[Closed] Shimano Singletrack Classic Weekender: Downhill and Timing

Still not sure if I'm coming this year but this certainly wouldn't put me off. It gives me something else to blame if I'm no good 😉

Sometime I'm so fast, even a laser isn't quick enough to catch me.....

DrP

EDIT - just watched to vid too - that course looks really good!!

Can I do the timing?

PS I take bribes 😉

human timing is fine for me, but then I will be slow so Im not really assed

Fine by me.

BTW. Course looks excellent.

Human timing fine. Possibly doing it... just watched that video - does look great fun!!! May have to enter 🙂

tailgunner vid is disorientating, quite wierd. If I make it to this yes human timing will be fine for me. The weather for the event [b]will[/b] be the same as the vids, [b]wont it?[/b] 😈

Um...

Looks like an awesome weekend. Really fancy it just don't fancy a 5hour drive!

The course was good, enjoyed the day. As for the manual timing...it worked well on the day so don't see any problems!! You'll need to keep Sonny and Andy off the beer the night before though 😀

Ben did you keep the timings from Friday? wouldn't mind a copy of them to embarrass a mate!! but then again he'll probably read this anyway 😕

By the way I was the old guy on the GT with the spesh enduro front end.

C+P from the article on the front page:

Ben, you already know my feelings on this and I’m guessing that this consultation has arisen from the comments that were aired on Friday. I’ve chatted with a few people about the timing and the consensus amongst them seems to be that it is a definite negative to not have proper light-beam timing for the DH section of the Weekender and that it may even put a few of them off from entering. I think the push-button timing is fine for a bit of a doss in the park with your mates but for a proper DH race that we are paying to enter then it is not really good enough.

I know the emphasis of the Weekender is generally relaxed but we punters are still there to race and that usually means racing each other. Bragging rights being the only real prize for the vast majority of entrants.

If you look back through the previous years’ results, there are a large number of private battles that have been settled by well under two tenths of a second. For instance, last year’s DH winner won by only 0.17 seconds and I lost two places by a mere 0.03 of a second. These results were immediately accepted due to the accuracy of the light-beam timing but the push button timing would just not be accurate enough to separate.

The lack of live timing and not finding out your own time until everyone else has finished is also not really that great.

I don’t want to sound negative or obstructive and understand the cost implication of proper timing but if you’re going to run a time trial event then you need accurate timing to make it worth it for the people paying.

The Tap timing will be more than adequate for the XC side of things as your position at the finish is the point.

i think the whole event is run under the banner of fun not serious competition with cash fame and gurls as reward to someone who is 0.03 seconds faster..
so for me a grandfather clock would be fine..sun dial at a push.

matthew_h - C+P reply! 🙂

“The lack of live timing and not finding out your own time until everyone else has finished is also not really that great.”

I’m fairly certain that on the day itself, people will be able to see their time almost instantly.

All your other comments are fair enough and will be discussed.

As mentioned above, it’s ultimately a cost-saving decision. We’d like to have light-beam timing as much as anyone.

But if we do go for light-beam timing, looking at the current Weekender balance-sheet, something else will have to give (car park security, first aid).

If the Tap timing guys can sort the live timing and instant results thing then that is definitely a good step in the right direction.

How will the system work with people getting over taken on their runs, ie, a rider who finishes ahead of the guy who started before him? Anyhow im sure it'll be a great weekend 😀

Bigsam - the system is actually pretty techy clever (despite the finger-button-finish) and it can handle riders finishing out of sequence, or even not finishing at all (DNF) etc 🙂

sounds great then, realy looking forward to it now, last year was awsome 🙂

Course looks ace. Might have to go and get some practise in ASAP!

FWIW, I raced some of the early Project Hamsterley races which had walkie talkies and stop watch timing and to be honest, it was crap. Could work it out with people stopping/overtaking etc. I know you say this is covered Ben but it really needs to be 100% watertight otherwise theres going to be a lot of pissed off people - I know I will be if I overtake someone (however likely that might be!) and my time ends up being my time + some slower rider who set off 30 seconds before me.

What about a cheaper system. Like those freelap (?) things?

Anyway, sure it'll be ace. Looking forward to it. Like someone else has said, make sure that weather is booked! I've seen the video from last year 😯

Tap Timing and 100% reliable hmmmmmmmmm

But if we do go for light-beam timing, looking at the current Weekender balance-sheet, something else will have to give (car park security, first aid).

how about the free entries for your trade mates and the STW staff "rider" 😉

bogs
car park security 24hour
first aid (day time)
race numbers
race timing
tape, signs and posts
marshals vests
cable ties and miscelleneous bits
uplift/downlift trailer

what else are you paying for from entries and the LA funding?

"what else are you paying for from entries and the LA funding?"

not a lot more things. your list is good.

just need to add..

water
public liability insurance
t-shirts
posters/flyers
AA signing

these 14 things do add up though we're afraid.

"I know you say this is covered Ben but it really needs to be 100% watertight"

It is.

The weather is pencilled in btw 😉

I'm sure we'll get (some) sunshine..

Used Stopwatch timing for one of the winter Inners Push up races. Slight misgivings to start but the times seemed good. A little more pressure than doing a normal DH start but worked out well in the end.

Not coming as I'm not in the country any more but wish I could. Wouldn't put me off too much as it's the same for everyone.

AA signing

doesn't everyone know where it is now? 😉

posters/flyers

are you going to do the massive sign in the quarry again?

t-shirts

anything for the marshals?
are they working with mobiles or radio's (do they work in a quarry full of rock?)

I'm sure you can squeeze the budget to get proper DH timing 😀

Posters for North West bike shops to try and get more 'local' riders and boost race entry numbers in a tough/competitive year for races.

Marshall goodie bags courtesy of Shimano aye.

Marshalls all working with radios.

T-shirts for all racers aye. To be announced with the other Shimano news shortly.

Maybe we can squeeze budget. The current entry numbers say 'no' though :-/

tough/competitive year for races

the loss of some of the No-Fuss events and the collapse of the Welsh XC series and other event cancellations has been covered indepth on here hasn't it though

Marshalls all working with radios

string and cups? shout?

seems like theres a call for spage age technology for stone age pricing.. i d rather have a t shirt than a time accurate to two tenths of a second..

What's the price difference. Perhaps a new sponsor could cover it?

brant - Member
What's the price difference. Perhaps a new sponsor could cover it

sounds like an offer to me "El Guapo" timing 😉

or find a timing system on DX, they seem to sell everything

or see if Troutie could knock something up

Bragging rights being the only real prize for the vast majority of entrants.

If you look back through the previous years’ results, there are a large number of private battles that have been settled by well under two tenths of a second

For most I'd have thought within a second or so is fine.

Free t-shirts for everyone

I thought free t-shirts were a perk if you are a premier member? As your not doing discounted entry fee this year?

Got to agree with everything MatthewH is saying about the event.

As longs its 100% Ben. I'll have my pitchfork in the car ready 😉

Oh and:

I lost two places by a mere 0.03 of a second

No, it sounds like two people were 0.03 seconds faster than you so you didn't 'lose' the places...

Just seen this on the @stweekender twitter:

"UPDATE: there will now be laser accurate timing at the Weekender. Thanks to the lovely guys at MIJ Timing :-D"

Good stuff. Guess that keeps everyone happy. Those who want accurate timing like me and those who aren't too bothered.

Nice one Weekender Team.