I vote to get rid of radios in the peloton and TT’s, would it not make for a more interesting race. Just think for example Lance would not know if he was losing time or gaining in the TT’s, he would just have to go all out and wait until the finish line to find out. The break away would be CRAZY, how would you be able to keep up with who was in the break away and if they were a threat to the Yellow Jersey…. I vote to remove radios from the peloton.
Interesting idea, suggested by the Slate article as well. If there were no radios, would the contenders just chase everything down until they had no domestiques? What happened in the old days before riders had race radios?
I think they should have streaming metrics from EVERY rider’s bike, wattage, speed, HR, cadence … how cool would that be!
can you imagine all the conspiricy theories. the haters and french media would insist LA had a radio hidden in his helmet, while the lovers would insist that lance’s eyesight is even more inhumane than his VO2 and can spot a break-away at 1500 meters.
I like that idea. Where is your power data, Gary? 
In the old days the DS’s monitored the race referees’ channel and used the domestiques to carry messages like football (US) coaches do by substituting players to deliver play calls to the huddle.
That would be awesome, but it’d never fly. It is exactly what us mere mortals (non-pro’s) experience in USCF and collegiate road races, just on a smaller scale.
bump
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My suggestion to OLN, ignored apparently, was to have an attitude indicator somewhere on the screen that would accurately reflect the degree of climb that was being shown on the TV. Just something as simple as a little line that moved from horizontal to indicate the terrain being shown would be sweet.
Its impossible to really judge the hills they’re riding on other than for cadence and sweat.
It would be really easy to do, as every camera is mounted on a car or motorcycle (save for the helo shots), you could have the attitude indicators on the camera vehicles and use telemetry to get it back to the station. Just one more data point.
If we’re going to repeal technology, I suggest we go back to wool jerseys, fixed gear bikes, and spare tires wrapped around the shoulders.
Good point. I do wonder to what degree the use of the radios have changed the racing strategies and dynamics. I don’t know if it’s me, but there does not seem to be as many break aways that get, really away any more and stick. Unless something dramatic happens, they almost always seem to be reeled in by the peleton before the finish.
Fleck
My suggestion to OLN, ignored apparently, was to have an attitude indicator somewhere . . .
Good idea. I’d like to know who has a good attitude and who has a bad attitude. They could just super-impose smily faces: or :l or 
Not sure how you determine this, though.
HH 
We do have this on coverage of several races in Europe. Don’t know about TDF this year, will have to wait for the Mountain stages.
Basically, sometimes there is the gradient in % shown on the screen.
Good idea - while your at it how about the “unwritten rule” of drafting on the team cars? I mean, c’mon, these guys are pros aren’t they?
Let us know how that goes.
http://www.livebiodata.de/
I saw 900 watts from Kessler and 60+ km/hour for a bit at the end. Not sure of the update period.
That is an awesome idea.
Yeah! And make them ride only heavy double diamond designed frames! Oh wait, they do. As if that bike is any safer because they’ve got a chain slid down the seat tube to make the minimum weight requirement.
I’d prefer they remove the radios. I would make the racers race, rather than have the DS sit in the car and calc speeds needed to catch the break in sight of the finish line or who in the break has how many king of the mountains points. Let the racers race. It would increase the excitement of the event.