Low tech in hi-tech
Filed in: Ed's blog spot
Ed the Editor's personal blog corner
If you ever see any Tour de France coverage, you will see that the professional cyclists have access to the highest tech equipment and training facilities imaginable. For instance, a front wheel is worth over $1000 alone, the frame can cost tens of thousands, helmets are worth hundreds, the wind tunnels at their disposal when preparing for races are state of the art multi millions, they travel in luxury coaches and... when they descend from the summit of the highest mountain passes, technology goes out the window (so to speak) and many of the racers stuff a newspaper down the front of their shirts to protect them from windchill!
F1 lumber
A few years ago, Formula One started to get really silly on technology. The power of the engines was getting into rocket territory, research budgets were in the stratosphere and the drivers had so many technical aids, they seemed almost superfluous. How ironic that when faced with some draconian out-of-the-blue aerodynamic regulations, the racing teams were stumped for a slick solution and had to resort to bolting a plank of wood to the underside of the chassis.
Who needs coach wheel nuts?
When I was trucking around Africa we came across a coach that had broken down by the track side, listing badly to one side. As usual, the responsibility for getting the vehicle back on the road fell on the shoulders of the resourceful truck boys. While the driver sheltered under a tree and the passengers sought shade wherever else they could find it, two young lads set to work with supreme confidence. They tied the sheared-off wheel back onto the axle with string! No exaggeration, we were laughing our heads off at the ludicrous solution, but you know what, it worked.
Got any more examples of low tech solutions to high tech problems?
 |  |  |
| "Your name" is a Kiva lender | "Your site's screenshot" SmartLink Widget | Funny HQ humor store |
|
