Gadgetell’s Tech on de Tour: GPS on bicycles interview
One of the things in this year’s tour that is really making an impression on me is riders choosing to make their bike heavier. Normally, cyclists (or any endurance athletes) strive to have nothing extra. No cost is too big, no weight savings too small. So when you have more and more Tour riders choosing to put a Garmin GPS and a PowerTap hub, it deserves a closer look.
I had the chance to interview Jake Jacobson, Garmin’s Senior Media Relations Specialist, who is actually in France with the Tour riders, the lucky guy. He was gracious enough to answer my questions despite moving from town to town in the French countryside following the action.
I’ll point out here that saying Garmin’s hundreds of thousands of dollar investment in the Garmin-Chipotle team was a move into a niche market was probably not the wisest of moves for me. Luckily, Jake didn’t hold against me and was gracious enough to answer anyway.
Gadgetell: What does the Garmin team like most about their Edge 705? What competitive advantage do they feel they get from this gear?
Jacobson: The cyclists and staff of Team Garmin appreciate the options and data provided to them by the Edge 705. As David Millar and other cyclists have said on several occasions, they simply want as much information as possible and the flexibility to display it and analyze it as they see fit. And whether they’re glancing down at their power metrics during a time trial or studying their stats hours after the ride is over, Team Garmin has embraced the training and racing advantages offered by the Edge 705.
Gadgetell: Garmin’s sponsorship of a team is a pretty big move as is expanding the edge line to four units, where does Garmin see this niche headed?
Jacobson: These days, describing cycling and/or the fitness world as “niche” marketing is a bit of an understatement. During the three weeks of the Tour de France, more than 20 million roadside fans and 110 million daily television viewers are expected to watch extensive coverage of Team Garmin. Each year, cycling coverage reaches 4 billion people, a number that is sure to grow as cycling emerges as an easy and enjoyable solution to global challenges associated with the environment and health issues. Riding a bike helps you “go green” and get exercise at the same time. The benefits of GPS-based data when using the Edge and/or Forerunner products quickly become evident whether users are participating in a walk on the weekend or the world’s biggest endurance race.
Gadgetell: Historically, cycling companies and tech companies to some extent, have shunned working with other makers. Garmin has broken this idea with the ANT+Sport wireless concept that connects the Garmin unit with other products. Who else will be offering components that support this connectivity?
Jacobson: Because ANT+ is an open protocol, we welcome component makers to work with us in creating compatible devices. Currently SRM, Saris and Quarq are enjoying the benefits of working with ANT+, and interest grows with each day that the Edge 705 turns heads on the Tour de France.
Big thanks go out to Jake and Garmin for taking time out of their busy Tour schedule.
Company site: [Garmin]
Photo by Jerzy Snowman
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The reason the cyclists are “making their bikes heavier” is really the fact that they have already made them as light as is allowed. A few years ago cycling organizers decide to put a limit on how light a racing bicycle could be. At the time some bike makers would do anything to have the lightest bike, to the point that some unsafe things were tried and there were incidents of mechanical failure and accidents. Bike makers have continued to strive to make lighter bike components, but with modern carbon fiber and high tech metals, they have gotten to the point where they can build a bicycle that is lighter than the regulations allow, while still being strong & safe. So now the cycling teams are using the extra weight available to allow the cyclists to use power meters and GPS equipment. And cycling and other sports that use lightweight personal GPS equipment are hardly a niche. Besides cyclists - runners, hikers, sailors, and many other people who participate in outdoor activities use GPS. These are the kind of people who will notice that Garmin has sponsored a cycling team. It is not like NASCAR where the sponsors are brewers, tobacco companies, and Viagra.
on July 22, 2008 at 10:42 PM - LINK@Matt. I see your point but the GPS wouldn’t be part of the “adding weight” argument as it is an attachment.
According to Velonews: “In any case, Chapter 3 of the 2008 Tour’s Race Regulation Guide — which spans 14 pages — clearly states in French (mine is poor, I might add) that the weight of the bicycle cannot be less than 6.8 kilograms. It further clarifies that this weight must be achieved without the addition of detachable parts. This means computers and water bottles, but also weights that are taped on and could be removed after the start of the stage.“
In any event, what a pro chooses to add to their bike is important in my eyes, whether it is a sponsors gear or other. And that is what inspired this post.
on July 23, 2008 at 07:02 AM - LINK