.fatcyclist.com/2011/03/10/the-fat-cyclist-explains-the-race-radio-controversy/ It's like reality TV. Except it's real. And there's no TV. Fri, 04 Mar 2022 03:21:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: NorCal Cycling News - Cycling and Racing in Northern California » Blog Archive » Saturday Thinking - Radio Problem Solution http://www.fatcyclist.com/2011/03/10/the-fat-cyclist-explains-the-race-radio-controversy/comment-page-1/#comment-516035 NorCal Cycling News - Cycling and Racing in Northern California » Blog Archive » Saturday Thinking - Radio Problem Solution Sun, 13 Mar 2011 06:51:29 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2011/03/10/the-fat-cyclist-explains-the-race-radio-controversy/#comment-516035 [...] Fat Cyclist - Making fun of the whole topic [...] [...] Fat Cyclist – Making fun of the whole topic [...]

]]> By: Jeff Dieffenbach http://www.fatcyclist.com/2011/03/10/the-fat-cyclist-explains-the-race-radio-controversy/comment-page-1/#comment-515990 Jeff Dieffenbach Fri, 11 Mar 2011 21:41:37 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2011/03/10/the-fat-cyclist-explains-the-race-radio-controversy/#comment-515990 In the spirit of compromise, the Race Director could broadcast safety information (you know, gems like "don't hit the traffic furniture" and "if there's a train, stop at the crossing") and also what the gap is between attacks and the main group. In the spirit of compromise, the Race Director could broadcast safety information (you know, gems like “don’t hit the traffic furniture” and “if there’s a train, stop at the crossing”) and also what the gap is between attacks and the main group.

]]> By: Polkadot http://www.fatcyclist.com/2011/03/10/the-fat-cyclist-explains-the-race-radio-controversy/comment-page-1/#comment-515985 Polkadot Fri, 11 Mar 2011 19:54:22 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2011/03/10/the-fat-cyclist-explains-the-race-radio-controversy/#comment-515985 I'd like to see a compromise. Allow radios, but mandate each team car have a driver that only drives, paying attention to the road as if it were full of cyclists and lined with spectators. Every time I watch race coverage on TV, I wonder how the team cars don't crash more often. Former wrench Nick Legan on Velonews.com has said he often slept in the back of the team car during races. So, there's really no reason the team director is doing everything AND driving the car. I’d like to see a compromise. Allow radios, but mandate each team car have a driver that only drives, paying attention to the road as if it were full of cyclists and lined with spectators.

Every time I watch race coverage on TV, I wonder how the team cars don’t crash more often. Former wrench Nick Legan on Velonews.com has said he often slept in the back of the team car during races. So, there’s really no reason the team director is doing everything AND driving the car.

]]> By: Dr. Lammler http://www.fatcyclist.com/2011/03/10/the-fat-cyclist-explains-the-race-radio-controversy/comment-page-1/#comment-515984 Dr. Lammler Fri, 11 Mar 2011 19:08:29 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2011/03/10/the-fat-cyclist-explains-the-race-radio-controversy/#comment-515984 Instead of bikes on the roofs of the team director's cars, how about loudspeakers? The team directors can entertain the crowds with song as they go by? UCI could turn it into a competition during the mountain stage, with the winner showing a red polka dot paint scheme on the car. It's a Win-Win. Instead of bikes on the roofs of the team director’s cars, how about loudspeakers? The team directors can entertain the crowds with song as they go by?

UCI could turn it into a competition during the mountain stage, with the winner showing a red polka dot paint scheme on the car.

It’s a Win-Win.

]]> By: MattC http://www.fatcyclist.com/2011/03/10/the-fat-cyclist-explains-the-race-radio-controversy/comment-page-1/#comment-515980 MattC Fri, 11 Mar 2011 14:53:55 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2011/03/10/the-fat-cyclist-explains-the-race-radio-controversy/#comment-515980 If it's for rider safety, then all riders would be on the same channel, and only the Race Director (marshall) would have transmit capability...not the team directors. The RD would HOPEFULLY be up to the moment on things involving crashes/etc and be able to broadcast that to the peleton. Jens and the boyz saying it's for rider safety would have their cake, and the riders would be totally on thier own for during race strategy. In the big scheme of things I'm not totally sure it would be a good thing though...as is mentioned, breakaway still do succeed even w/ radios..and when they do, they are that much more special and well-earned. Bunch sprints would be fewer w/out radios, and the pressure on the teams to ensure the unknown distance breakaways get reeled in would be that much more...it might make the overall race more difficult. It's hard to know how it would actually play out in the long run. I just figure it's modern technology adding to the sport, much like new frame technology and such. It's the evolution of things. Don't go backwards. If it’s for rider safety, then all riders would be on the same channel, and only the Race Director (marshall) would have transmit capability…not the team directors. The RD would HOPEFULLY be up to the moment on things involving crashes/etc and be able to broadcast that to the peleton. Jens and the boyz saying it’s for rider safety would have their cake, and the riders would be totally on thier own for during race strategy. In the big scheme of things I’m not totally sure it would be a good thing though…as is mentioned, breakaway still do succeed even w/ radios..and when they do, they are that much more special and well-earned. Bunch sprints would be fewer w/out radios, and the pressure on the teams to ensure the unknown distance breakaways get reeled in would be that much more…it might make the overall race more difficult. It’s hard to know how it would actually play out in the long run. I just figure it’s modern technology adding to the sport, much like new frame technology and such. It’s the evolution of things. Don’t go backwards.

