How would you change the Tour de France?

[Danneaux]

Hi All!

Spurred by a recent article on the TdF's timing and tracking systems...
http://bicycling.com/blogs/boulderreport/2013/06/30/tour-de-france-please-join-the-21st-century/?cm_mmc=Facebook-_-Bicycling-_-Content-Blog-_-21st-century
...I find myself once again wondering how and if the Tour de France might be changed to recapture some of its past appeal.

Of course, there's the obvious desire to eliminate doping as a factor, but that will happen or not by other means.

What about the race itself? Would a deliberate return to "basics" make for a more exciting race? How about...
• Banning rider/team comms during the race, so riders have to find their relative standing by word of mouth from teammates.
• Going for "spec bikes" that are all built of the same materials and diameters and (round) shapes. Steel is universally "accessible" and such a change would put performance difference down to the human rider. maybe no compact frames.
• How about banning team cars? Get a puncture, you change the tire/tube yourself and pump it up yourself -- no assistance.
• Banning electronics on the bikes. Mechanical odometers...okay. Bike computers? Nah.
• While we're at it...toe clips and straps instead of clipless.
• How 'bout limiting derailleur gear selection to downtube or bar-end shifters and perhaps a 2x5 or 2x6 drivetrain. Friction-shifted, of course.

Wouldn't it have been interesting if -- on the hundredth edition of the race -- a true "retro-race" had been run, recreating the first Tour down to the very same route? Imagine...everyone on fixed-gears or flip-flop hubs. Maybe no quick-release hubs. Wool jerseys and shorts and socks with leather shoes. Spare tires worn bandoleer-style around the shoulders. Handlebar-mounted aluminum water bottles, stoppered with corks. Brooks or Ideale saddles, of course.

How do you think our "modern" riders would fare on such "period" machinery? Thoughts?

Best,

Dan. (...who would definitely like to see this at least once)

[jags]

only thing i'de change would be radio contact.
i certainly would't change the tech stuff like bikes/wheels i love to see all the new gear every year they keep improving the frames.

drugs emm never get them completly out of the sport,
this years tour so far is the best i've seen in yonks  its a climbers  tour this year which always makes for a cracker.

[Fred A-M]

Better testing, stiffer penalties (Armstrong's Law) & a french winner!  

Otherwise it's a perfectly good format, some years better than others entertainment-wise, but wouldn't miss it for the world!

[NZPeterG]

Hi All,
Made it like the 1st few Tour de France's with over 300km   days and a few dirt roads to help make it more fun to watch.
Have the cycle teams from the parts of the world that they come from  
U.K., O.Z., New Zealand, France, Sudan, etc

Please Note: the second year of the tour some Riders got onto a train to save there Legs  

Pete

[brummie]

I'd like to see an 'alternative' TDF run along the lines of the Tour Divide / Round the world record rides where it's every man/woman for themselves with no outside assistance !

[NZPeterG]

I'd like to see an 'alternative' TDF run along the lines of the Tour Divide / Round the world record rides where it's every man/woman for themselves with no outside assistance !

I like that put it will too hard from the pro's

Pete

[ians]

I like it pretty much as it is.  The only change for me would be, if by some quirk of geography, time and space, it could pass by my front door each year so that I could watch it in comfort.

And like Fred says, a French winner would be nice.  Just for a change.

I think it's hard enough as it is.  The people who take part (apart from the 'you know whos') are heroes.  An injured Ted King, for instance, eliminated because of a (disputed) 7" time penalty.  And I refuse to become cynical about it because of the 'D' word.   

I don't think an endurance type race would attract the big money which has enabled the Tour to become something which is much bigger than a bike race.  I know people who don't ride bikes, but watch the tour on television because of the spectacle.  It's theatre on two wheels.  I know football is often called 'the beautiful game' (no idea why - certainly not by me) - but for me the Tour should really have that accolade for the sportsmanship, skill and courage that it engenders. 

I've followed the TdF since 1963 and while I prefer steel framed bikes from that period, I recognise that younger people (my children for example) want carbon, clip-less pedals and electronic aids to tell them where they are, where they've been and how long it took them.  And why not?  It's their turn now.

ian

[JWestland]

There's a couple of retro-sportives now in Europe such as L'Eroica. No fancy business with computer tracking...

...and no SPDs, downtube/bar end shifters, max 2x7 gears (you can get 7 speed freewheels to work on Super Record), brake cables flapping in the wind and...

Proper food. Chianti, Salami, bread. Nom nom nom.

The father of the tour the France is no doubt spinning in his grave. He did it on a fixed with a flip/flop hub that weighed 14 KGs (at least) while smoking/drinking wine. The original routes were also much longer.

But it's much faster now of course. Me? A women's section would be nice what's up with this no women business! Especially as women are winning Ironman/mountain bike/cyclocross races competing with men these days.

[Danneaux]

Me? A women's section would be nice what's up with this no women business!

Agreed! Heartily! Jeannie Longo was a longtime hero of mine: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeannie_Longo Sadly, her latter career was dogged by doping alegations which *still* have not been resolved.

Very sadly indeed -- as with so many things these days -- there doesn't seem to be (m)any great road races or classics featuring women 'cos there's not so much money in it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tour_de_France_F%C3%A9minin
...and, in French: http://www.lest-eclair.fr/article/sport-dans-laube/route-de-france-feminine-ce-sera-pour-2012
...GoogleTranslated to English here: http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lest-eclair.fr%2Farticle%2Fsport-dans-laube%2Froute-de-france-feminine-ce-sera-pour-2012&act=url

In other matters...

Proper food. Chianti, Salami, bread. Nom nom nom.

Proper food? Did someone call my name?

Best,

Dan. (...who is called by a number of names, but never "Late to the Table")

[brummie]

The father of the tour the France is no doubt spinning in his grave. He did it on a fixed with a flip/flop hub that weighed 14 KGs (at least) while smoking/drinking wine. The original routes were also much longer.

In the true spirit of an audax rider then !

[JWestland]

Nah audax bikes have gears these days, wussies

Le Manfriend toured Australia/New Zealand on single speed. Fixed in flat/not too bad hills, flip-flop for steep areas. Cos going downhill on steep hills on a fixed is...interesting.

He brought a trailer to bring his tent etc.

@Dan I am never late to the table either hey we need calories for cycling!

[Danneaux]

Le Manfriend toured Australia/New Zealand on single speed[/u]...He brought a trailer to bring his tent etc.

Wow. Just...wow. This is superhuman in Danneauxworld.  Respect!

Best,

Dan. (...whose knees are also impressed by this!)

[JWestland]

I wonder why people think fixed is bad for knees?

With right length cranks/gearing it's just fine and great for the hamstrings

[Danneaux]

I wonder why people think fixed is bad for knees?

Hi Jawine!

In my case, not bad for the knees 'cos Fixed, bad for my knees 'cos not down-gearable for hills to the extent I'd need (a flip-flop wouldn't be enough). I've ridden fixed in a gear that matched my usual (low, 58- or 62 gear-inch) cruising gear and did fine. I'm just a special case, I guess, in needing to avoid blowing-out past-injured knees and that means gearing down generally and especially so on hills.

But no! Agreed! Fixed is fine for knees if geared appropriately! Long live the Fixies!  

All the best,

Dan. (...whose hamstrings could use a good dose of Fixed)

[brummie]

Agreed. If sensibly geared ( with the exception of steep hills ) you should find yourself 'twiddling' at a decent cadence & putting very little stress on your muscles / joints.
I'm pretty convinced my legs get tired sooner on gears than fixed on big rides over 100 miles....