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Pro Road Racing: RACE RADIOS - Ay or Nay???


  

14 members have voted

  1. 1. Race Radios Should Be Allowed In Professional Road Racing

    • Yebo!
      5
    • No, no, no...
      8
    • Only sometimes...
      1


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Posted

Surely this have been raised in the Hub galaxy.

 

Let's pick up some current and fresh views! :w00t:

 

WHAT DO YOU THINK - YES OR NO TO RACE RADIOS? WHAT IS YOUR REASON?

 

 

See additional info below:

From cyclingnews.com:

The debate about the use of race radios continues amongst riders and teams after the UCI decided to stop their use in Category 1 and Hors Category events in 2011 and extend the ban to World Calendar events in 2012.

 

A large majority of teams and riders are against the ban, citing safety as the main reason to maintain radios, but several French sports directors have pointed out that the issue is not quite that simple.

 

Cyrille Guimard, seven-time Tour de France stage winner and long-time team director, argued in Thursday's L'Equipe that radio communication could distract the riders, sometimes even causing crashes instead of preventing them.

Posted

I say 'Nay' because:

 

1/ Really wanna see more breakaways be awarded for their bravery and racing spirit with victories.

 

With race radios, race directors can control the pace, distance and tactical outcomes.

 

2/ Safety can be handled by marshalls and other race officials.

 

Often teams mention safety aspects as a reason for race radios. I think this is poo-poo for most of the time.

It is about tactical control.

Posted

I alays though 'NO', but after reading Jonathan Vaughter's piece in cyclingnews.com I've shifted to the "YES" view. Strange what actual experience does to fluffy nostalgic theory...

Posted

I alays though 'NO', but after reading Jonathan Vaughter's piece in cyclingnews.com I've shifted to the "YES" view. Strange what actual experience does to fluffy nostalgic theory...

Send a link, Williehond?

Or let us know what was the essence of his argument. :rolleyes:

Posted

Ma Man Basso wearing his race radio in protest at a current race in Argentina.

It must have been switched 'Off'.

 

http://cdn3.media.cyclingnews.futurecdn.net/2011/01/18/2/bettiniphoto_0066284_1_full_600.jpg

Posted

Send a link, Williehond?

Or let us know what was the essence of his argument. :rolleyes:

"While I still was undecided on my personal opinion about the pros and cons of not being able to use radios, the fact that this decision had been made with little to no input from the people it affected most really upset me. Despite the fact that I didn’t feel strongly about keeping radios in use, I did feel very strongly that a democratic system of equitable representation should be used when introducing regulations that affect the businesses of teams, the safety of riders and the outcome of competition. In other words: teams should have a voice in how the sport is governed – a very strong voice, as we, collectively, make up the largest economic part of cycling."

 

Jonathan Vaughters, elected in 2009 as president of the AIGCP (the association of Pro Tour and Pro Continental teams).

Posted (edited)

"While I still was undecided on my personal opinion about the pros and cons of not being able to use radios, the fact that this decision had been made with little to no input from the people it affected most really upset me. Despite the fact that I didn’t feel strongly about keeping radios in use, I did feel very strongly that a democratic system of equitable representation should be used when introducing regulations that affect the businesses of teams, the safety of riders and the outcome of competition. In other words: teams should have a voice in how the sport is governed – a very strong voice, as we, collectively, make up the largest economic part of cycling."

 

Jonathan Vaughters, elected in 2009 as president of the AIGCP (the association of Pro Tour and Pro Continental teams).

 

No, that's not it. Just quoting one paragraph doesn't do it, plus the bit you quoted is just a personal political bit. Read it to the end!

 

Why does everyone always want to reduce a good argument to one soundbite?! Don't be lazy, read it all!

Edited by Willehond
Posted

Everyone that says no has never used one.......

Yeah, that is an important element in Jonathan Vaughter's point of view...

Posted

http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/jonathan-vaughters/radio-silence

 

Read everything. Especially the last six or seven paragraphs. Convinced me.

 

I'm not convinced. And he is biased. "However, despite these justifications the majority of the AIGCP teams did not want them banned, so I needed to start representing that stance." - his job is to get what the cyclists want. They want radios... he bends over.

 

He gives many examples of where it could help, but in the end it takes out some of the randomness and sweat, blood and tears out of the break-away. I'm all for using radios for times of need, but not for tactics. With radios they can time exactly when and how hard to chase diminishing the chances of the heroes who try to win stages.

 

I say no radios, but that's only my opinion :)

Posted

I'm not convinced. And he is biased. "However, despite these justifications the majority of the AIGCP teams did not want them banned, so I needed to start representing that stance." - his job is to get what the cyclists want. They want radios... he bends over.

 

He gives many examples of where it could help, but in the end it takes out some of the randomness and sweat, blood and tears out of the break-away. I'm all for using radios for times of need, but not for tactics. With radios they can time exactly when and how hard to chase diminishing the chances of the heroes who try to win stages.

 

I say no radios, but that's only my opinion :)

That's what this poll is for, Andydude.

Interesting angle, your view... Nice.

Posted

I'm not convinced. And he is biased. "However, despite these justifications the majority of the AIGCP teams did not want them banned, so I needed to start representing that stance." - his job is to get what the cyclists want. They want radios... he bends over.

 

He gives many examples of where it could help, but in the end it takes out some of the randomness and sweat, blood and tears out of the break-away. I'm all for using radios for times of need, but not for tactics. With radios they can time exactly when and how hard to chase diminishing the chances of the heroes who try to win stages.

 

I say no radios, but that's only my opinion :)

 

I don't know how anyone can say that the way Gilbert or Cancellara won the Classics last year was anything but exciting and how the omission of race radios would have made them any more exciting. Random yes (when Cancellara punctured he would have been out of both Flemish classics), but not necessarily better. Watching Boonen and Cancellara hammer it out is what everyone wants to see, not just who manages to win because he won the durability lottery. I think racing is currently as exciting as can be, but people all get hung up on the big tours where breakawways are reeled in slowly. That's just one aspect. Real tactical racing happens in the oneday races and to make it fair the guys need the race radios. Plus, look at last year's Giro and you will see lots of unexpected results despite the fact that they had radios. I think people are romanticising the idea too much and it won't solve the problem. I like to see who is best, I don't just tune in to see unbridled chaos on television

Posted

No, that's not it. Just quoting one paragraph doesn't do it, plus the bit you quoted is just a personal political bit. Read it to the end!

 

Why does everyone always want to reduce a good argument to one soundbite?! Don't be lazy, read it all!

I did read the whole piece.

You're right - there's a lot more value towards the end - when he uses racing examples. :)

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