Velon, which is a organization of 11 World Tour Teams, made a deal with Infront media, which they intend to provide live telemetry and on-bike video to someone.  I guess the media.

I see this as the Velon staking a claim to something that was just out there.  I think they are trying to claim it before the media, ASO, or UCI does.  I’m not sure it will work, but it seems like a good play.

I really don’t know who owns a rider’s telemetry.  By telemetry, at this time, they stated that they will provide speed, cadence, power, heart rate, altitude, and acceleration data.  It seems weird that your team can sell the rights to your telemetry.

What if Chris Froome jumped the gun and sold his lifetime telemetry rights last year?  Does he own his telemetry.  Obviously not if this goes through.

And just because Velon got some money from Infront for this, it doesn’t mean that the riders will see a penny of that.  I think this group of World Tour team are looking for a way to get some income, some payback of all their expenses.  As of now, their business model sucks.

It really is an interesting subject.  Does the media, the race, the teams or the riders own the telemetry?  I guess this means that each and every rider will have to ride with a powermeter. Do they all have to use the same one to make the comparisons valid?  Who is going to calibrate these powermeters before each stage?  There are lots of questions to be answered.

Anyway, I’d bet you anything this isn’t over.  There is going to be a problem between the ASO, UCI and Velon.  Infront is a huge, one of the world’s largest sports marketing firms.  They have much deeper pockets than the ASO or UCI.  That is what makes this partnership really interesting.  Maybe since Infront can take these guys to the cleaners financially, they will just roll over and concede this to Velon.  You never know.

Tucker is still a little mixed up on how to get the big sticks in their the pet door.

Man, this weekend is a busy weekend for bike racing and viewing.  Let’s start off with the viewing.

Tomorrow is the start of the spring classics, with the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad tomorrow morning.  This is the race were Tom Boonen and two of his Etixx–Quick-Step team mates were schooled by one Ian Stannard last year.  That has to be one of the most embarrassing moments of Boonen’s career.  Video below.

If that isn’t enough, then you can watch Evelyn Stevens attempt the hour record tomorrow morning at Colorado Springs.  Both VeloNews and Ella CyclingTips are streaming the event live. I think she is hoping to do around 48 kms, which would be a pretty unbelievable distance.

I was thinking about going to Texas to race, but got behind in life and decided to stay here and race locally.  There is a local point race training criterium in Lawrence on Saturday.  It is nice because it is 25 miles there each way, so I’ll end up with close to 80 miles for the day, with 5 or 6 sprints.  It is supposed to be nearly 70 here, so that means really windy, of course.

Sunday there is the kickoff road race of the region with Froze Toes in Colombia Missouri.  This race has been going on forever and is really great.  I raced it last year, finishing 2nd.   I hope to go there again this year if I feel alright on Sunday.

These will be Tucker’s first bike races.  He has about 500 or so more to catch up with Bromont’s record.  Better to start young.

I’ve been repairing some old window sashes and once I start a big project, I kind of get caught up in it.  But this project would be huge to complete, so I’m slowly chipping away at it. Breathing 100 year old paint and wood dust isn’t the best thing for my lungs, so I’m trying to consciously wear a mask at all time.  That is easier said than done.

Bill and I rode 30 miles yesterday at 35 degrees.  I underdressed, which just wasted me that much more.  It is so weird how cold 35 feels when you’ve been riding at 50 and how warm it feels when you’ve been riding at 20.  I still don’t understand how a human body adapts to cold or heat.

Today it is supposed to be nearly 60, then in the upper 60’s, approaching 70 the next three days.

I glued on a tire last night on my rear race wheel.  Talk about having trouble.  Try to stretch a tire on with 2 1/2 broken fingers.  Especially since 1 1/2 of those are thumbs.(yes, I know, thumbs aren’t fingers).  Thumbless tire mounting would be a trick.

I’m going to work on Catherine’s bike some, but have to go get it from her garage.  Pick up and delivery bike repair. That is what my friend Trent Newcomer is doing out in Fort Collins/Boulder.  Check out his deal.

Okay, I’m just babbling.  I should probably accomplish something.

Evelyn is staying with Davis and Connie Phinney, which should help here a ton. Catch the live streaming video tomorrow at noon MST, at  Velonews.

A little primitive, but it works alright.

Tucker starting to sort of point.