"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - TourTracker programmer is looking for feedback

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steephill
11-26-07, 04:19 PM
The [California, Georgia, Missouri] TourTracker programmer has contacted me about feedback for the next version. Here's your chance to have some input for following domestic stage races and possibly even the Tour de France this year via the web.

http://www.steephill.tv/2007/tour-of-missouri/tracker-tb.jpg

Here is what I plan on sending:
- video must be there 100% of the time. The TourTracker without video is like a sexy car without an engine.
- once video is guaranteed then it would be great to pick from multiple camera views. Watch the break or watch the chase group etc...
- video with a larger frame size and higher frame rate: ie. better quality video.
- automatic time gap calculations.
- automatic leaderboard
- zoom feature for the course profile to get a closer look at the steepness of the road the riders are on or approaching.

Add your 2 cents and I'll pass it along...

fly:yes/land:no
11-26-07, 05:40 PM
first, steephill.tv is a really nice site. the g'iro stuff there this summer was awesome

second, my two cents for tour tracker are pretty much the same as yours:

- must have video for all stages
- live updates for the gaps
- zoom feature or some enlargement of the climbs that show the steepness.
'nother
11-26-07, 08:37 PM
It's like that tired old real estate saw, except it's "video, video, video".

However, and I think this came up last time a similar topic was explored (regarding the TdF), it's probably technically impossible to guarantee 100% of the time, due to the vagaries of satellite link-ups, etc. But I will say the problems I've seen in the past (ToC past couple of years) are more likely due to web server inadequacies, not satellite problems. I think these guys simply underestimate the massive amount of traffic and bandwidth required to pull it off, and they get killed.

Beyond video I'm not too picky. I guess some audio would be nice, unless it's some lame-ass announcer just babbling on and on to fill air time. It would be neat to see some kind of TdF-like graphic depicting the race (breakaways, leader position, etc.). The "zoom feature" could be done with links to Google Maps/Google Earth URLs? That would be a nice touch.