POWER METER BAN AT TOUR DE FRANCE?

DC Rainmaker ^ | 26 Oct 2018 | Ray Maker

[DUMBGRUNT]

“We reassert our desire to see the end of power meters in races, which annihilate the glorious uncertainty of sport.”

...C’mon now – anyone who’s been involved in major stage races (or any pro race) knows that the single biggest thing they could do to instigate more excitement would be to take away race radios. For those not familiar, race radios are small wireless radios worn by the riders that allow them to communicate with their team.

[DUMBGRUNT]

Not sure about the Pros, but for me, a heart rate monitor is somewhat analogous to watts but with lag, sometimes lots of lag.

Any calls for the motorsports guys to black out the tachometer?

[oldplayer]

I will be surprised if this thread gets lots of comments. Mine? I agree with the author that they ought to ban race radios. Power meters are useful adjuncts to the radios.

[Fai Mao]

Every team should ride exactly the same brand and model of bike with exactly the same components adjusted for rider height

Let Sram, Shi(t)mano, Campagnolo and Micro Shift bid for the right to outfit the bikes.

After all it is about the best athlete not the best bike

[oldplayer]

I think experience shows that the bikes are so similar, that there is very little difference in performance. The riders may have preferences, and certainly the sponsors and manufacturers have financial interests, but the bikes rarely make a difference.

BUT, race radios have a huge effect on the racing as the stage unfolds. Breaks are chased down or not, individuals are dropped or not, early racing during the stage is greatly effected. This year’s Tour winner, was a true champion, but it is undeniable that he raced the last week with strategy tied directly to knowing exactly what the race situation every minute of the stages.

[Blue Jays]

"...powermeters..."

---

I would also rather see race radios go away.
That would also make it a safer race for the riders, too.

[Roccus]

Want to increase excitement in cycle races?

Just equip each rider with a mace to clear the way through the spectators...especially in the mountains.

[Baynative]

Bike Ping

When the use of radio communication was allowed, I knew we were heading in this direction.

I have long held to my personal belief that there should be no restrictions on drug use in sports because the pro level business is entertainment in its purest form and in that vein, athletes are no different than actors, dancers or wrestlers.

I think if you asked top level amateurs in sports if they would risk potential health problems for fame and fortune by taking performance enhancement drugs, most would say, "Yes".

The technical advances being developed differ from physical advantages in that anyone can get them and use them. But the game changing attributes of either one are almost endless.

Even the simple and natural sport of golf is being changed by digital enhancements such as devices that measure distance, temperature, wind speed/direction and even read greens. If we do not return to pure physical competition there will be no end to the continued devolution of all sports.

[Yo-Yo]

Is the Tour De France still using FLIR cameras to detect cheating?

[Skywise]

Yeah - I find tachometers cheating in races. A pro driver should know when to shift by feel and sound alone as we’ll know how to take that turn.

It worked for Luke when destroying the Death Star!

[golux]

I am with Anquetil. It is time to legalize sex and champagne.

[Para-Ord.45]

Not a fan of the France race.
Now, the other 2 races in the triple crown !? Hell yeah ! Giro and Vuelata are t-o-u-g-h TOUGH ! Hills right off the bat.

What i`d like to see:

1. No more 2 way rain communications.
2. Smaller teams of 5 only.
3. No more power meters, bands around their chest collecting data.
4. Only speedo/rpm gauges.

[Para-Ord.45]

*1. No more 2 way radio communications.

F`n spell check.

[llevrok]

For me, get more teams competitive. One or two dominate every TdF. 30 years of following the race. It’s getting boring more and more.

[IronJack]

Try getting sponsorships doing that.

All the bikes are already pretty much the same. Same with components. Now it’s down to team strength, and that’s largely a function of budget: who can buy the deepest talent?

Cap budgets and see what changes.

[DUMBGRUNT]

“Every team should ride exactly the same brand and model of bike with exactly the same components adjusted for rider height”

Keirin racing in Japan does just that.

That said, the Keirin racers appear to be out there, way out there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVbwngNoHm0

I ride rollers, but not even close, my knees hurt just watching.

[DUMBGRUNT]

“I will be surprised if this thread gets lots of comments.”

The usual suspects, A few riders and a few spandex haters.

[DUMBGRUNT]

Agreed to all you stated.
But, “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.”

How much do the radios take away from the gamesmanship of the ‘Master of the Peloton (Le Patron)’?
Was it LA that set a new record for the peloton one hot flat day, just to discipline a few?

[rjsimmon]

It worked for Luke when destroying the Death Star!

I'll bet Luke's X-Wing had a tachometer...

[Baynative]

Can’t quarrel with that!

[EQAndyBuzz]

“BUT, race radios have a huge effect on the racing as the stage unfolds. Breaks are chased down or not, individuals are dropped or not, early racing during the stage is greatly effected. “

Should the NFL remove the eye in the sky coaches who look at alignments and decide on the play to be called?