Riders protest radioban in Mallorca

[ultimobici]

without radios the practicality/efficiency of 9 to a team becomes an issue. 200+ riders on the road at once makes 'riders thinking for themselves' a liability and against team strategy. It would make no sense to have teams bigger than 4-5 without radios. Radio communication compliments the modern technological advances cycling has benefited from as well as enhancing this sport brought to all of us in real time. Why return to the stone age?

Truth be told McQuaid became committed to radio bans as a contingency to getting re-elected by provincial interests ready to benefit by the ban. Outsiders e.g. American riders will feel the disadvantage most.

Utter balderdash!

The 1983 Tour saw teams of 10, and there have been 9 ever since. Radios will have no effect on that at all.

In Football terms, radios allow the DS (Manager) to be in constant contact with the riders (players). This is not allowed in football. All he can do is shout from the sidelines. The times when he can talk to the players are before the match, at half-time and after the game.

Riders need to be multifaceted to be a success. It is both a physical sport but also an intellectual sport. How often is bike racing described as "Chess on Wheels"?

Riders should be able to "read" a race and decide how to win on their own on the road. If they can't then they are not good enough to win.

If the riders have safety concerns then why have they not suggested a system that is open-channel to the race organisers? Because it is not about solely safety. It is about power & control. Safety is a convenient cover.

Bring back the stone age, it was better anyhow!

Hinault's take on the whole matter - "It would have been out of the question for me to ride with an earpiece. I'm in favour of racing based on instinct, and with earpieces it's like Gameboy."

Jalabert - "You just need a bit of strength in your legs and a radio in your ear. You can't tell who's a good rider anymore, who can read a race, and who's just physically strong and knows how to listen."

 

[Roland Rat]

Utter balderdash!

The 1983 Tour saw teams of 10, and there have been 9 ever since. Radios will have no effect on that at all.

In Football terms, radios allow the DS (Manager) to be in constant contact with the riders (players). This is not allowed in football. All he can do is shout from the sidelines. The times when he can talk to the players are before the match, at half-time and after the game.

Riders need to be multifaceted to be a success. It is both a physical sport but also an intellectual sport. How often is bike racing described as "Chess on Wheels"?

Riders should be able to "read" a race and decide how to win on their own on the road. If they can't then they are not good enough to win.

If the riders have safety concerns then why have they not suggested a system that is open-channel to the race organisers? Because it is not about solely safety. It is about power & control. Safety is a convenient cover.

Bring back the stone age, it was better anyhow!

Hinault's take on the whole matter - "It would have been out of the question for me to ride with an earpiece. I'm in favour of racing based on instinct, and with earpieces it's like Gameboy."

Jalabert - "You just need a bit of strength in your legs and a radio in your ear. You can't tell who's a good rider anymore, who can read a race, and who's just physically strong and knows how to listen."

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah, Hallelujah! Halleeeeeluuuujaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!

 

[Ryaguas]

Who knows more... Hinault and Jalabert? or Andrew and Phinney?

 

[hrotha]

Who knows more... Hinault and Jalabert? or Andrew and Phinney?

They're all products of their times. No sense bashing the current riders for the kind of cycling they've had to live with.