]]> By: Jeff Dieffenbach http://www.fatcyclist.com/2011/03/10/the-fat-cyclist-explains-the-race-radio-controversy/comment-page-1/#comment-515978 Jeff Dieffenbach Fri, 11 Mar 2011 13:19:12 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2011/03/10/the-fat-cyclist-explains-the-race-radio-controversy/#comment-515978 Several posters already said what I was going to say (so why am I still saying it, you ask?): use the race radios for safety (with broadcasts by race officials only), but not for race strategy. The idea of having one open channel for all teams is interesting, but probably fails as the result of too much chatter on one channel. Several posters already said what I was going to say (so why am I still saying it, you ask?): use the race radios for safety (with broadcasts by race officials only), but not for race strategy.

The idea of having one open channel for all teams is interesting, but probably fails as the result of too much chatter on one channel.

]]> By: TimD http://www.fatcyclist.com/2011/03/10/the-fat-cyclist-explains-the-race-radio-controversy/comment-page-1/#comment-515975 TimD Fri, 11 Mar 2011 11:39:05 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2011/03/10/the-fat-cyclist-explains-the-race-radio-controversy/#comment-515975 My only objection to the race radios is what it does for riders development. Most of the DS's now are old pro's that learned how to read a race in the pre radio days and served their time a "road captains" for their teams. With radios they are carrying on that role from the car and the newer crop of riders aren't getting that experience. At some point there will be a gap of of pro DS's retiring and the new DS's not having those skills. Also, as has already been noted, two stages of Paris Nice have been won by break aways, and they have radios. My only objection to the race radios is what it does for riders development. Most of the DS’s now are old pro’s that learned how to read a race in the pre radio days and served their time a “road captains” for their teams. With radios they are carrying on that role from the car and the newer crop of riders aren’t getting that experience. At some point there will be a gap of of pro DS’s retiring and the new DS’s not having those skills.

Also, as has already been noted, two stages of Paris Nice have been won by break aways, and they have radios.

]]> By: Boots http://www.fatcyclist.com/2011/03/10/the-fat-cyclist-explains-the-race-radio-controversy/comment-page-1/#comment-515970 Boots Fri, 11 Mar 2011 05:44:06 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2011/03/10/the-fat-cyclist-explains-the-race-radio-controversy/#comment-515970 I have a solution which will allow all involved to have their cake and eat it too (make mine choc please). Allow the riders to keep their units but require them all to be on the same frequency. It would largely eliminate the DS micro managing the race - what DS is going to tell everybody that he is preparing to send Levi up the road to position Chris Horner for the finishing climb? At the same time having the radio would enable rapid communication in case of an accident. The system should be largely self enforcing - except for a team speaking some weird language that nobody else understands. And they probably were not raised with bidons and the attendant history. Speaking of history, when are the French going to come up with a good GC rider? I have a namesake LUDOVIC Turpin who gets a couple of mentions a year but that is all. I have a solution which will allow all involved to have their cake and eat it too (make mine choc please). Allow the riders to keep their units but require them all to be on the same frequency. It would largely eliminate the DS micro managing the race – what DS is going to tell everybody that he is preparing to send Levi up the road to position Chris Horner for the finishing climb? At the same time having the radio would enable rapid communication in case of an accident.
The system should be largely self enforcing – except for a team speaking some weird language that nobody else understands. And they probably were not raised with bidons and the attendant history.
Speaking of history, when are the French going to come up with a good GC rider? I have a namesake LUDOVIC Turpin who gets a couple of mentions a year but that is all.

]]> By: leroy http://www.fatcyclist.com/2011/03/10/the-fat-cyclist-explains-the-race-radio-controversy/comment-page-1/#comment-515969 leroy Fri, 11 Mar 2011 05:43:40 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2011/03/10/the-fat-cyclist-explains-the-race-radio-controversy/#comment-515969 Keep the radios, but make the riders wear tin foil hats to block the distracting voices. Works for me. Usually. Keep the radios, but make the riders wear tin foil hats to block the distracting voices.

Works for me.

Usually.

]]> By: Debamundo http://www.fatcyclist.com/2011/03/10/the-fat-cyclist-explains-the-race-radio-controversy/comment-page-1/#comment-515965 Debamundo Fri, 11 Mar 2011 04:11:18 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/2011/03/10/the-fat-cyclist-explains-the-race-radio-controversy/#comment-515965 Big-E, they ARE using radios at Paris-Nice. Those breakaways have been successful with them. I'm with Jens. Big-E, they ARE using radios at Paris-Nice. Those breakaways have been successful with them.

I’m with Jens.

]]>