I know this could be a little late, but what was that hump on the skinsuit of USPS team and the yellow jersey when they were climbing up the Alp d’Huez? Was it some cooling device? A hydration pack like the IceBak that comes from Camelbak? Or it is just some technology that enables better aerodynamics? Or was that rocket fuel for Lance?

I think I heard paul or phil mention it was the two way radio

Marty

Such a huge two-way radio? I thought their radio were as small as a phonecard?

I saw it- it was the radio. I guess it still is big, because in the Lance Chronicles, they were discussing the problem on where to place the radio on his back so that it wouldn't increase the drag while he was racing. This is when he was in Seattle testing out his suit in the wind tunnels. There was a section where they asked if there was any way he'd consider putting the radio in front of him rather than on his back. I thought he was so definitive about it- he was kind of slumped back in his seat, and he responded "nope".

That was definitely his radio.

Koffee

The radio was close to his butt, it looked like the size of a deck of playing cards or so. The major hump right in the middle of his spine is just a natural thing he has. I have heard about it a few times. I don't know if it's the result of an accident, or just a rouge vertebrae that sticks out.

They might have switched radios but the ones USPS used to use in the past were modified versions of the Alinco DJC5 (http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/ht/0058.html) credit-card sized radios (with truncated antennas).

http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/ht/0058.jpg

It measures 2.2 x 3.7 x 0.42 inches and weighs 3 oz. Alinco has a new model out called the DJC7 (http://www.alinco.com/Products/DJC7/) which is slightly wider and thicker but shorter. It weighs a tad more but has better range and sound quality.

http://www.alinco.com/Products/DJC7/djc7.jpg