Nuance

 

How many times has it been requested that you put your tracking device away, turn it upside down, shove it down into a jersey pocket, leave it behind, or otherwise render it un-viewable before the start of a crit or road race? Never, probably. If you race on the Velo Sports Center, though, you should expect it.

You know, there is an announcer at the races who will periodically give the speed, especially as it increases, and he does not need any competition from people trying to take that aspect of his job from him... gotcha! Well maybe not. The real reason, as you probably guessed (if you didn't already know) is to take away a source of distraction, letting those competing focus entirely on the task at hand.

Is the difference nuanced? I guess that depends on how literally one defines the word. It is, however, one of those little things that make track cycling unique from the other forms of skinny-tired sport.