TDF question?

[Dave W]

What's the stubby mudguard thing they have under the saddle these days - is it a transmitter or something?

[tatanab]

It is the antenna for a transponder to get accurate placings in the finishing scramble.

[andrew_s]

It's a GPS transponder, so that commentators (and teams) can see exactly where all the riders are, for who's in breaks, accurate time gaps etc
Not all teams use them.
[update: all riders are using them - http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/big-dat ... -de-france ]

TV time gaps have been taken from similar transponders on the camera motorbikes for a while, but the reported gaps vary as the bike moves from the front of the break to the back, and not all groups have a camera bike in attendance.
Finish line placings are taken using chips attached to the chainstays (normally), with cameras for precise placing and riders who've swapped bikes or otherwise lost their chips.

[Si]

No it's not. It's the new super-weave, hollow fibre, carbon carradice long flap camper mount. Obviously on the 15km TT they don't need to pack a trangia, but wait till they get into the mountains where there's no cafe for miles.

[RickH]

I suspect it is a camera mount as different riders get selected to run a front or rear camera (different rider/riders with each) each day to give on bike footage.

Here is a short snippet as an example - from last year's Tour of California.
[youtube]F7aH1bn6yUI[/youtube]

Rick.

[Redvee]

It's a handle so they can be pushed up the climbs in the Alps by the spectators, not sure why they were fitted to the TT bikes today though.

[cycleruk]

It is the race transponder. It triggers the timer when the rider crosses the line.
It used to be mounted on the chainstay but apparently it got tangled sometimes when having to change the wheel. (As per explanation on TdF TV program)

[Samuel D]

Only andrew_s has the right answer. (I realise some of the others were jokes.)

They’re horribly ugly. Let’s hope miniaturisation comes to the rescue!

[cycleruk]

Only andrew_s has the right answer. (I realise some of the others were jokes.)

They’re horribly ugly. Let’s hope miniaturisation comes to the rescue!

That's what the commentator said on Eurosport today. He's changed his mind since yesterday.

[Richard Fairhurst]

No it's not. It's the new super-weave, hollow fibre, carbon carradice long flap camper mount. Obviously on the 15km TT they don't need to pack a trangia, but wait till they get into the mountains where there's no cafe for miles.

I keep looking at it and thinking it's the attachment for a Xootr Crossrack. Ideal for a single pannier and a bit of credit card B&B touring in case the Sky Death Star can't make it up the Alpe d'Huez.

[easyroller]

"Dimension Data have a unit on the back of every bike for transmitting all the GPS data that will be gathered and broadcast throughout the race."

[mjr]

See Also http://letour-livetracking.dimensiondata.com/