Pitiful TV coverage of the USA "PRO" Cycling Challenge

[--D-y]

I kept waiting for Phil to exclaim "I can't work under these
conditions!!!" and leave.

Which would serve this race organization right.
Not only "technical difficulties" (actually, "near-total inability")
to broadcast footage of the racing, but inept motorcycle drivers who
didn't follow the action.

If this had been the TdF, we could have seen the descent from
Independence Pass into Aspen. I rode that one "several" times during
the early 70's; I haven't seen it in recent years but I understand the
road is not vastly improved IRT width, guardrails, etc. Especially for
a large group, that's a fairly technical descent, and it was raining
(BTDT on that road, too, since it rains often in the afternoon-early
evening).

There were some gaps opened up, certainly.

Maybe we'll get to see some replay today? Since the replay during the
show seemed to work, maybe they should have just shown the whole stage
on replay?

"Ice on the wings"? Didn't they run even one test on the TV equipment
before the race started? Or at least fix it overnight, after Day 1 was
totally screwed?

What an embarrassment to my country. For shame!
--D-y

[DirtRoadie]

On Aug 25, 9:24*am, --D-y > wrote:
> I kept waiting for Phil to exclaim "I can't work under these
> conditions!!!" and leave.
>
> Which would serve this race organization right.
> Not only "technical difficulties" (actually, "near-total inability")
> to broadcast footage of the racing, but inept motorcycle drivers who
> didn't follow the action.
>
> If this had been the TdF, we could have seen the descent from
> Independence Pass into Aspen. I rode that one "several" times during
> the early 70's; I haven't seen it in recent years but I understand the
> road is not vastly improved IRT width, guardrails, etc. Especially for
> a large group, that's a fairly technical descent, and it was raining
> (BTDT on that road, too, since it rains often in the afternoon-early
> evening).
>
> There were some gaps opened up, certainly.
>
> Maybe we'll get to see some replay today? Since the replay during the
> show seemed to work, maybe they should have just shown the whole stage
> on replay?
>
> "Ice on the wings"? Didn't they run even one test on the TV equipment
> before the race started? Or at least fix it overnight, after Day 1 was
> totally screwed?
>
> What an embarrassment to my country. For shame!


Much better today. Technically anyhow. I'm wondering how well they
will be able to cover multiple riders by moto-cam when they get to the
contenders.

DR

[Mike Jacoubowsky]

"--D-y" > wrote in message
...
>I kept waiting for Phil to exclaim "I can't work under these
> conditions!!!" and leave.
>
> Which would serve this race organization right.
> Not only "technical difficulties" (actually, "near-total inability")
> to broadcast footage of the racing, but inept motorcycle drivers who
> didn't follow the action.
>
> If this had been the TdF, we could have seen the descent from
> Independence Pass into Aspen. I rode that one "several" times during
> the early 70's; I haven't seen it in recent years but I understand the
> road is not vastly improved IRT width, guardrails, etc. Especially for
> a large group, that's a fairly technical descent, and it was raining
> (BTDT on that road, too, since it rains often in the afternoon-early
> evening).
>
> There were some gaps opened up, certainly.
>
> Maybe we'll get to see some replay today? Since the replay during the
> show seemed to work, maybe they should have just shown the whole stage
> on replay?
>
> "Ice on the wings"? Didn't they run even one test on the TV equipment
> before the race started? Or at least fix it overnight, after Day 1 was
> totally screwed?
>
> What an embarrassment to my country. For shame!
> --D-y

Maybe, but it looks to be quite an impressive race & venue. Impressive
crowds in many places, especially Independence Pass and the last 4k or
so of the TT course today. I hope this race continues. The timing is
interesting, since it's after the Giro & TdF and during the Vuelta... so
even when you get the top guys (who aren't riding the Vuelta) they'll be
a bit on the downside from their TdF efforts and not highly-motivated.
On the other hand, the guys who didn't do as well as they'd have liked
at the TdF have something to prove.

It's become a more interesting race than I expected.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

[DirtRoadie]

On Aug 25, 1:46*pm, DirtRoadie > wrote:
> On Aug 25, 9:24*am, --D-y > wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > I kept waiting for Phil to exclaim "I can't work under these
> > conditions!!!" and leave.
>
> > Which would serve this race organization right.
> > Not only "technical difficulties" (actually, "near-total inability")
> > to broadcast footage of the racing, but inept motorcycle drivers who
> > didn't follow the action.
>
> > If this had been the TdF, we could have seen the descent from
> > Independence Pass into Aspen. I rode that one "several" times during
> > the early 70's; I haven't seen it in recent years but I understand the
> > road is not vastly improved IRT width, guardrails, etc. Especially for
> > a large group, that's a fairly technical descent, and it was raining
> > (BTDT on that road, too, since it rains often in the afternoon-early
> > evening).
>
> > There were some gaps opened up, certainly.
>
> > Maybe we'll get to see some replay today? Since the replay during the
> > show seemed to work, maybe they should have just shown the whole stage
> > on replay?
>
> > "Ice on the wings"? Didn't they run even one test on the TV equipment
> > before the race started? Or at least fix it overnight, after Day 1 was
> > totally screwed?
>
> > What an embarrassment to my country. For shame!
>
> Much better today. Technically anyhow. I'm wondering how well they
> will be able to cover multiple riders by moto-cam when they get to the
> contenders.

