Looking @ some of the pictures from today, did anyone notice the lone bottle on the seat tube of the leader’s bikes? (jan, lance, etc)
http://www.cyclingnews.com/tour.php?id=photos/2003/tour03/stage12/JT/003zubeldia
http://www.cyclingnews.com/tour.php?id=photos/2003/tour03/stage12/JT/002ullrich
http://www.cyclingnews.com/tour.php?id=photos/2003/tour03/stage12/JT/001lance_resend
think this could have anything to do with JC’s latest aero research???
-kevin
I did notice that…but according to Cobb’s testing (http://www.slowtwitch.com/mainheadings/techctr/waterbottles.html), a single bottle is best placed on the DOWNTUBE, so I was curous to see TdF cyclists with them on the seat tube. What am I missing - the aero tubing and 78 degree of a tri bike make the difference?
Hairy Legs
trickle down - it will take some time before Cobb’s research reaches the pros and the masses, I doubt the testing has reached the TDF teams
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"it will take some time before Cobb’s research reaches the pros and the masses, I doubt the testing has reached the TDF teams "
And I’m beginning to doubt if it really matters
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Maybe they just needed to carry water?
Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar and sometimes a water bottle is just a water bottle. 
"Armstrong lamented running out of water before the final climb to the finish line, set on a rocky outcrop that was once a carbon mine but later turned into a theme park. "
Trickel down to the TDF ? It’s the areo game you are playing. Thanks Ditrball !
The bottles are definately for water (and etc. - LOTS of electrolytes.)
The TDF riders have now done almost 2 weeks in 90+ degree weather, and hydration is at a premium. They use standard bottles because the tour is set up for them, both at neutral support and on the team level. Team bottles also get thrown out after every use to avoid the nightmare possibility of a sickness running through the team or the peloton. These 2 factors pretty much eliminate other methods of carrying H20.
As an aside, I think the heat is bad for Armstrong. Historically, he is one of the best foul weather riders in cycling, and he really hasn’t faced weather like he is seeing now in his previous tour wins. I think it will be awfully tough for him to hold on to yellow if the heat continues.
MH
Rain is predicted for Sunday! ;>
Interesting (to an Englishman) that a Texan should (could) be labelled a good foul weather rider that doesn’t handle the heat!
I still would not beat against Lance, Tdf is a bit more than 3 TTs there are another 1500+ km in there somewhere.
Julian in England