auscyclefan94 said:Not having radios is like an AFL, Basketball, Soccer team...
Archibald said:Can anyone name an accident or crash that is directly attributed to a lack of race radios??
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karlboss said:I've seen plenty of servicing issues with team race radios, using the race radio as it stands to cover all of them makes it more likely for critical time losses. .
Alpe d'Huez said:To answer the original poster's question. The real question is this:
Going back to the days of pre-radio, or amateur races without them, can anyone point to a specific accident that could have been prevented had the riders had radios? I can't think of any, but perhaps someone can.
Alpe d'Huez said:In theory, one of the benefits of no race radio is the "out of sight, out of mind" factor. That being, once a rider attacks up the road, in the current system it's well known in the team cars almost exactly where that rider is, and how to calculate the speed needed to catch them before the finish. This is why time and again someone goes on the attack, and the peloton catches them under 2k from the finish. Or if they get away and stay away, it's by a manageable amount.
With no radios, the thinking is that with a rider up the road and out of sight, that the peloton will have to discuss amongst each other when to chase, and how much. And in this situation, it's much more likely someone will be caught 20km from the finish, or win by a couple of minutes.
As to stopping technological advancements because the riders want it, that is a bigger subject that could include fairings, super light bikes, aero equipment. And in the future if we open everything up we could eventually see cross data where teams could know through GPS where every single rider is on the course, plus know their HRM, wattage output, etc. not just their riders but other riders as well. Not the kind of racing I'd like to see.
Archibald said:Can anyone name an accident or crash that is directly attributed to a lack of race radios??
This all just appears like a storm in a tea cup with the directors throwing fits because they're not getting their way....
I love doing exactly this - chucking the phone in the drawer and switching the world off for the weekend or longer. i grew up with out one and really don't see it as essential to living...VeloFidelis said:Try turning off you cell phone and sticking it in a drawer for a couple of days. Then unplug the high speed internet access for oh... the weekend. What do you think?... No? I'm not surprised.