Actually pretty well done although someone should tell the the camera
operators that they could back off a bit or move more to the side so
we could see an entire rider and all the nuances of his pedaling
rather than just a full frame closeup of a back and ass.
DR

[Brad Anders]

My impression from the coverage is that there are more attention-
seeking freaks on the mountain passes in US races than in Europe.
Total freak show.

[RicodJour[_2_]]

On Aug 26, 10:22*am, Brad Anders > wrote:
>
> My impression from the coverage is that there are more attention-
> seeking freaks on the mountain passes in US races than in Europe.
> Total freak show.

Or more TV producers pandering to the masses. Freaks sell.

R

[--D-y]

On Aug 25, 11:11*pm, "Mike Jacoubowsky" >
wrote:
> "--D-y" > wrote in message
>
> ...
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >I kept waiting for Phil to exclaim "I can't work under these
> > conditions!!!" and leave.
>
> > Which would serve this race organization right.
> > Not only "technical difficulties" (actually, "near-total inability")
> > to broadcast footage of the racing, but inept motorcycle drivers who
> > didn't follow the action.
>
> > If this had been the TdF, we could have seen the descent from
> > Independence Pass into Aspen. I rode that one "several" times during
> > the early 70's; I haven't seen it in recent years but I understand the
> > road is not vastly improved IRT width, guardrails, etc. Especially for
> > a large group, that's a fairly technical descent, and it was raining
> > (BTDT on that road, too, since it rains often in the afternoon-early
> > evening).
>
> > There were some gaps opened up, certainly.
>
> > Maybe we'll get to see some replay today? Since the replay during the
> > show seemed to work, maybe they should have just shown the whole stage
> > on replay?
>
> > "Ice on the wings"? Didn't they run even one test on the TV equipment
> > before the race started? Or at least fix it overnight, after Day 1 was
> > totally screwed?
>
> > What an embarrassment to my country. For shame!
> > --D-y
>
> Maybe, but it looks to be quite an impressive race & venue. Impressive
> crowds in many places, especially Independence Pass and the last 4k or
> so of the TT course today. I hope this race continues. The timing is
> interesting, since it's after the Giro & TdF and during the Vuelta... so
> even when you get the top guys (who aren't riding the Vuelta) they'll be
> a bit on the downside from their TdF efforts and not highly-motivated.
> On the other hand, the guys who didn't do as well as they'd have liked
> at the TdF have something to prove.
>
> It's become a more interesting race than I expected.

I saw the Zinger/Coors a couple of times including the day Johnathan/
Jaques Boy-er/Boy-A got his laps back. Funny about how getting good
racers together makes for good racing <g>.

Yes, I want this one to continue (FWIW) and that's why I'm squawking.

I noted Levi's "I was cold and shivering" yesterday. Very much a big
part of the game and one trip down toward Aspen from Independence I
got caught out when I knew better and survived a popped-open original
Dura Ace front caliper plus "shivering" with little drops of ice
appearing on my leg hairs ("why racers *really* shave") on what
started out as a hot summer day. And that, a short ride that turned
back well before the top when the storm rolled in-- which is a near-
daily occurrence at times on that hill.

I hope they get serious (the TV transmission problems did not get
fixed overnight) and make this race happen on a yearly basis. Fix the
TV uploads, first, and the second first, get some moto drivers who
know WTF is up. Seriously...
--D-y

[--D-y]

On Aug 26, 9:22*am, Brad Anders > wrote:
> My impression from the coverage is that there are more attention-
> seeking freaks on the mountain passes in US races than in Europe.
> Total freak show.

No barricades in finish line run-up, and intoxicated idiots-- altitude
doesn't help anything there!

Another place the moto riders were sorely lacking in performance.
They're probably mostly a group of volunteers. Maybe next year we'll
see a true corps at work.
--D-y

[William R. Mattil]

On 8/26/2011 12:57 PM, --D-y wrote:

>
> I saw the Zinger/Coors a couple of times including the day Johnathan/
> Jaques Boy-er/Boy-A got his laps back. Funny about how getting good
> racers together makes for good racing<g>.


Hoo Boy - this was a while ago but my aging memory banks are telling me
it was the Estes park Crit ? I have a great picture of Jock winning
that race coming across the finish line in his "hairnet" helmet, with it
unfastened <lol> He rode for GS Mengoni that year.



