One of the blogs we talk about in [our book](http://www.blogbusinessbook.com/) is [TDF Blog](http://www.tdfblog.com/). When it launched, it was the only bike-racing site that offered RSS —and that’s why it beat out competitors in this niche and gained considerable traffic. The site’s publisher, Frank Steele, aggregates cycling news from around the web, adds his perspective, and offers an RSS feed.
This week Frank started another [blog for the Tour of Georgia](http://www.tdgblog.com/), America’s biggest stage race that attracts an international field. For those not familiar with bike racing, the TOG is like the World Baseball Classic, where players from all over the world play in the US and it’s on now.
Another topic in our book is [mashups](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mashup_(web_application_hybrid) (and proof that I can relate most anything to cycling and our book!), a term used to describe a web application that is created by combining and mashing up data from other applications. VeloNews has combined a sports ticker, current results, course profile, photos, ads, and [GoogleMaps](http://maps.google.com/) into the [TOG mashup](http://www.velonews.com/Admin/ticker/georgiaonmymap5.html).
For more on mashups see the [Wikipedia entry](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mashup_(web_application_hybrid) and they are featured in the [April 3rd issue of InformationWeek](Mashups are featured in the April 3rd issue of InformationWeek).
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Tim Jackson- Masiguy 04.21.06 at 6:50 am
DL,
Your inner bike geek is showing through again. I am with you brother.
Yes, it’s that time of year again. Time to start race reports and rider profiles, things like that. TDF Blog is great. He and I had some good conversations during the Tour last year and hopefully will again this year. Last year, I ran daily stage reports on my blog as well. Just condensing what I read or watched and then adding my own spin as well. It was pretty funny how often I got emails asking me what it was like to report from the Tour. People thought I was actually there! I was getting a lot of linking during that time as well and that is when I think my site traffic really began to pick up and stay busy.
-b- 04.21.06 at 7:22 am
Totally - and what would Spring be without dire predictions of Jan’s form! Speaking of cycling blogs, I’ll send you an email about a new one we’re working on.