TV signal relays: blimp vs helicopter

[SDK]

Hello all,
The noise from the helicopters relaying the TV signal is just too
annoying. Why can't we have a nice little blimp floating above the
pack, buzzing along quietly at 30mph with its tiny little propellers?
Seriously, it seems like the low speeds of cycling make it perfect for
blimps as TV signal relays, and they are as far as I know safer than
helicopters in lousy weather like what we saw (or didn't) at Amstel.--SK

[Stewart Fleming]

SDK wrote:

> Hello all,
> The noise from the helicopters relaying the TV signal is just too
> annoying. Why can't we have a nice little blimp floating above the
> pack, buzzing along quietly at 30mph with its tiny little propellers?

Two words: "lightning conductors".

[Donald Munro]

SDK wrote:
>> Hello all,
>> The noise from the helicopters relaying the TV signal is just too
>> annoying. Why can't we have a nice little blimp floating above the
>> pack, buzzing along quietly at 30mph with its tiny little propellers?

Stewart Fleming wrote:
> Two words: "lightning conductors".

Jeff uses a secret prototype foot pump that synthesizes helium instead
of hydrogen to pump up the blimp. It can also be used to make Belgian
commuter special bikes wheels lighter.

[Stewart Fleming]

Donald Munro wrote:
> SDK wrote:
>
>>>Hello all,
>>>The noise from the helicopters relaying the TV signal is just too
>>>annoying. Why can't we have a nice little blimp floating above the
>>>pack, buzzing along quietly at 30mph with its tiny little propellers?
>
>
> Stewart Fleming wrote:
>
>>Two words: "lightning conductors".
>
>
> Jeff uses a secret prototype foot pump that synthesizes helium instead
> of hydrogen to pump up the blimp. It can also be used to make Belgian
> commuter special bikes wheels lighter.

From our secret world-wide cycling oriented spy network (codename:
Echelon), we have gleaned the following details on the CyclingNews blimp.

1. They use SKYNET as an Internet provider (I am NOT making this up)
2. They somehow manage to get ADSL over wireless. Alien technology.
3. They use time-dilation to send messages. This explains the
12-minute delay in timestamps.

--

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Reply-To: "Jeff Jones - Cyclingnews Editorial" >
From: "Jeff Jones - Cyclingnews Editorial" >
To: Alexandre >
Subject: Re: Blimp
Date: Sun, 24 Apr 2005 19:51:02 +1000

Alexandre wrote:
> What is the strategy for dealing with the thunderstorms in the
> Zeppelin?

I've attached lots of conducting rods to the outside of the blimp, so
that I am in no danger whatsoever of being struck by lightning. There is
an off-chance that the lightning will ignite the hydrogen and cause a
big inferno, but I'm prepared to play the odds.

Jeff