Bill

--

William R. Mattil

http://www.celestial-images.com

[--D-y]

On Aug 26, 1:12*pm, "William R. Mattil" >
wrote:
> On 8/26/2011 12:57 PM, --D-y wrote:
>
>
>
> > I saw the Zinger/Coors a couple of times including the day Johnathan/
> > Jaques Boy-er/Boy-A got his laps back. Funny about how getting good
> > racers together makes for good racing<g>.
>
> Hoo Boy - this was a while ago but my aging memory banks are telling me
> it was the Estes park Crit ? *I have a great picture of Jock winning
> that race coming across the finish line in his "hairnet" helmet, with it
> unfastened <lol> He rode for GS Mengoni that year.

North Boulder Park, I believe. 1980. The riders in the break made
Boyer do all the work, from what I saw, while Londono and others were
roughed up in the "chase".
Michel Pollentier single-handedly blocked the "chase" pack for many
laps on that short course.

Yes, the helmet was unfastened and the race announcer threatened Boyer
with some kind of sanction-- I guess they didn't dare repeat the 5-
minute Centerline Violation biz-ness from '79?

Whatever, there is tradition both on the positive and negative sides
of the coin, so to speak. I hope they "go pro" and make this thing
work, although I think the races in Columbia might actually go higher
in altitude <g>.
--D-y

[RicodJour[_2_]]

On Aug 25, 11:24*am, --D-y > wrote:
> I kept waiting for Phil to exclaim "I can't work under these
> conditions!!!" and leave.
>
> Which would serve this race organization right.
> Not only "technical difficulties" (actually, "near-total inability")
> to broadcast footage of the racing, but inept motorcycle drivers who
> didn't follow the action.
>
> If this had been the TdF, we could have seen the descent from
> Independence Pass into Aspen. I rode that one "several" times during
> the early 70's; I haven't seen it in recent years but I understand the
> road is not vastly improved IRT width, guardrails, etc. Especially for
> a large group, that's a fairly technical descent, and it was raining
> (BTDT on that road, too, since it rains often in the afternoon-early
> evening).
>
> There were some gaps opened up, certainly.
>
> Maybe we'll get to see some replay today? Since the replay during the
> show seemed to work, maybe they should have just shown the whole stage
> on replay?
>
> "Ice on the wings"? Didn't they run even one test on the TV equipment
> before the race started? Or at least fix it overnight, after Day 1 was
> totally screwed?
>
> What an embarrassment to my country. For shame!
> --D-y

I'm watching on Radioshack's Shack Tracker and finding the picture
breakup not so annoying since the feed has no commercials. Versus
drove me nuts with the commercials and their stupid lead-in graphics.
Versus spent more money and time showing their graphics then showing
the race.

R

[--D-y]

On Aug 26, 8:02*pm, RicodJour > wrote:
> On Aug 25, 11:24*am, --D-y > wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > I kept waiting for Phil to exclaim "I can't work under these
> > conditions!!!" and leave.
>
> > Which would serve this race organization right.
> > Not only "technical difficulties" (actually, "near-total inability")
> > to broadcast footage of the racing, but inept motorcycle drivers who
> > didn't follow the action.
>
> > If this had been the TdF, we could have seen the descent from
> > Independence Pass into Aspen. I rode that one "several" times during
> > the early 70's; I haven't seen it in recent years but I understand the
> > road is not vastly improved IRT width, guardrails, etc. Especially for
> > a large group, that's a fairly technical descent, and it was raining
> > (BTDT on that road, too, since it rains often in the afternoon-early
> > evening).
>
> > There were some gaps opened up, certainly.
>
> > Maybe we'll get to see some replay today? Since the replay during the
> > show seemed to work, maybe they should have just shown the whole stage
> > on replay?
>
> > "Ice on the wings"? Didn't they run even one test on the TV equipment
> > before the race started? Or at least fix it overnight, after Day 1 was
> > totally screwed?
>
> > What an embarrassment to my country. For shame!
> > --D-y
>
> I'm watching on Radioshack's Shack Tracker and finding the picture
> breakup not so annoying since the feed has no commercials. *Versus
> drove me nuts with the commercials and their stupid lead-in graphics.
> Versus spent more money and time showing their graphics then showing
> the race.

I didn't see any breakup during commercials on Versus <g>.

What a contrast to Euro coverage, seen on "live TV" during a visit.
Hours and hours of "showing the racing".
SOS for American producers who don't "understand" racing and/or don't
think their viewers understand or would be happy to watch.

Graphics? We don't need no steenking graphics! Except maybe some
"scorecard" presentations to show GC and so forth. That's something
else they don't understand.

Of course, having pro moto drivers/cameramen and pro production would
help. This has been going on for years and years in the good ol' USA.
The actual event is like an allergy or something.
Is it a Spandex problem, after all?
--D-y