Re: Rider Leaving Early

[jlong@mti.net (Joe Long)]

On Wed, 30 Sep 1998 07:28:24 -0500, "Becky Huffman" <hhcc1@htcomp.net>
wrote:

>As a rider and a ride manager.  I agree with this.  Completion only or
>disqualification for leaving the check early.  I, personally, feel that
>there are too many variables and too much strategy involved to do
>otherwise.

But what about the case where the out timer told the rider to leave?
This happened to me at the first vet check of a 100 mile ride.  By my
watch I had two minutes left before leaving.  The out timer told the
three of us waiting that we could go.  I asked, "Number 24 can go?"
and the timer said, "Yes, number 24 can go."  So I went.

The other two riders and I discussed it on the trail ... they said
they were sure they'd timed in two minutes ahead of me.  So at the
next check they reported it to ride management.  I agreed that I had
been sent out two minutes early.

The ride management said they'd just add two minutes on my time at the
end of the ride -- to which I objected strenuosly.  I asked them to
hold me two minutes longer at the second check.  I pointed out that
two minutes at the 40 mile point meant little, but if I'm carrying two
minutes of add time then all anyone has to do to beat me is to keep me
in sight.  They agreed, and I was held the extra two minutes at vet
check two.  An equitable solution.

What I'm getting at is, why should the rider be penalized for a ride
management mistake?  Rather than have some kind of fixed rule for this
situation, I believe ride management should handle it according to the
circumstances.

-- 

Joe Long
jlong@mti.net
Business Page  http://www.mti.net
Personal Page  http://www.rnbw.com