Team car cam: was it a 'slecht idee' or a 'prachtige demonstratie'?

[Cobblestoned]

Looks like no cams at Roubaix, but perhaps at TdF.

http://www.wielerflits.nl/nieuws/13...lgwagens-tijdens-parijs-roubaix-(update).html

 

[hughmoore]

I thought it was good and suprised they broadcast the wheelsuck commentary.

The water bottle exchanged showed how dangerous it is.

My question is , why the driver doing the exchange/towing the rider along, wouldnt it be better/safer being done by a passenger in the rear or on the other side of the car?


Hugh

 

[Cerberus]

I thought it was good and suprised they broadcast the wheelsuck commentary.

The water bottle exchanged showed how dangerous it is.

My question is , why the driver doing the exchange/towing the rider along, wouldnt it be better/safer being done by a passenger in the rear or on the other side of the car?

Gives the driver better control over the sticky bottle perhaps?

 

[L'arriviste]

I thought it was good and suprised they broadcast the wheelsuck commentary.

The water bottle exchanged showed how dangerous it is.

My question is , why the driver doing the exchange/towing the rider along, wouldnt it be better/safer being done by a passenger in the rear or on the other side of the car?


Hugh

I think it's just where the car happens to be when it rolls up alongside the rider. If we agree that vehicles have to work around the riders rather than force them to move over then it's probably nothing more than that.

The riders are hugging the left side, so the car has to pull up on the right and the driver has to hand over the bottle.

In the case of a "special service", such as mechanics and doctors, then I guess the car has no choice but to approach on the left and the rider(s) will have to drop back.

 

[Astana1]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9b3Qf8PPOHk

Here is a great example of what in car camera footage can give us. This clip has the benefit of hindsight and editing, by a good competent TV producer/director could build something like this into a broadcast and really tell a great story.

Whenever I am trying to convince a friend that bike racing is cool and worthwhile I show them this clip. Almost always while watching this they will sit up and take notice.

I think that showing the communication between the car and the riders humanizes the sport and makes it seem more accessible and engaging.

I showed this clip to my current girlfriend who bikes but knows nothing about bike racing, when I told her I had the 2001 Paris-Roubaix on DVD she borrowed and watched it from start to finish on her own. She was hooked.