Unfair advantage?

[dgodave]

So lets say you are on a solo break, on a very HOT day, the course is hilly or even mountainous.
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You have an unobstructed team car catering to your every need. Every few minutes a mechanic reaches out the window and dumps a nice cool bottle of water all over you.
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Now, on a really HOT day it seems to me this is a huge advantage over all other riders. Riders' performance really suffers in the heat. So staying "artificially" cool could be huge.
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Let me venture a complete guess: 5% or 10% power advantage, which could really affect the outcome... especially in steep mountains, where a solo guy stands a chance.
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What do you think?
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[Cobblestones]

Is this thread about Floyd?

 

[Anonymous]

Sure helped Floyd in '06.

 

[Anonymous]

Is this thread about Floyd?

Dammit. Beat me to it

 

[Cobblestones]

Dammit. Beat me to it

Made you look like Farrar.

 

[MacRoadie]

Is this thread about Floyd?

Floyd's off hunting witches...

 

[dgodave]

Is this thread about Floyd?

I realize that was exactly his situation, among "other" factors.
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But I'm looking forward more than back, with this question.
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(I also about to head out for a ride in 100f (37c) heat....)
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[Cobblestones]

I realize that was exactly his situation, among "other" factors.
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But I'm looking forward more than back, with this question.
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(I also about to head out for a ride in 100d heat....)
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Ok. Yes, they have it slightly easier in that respect, but really, if you're a protected rider you have your 'Bottle' as part of the team. So not much of a difference. Anyway, you're expending so much more energy by being in the break, that little advantage is not going to make it up.

 

[hrotha]

Meh, the leaders also have domestiques bringing them water. Ban bottle-carrying domestiques I say.

(Incidentally, where does "Bottle" for LL come from?)

edit: Beaten by miles

 

[dgodave]

Ok. Yes, they have it slightly easier in that respect, but really, if you're a protected rider you have your 'Bottle' as part of the team. So not much of a difference. Anyway, you're expending so much more energy by being in the break, that little advantage is not going to make it up.

But totally doused with cool water every 5 min? Floyd (yes, again) had like 70 bottles dumped on him over his escape. You dont get that from your domestiques.
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If its cooking hot, I could imagine that being perhaps a 10% advantage, which might be the difference on the steep part of a stage where a solo guy is.... less-disadvantaged anyway.
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Again... total guess on the power advantage. But the heat can really suck it out of you.
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[Ryaguas]

Made you look like Farrar.

LOOOOOL Epic comment

Meh, the leaders also have domestiques bringing them water. Ban bottle-carrying domestiques I say.

(Incidentally, where does "Bottle" for LL come from?)

edit: Beaten by miles

I would like to see that... that would prove who has better condition!