Comment Human Power (Score 1) 221
I have two comments about the technology of professional bike racing. First, there is a bit of disagreement whether the riders' two-way radios make for boring racing (http://www.dailypelotonforums.com/main/lofiversio n/index.php/t652.html). I think they do, but who cares what I think? The more important detail that I object to is the artificial power source. If these guys are allowed to carry a battery around, why not strap a really big battery on? Where is the battery limit? Clearly it's somewhere. So I'd like to see cyclocomputers and intercom radios powered by the rider.
The second issue that I'd point out is that it seems like European sports like cycling, F1, and soccer are ideal candidates for distribution over the Internet. This was proven to be technically feasible I think by OLN for this year's Giro D'Italia. The reason all such sports could be streamed this way is that the advertising model is in the actual content. I find it ridiculous that Flowmax (some crazy weiner drug) is advertised like crazy while I'd rather be watching bike racing. Why doesn't this drug company just sponsor a cycling team? For our coverage in the USA, it's as if the advertising model was forgotten. Because this is fundamentally the advertising model, I'm somewhat expecting velosport to show up on the Internet for free relatively soon.
As for the letour.fr site, I agree that it's exactly the same as it was in 1999. Now, however, I don't take advantage of the updates and gaps, etc. I can't because I'm watching the race (in PDT) on the hard drive recorder with about 2 hours of timeshift i.e. extra sleep.
The second issue that I'd point out is that it seems like European sports like cycling, F1, and soccer are ideal candidates for distribution over the Internet. This was proven to be technically feasible I think by OLN for this year's Giro D'Italia. The reason all such sports could be streamed this way is that the advertising model is in the actual content. I find it ridiculous that Flowmax (some crazy weiner drug) is advertised like crazy while I'd rather be watching bike racing. Why doesn't this drug company just sponsor a cycling team? For our coverage in the USA, it's as if the advertising model was forgotten. Because this is fundamentally the advertising model, I'm somewhat expecting velosport to show up on the Internet for free relatively soon.
As for the letour.fr site, I agree that it's exactly the same as it was in 1999. Now, however, I don't take advantage of the updates and gaps, etc. I can't because I'm watching the race (in PDT) on the hard drive recorder with about 2 hours of timeshift i.e. extra sleep.
